| As the owner/operator of a full service boat | | | | fishing tackle, cutesy wall plaques, and half full paint |
| detailing-yacht maintenance business I can't help but | | | | cans are NOT part of the boat-and look tacky. A |
| chuckle sometimes at seeing the extremes that | | | | few cleaning supplies, in their own locker is probably |
| otherwise bright, intelligent, successful, people will go | | | | all right as long as they're kept neat and clean. |
| to in a misguided attempt to save a few dollars. | | | | 7. Make a list of things that need attention, and get it |
| One of the biggest mistakes that we see is that | | | | taken care of. A few dollars spent now will pay back |
| people will decide to sell their boat without first | | | | in spades when the time comes to show your boat. |
| having her completely detailed. | | | | Anything that isn't right will stick out like the |
| According to Rob Scanlan, a well known and | | | | proverbial sore thumb, be noticed and start the price |
| respected Master Marine Surveyor; | | | | spiraling down. (if it doesn't just send them scurrying |
| "Detailing a boat is the single most important | | | | off shaking their heads) Hint: If you are not a woman |
| investment of time, energy and money a seller can | | | | reading this and don't have a wife of your own, ask |
| make because a clean and shiny boat sells faster and | | | | your mother or sister, or see if a friend will loan you |
| for a lot more money. I strongly recommended that | | | | his for a few minutes. For some reason women can |
| a seller enlist professional assistance to do a quality | | | | smell things that a man would never notice. You may |
| (Email) (Web site) | | | | think that men buy boats but in my experience they |
| We at BoatDocs1, do a lot of work here on the | | | | buy the boats their women like. Along this same line, |
| Emerald Coast with local yacht brokers and know | | | | pay particular attention to the cabin and heads. |
| what the standards are for a "ready to show" boat. | | | | 3. Prioritize the Job |
| These professionals know that the cosmetic | | | | With your list you are in good shape to decide what |
| appearance says everything to the prospective | | | | needs to be done and whether or not you want to |
| buyer as to the overall care and maintenance that | | | | do the work yourself or have it done by a |
| the previous owner has given the yacht. Add to that | | | | professional. |
| the universal wisdom about first impressions and it's | | | | Most of the professional yacht maintenance |
| not hard to see the importance of this vital first step. | | | | companies we are familiar with, would be happy to |
| Even if you intend to do most of the work yourself | | | | take a look and give you an estimate of what it will |
| we can offer the expertise to assure that your time | | | | cost to have the work done right. We can do part |
| and money are spent wisely. Our trained eyes will | | | | of the job, for example the compounding/polishing |
| often pick up the little details that only a prospective | | | | and will gladly help you choose the best wax to finish |
| buyer would notice and likely balk at. | | | | the job yourself. |
| Here is an outline of the standard procedures we use | | | | What about those little chips and dings in the |
| when preparing a yacht to be put up for sale: | | | | gelcoat? |
| 1. Thoroughly Wash and Dry the Boat | | | | Many books have been written on fiberglass repair |
| Note: For this part, pay attention to everything you | | | | and it isn't the intent of this article to cover the |
| see and unless your memory is a lot better than | | | | subject in any depth but many small repairs are well |
| mine, make notes on a piece of paper for later. | | | | within the reach of a fairly skilled do-it-yourselfer. Like |
| - Wash and chamois-dry your boat top to bottom | | | | anything else though, if you have never done it |
| including transom. | | | | before, "consult an expert." |
| - clean Isenglass and other ports/windows | | | | I've been building and repairing in fiberglass since I |
| - wipe down and dress all aluminum/stainless | | | | was 14 and while the first wooden boat I glassed |
| - clean and dress vinyl seats | | | | was water tight and lasted a good many years, it |
| - wipe down fly bridge and cockpit | | | | was far from pretty. The small investment you lay |
| - vacuum exterior carpet | | | | out for expert repair now will pay big dividends when |
| - clean and dress nonskid | | | | your boat sells at the price you want. |
| 2. Stand Back and Survey the Boat | | | | In the Emerald Coast region the standard fees for |
| Note: Bring your list and organize it with the following | | | | compound/waxing run between $15.00/ft. and $18.00 |
| outline | | | | ft. for the topside (rub-rail up) which includes a |
| * Put yourself in the buyers shoes, be critical, the | | | | thorough cleaning and treatment of the vinyl, |
| buyer will. | | | | windows, isenglass, and metal. In other words, for |
| | | | the price of doing the "hard" part we'll detail the |
| 1. Is it shiny? It's the first thing most people notice. | | | | entire topsides and leave it in "ready-to-show" |
| 2. What about the smell? People have a way of | | | | condition. Hulls (rub-rail down) run about $8.00/ft. but, |
| getting used to almost anything. Get a second opinion | | | | of course, the boat must be out of the water in |
| and see the hint below. | | | | order to do it. (This walking on water with a hi-speed |
| 3. Is all hardware intact and presentable? Just | | | | electric buffer in hand is still beyond me, but I'll let |
| because you've used that broken table for years and | | | | you know;-) |
| are rather fond of it, to anyone else, it's just a | | | | Fiberglass repair runs from $45.00 to $65.00 per hour |
| broken table. | | | | and in general as with most everything else, one gets |
| 4. What about dings, any damage to the fiberglass? | | | | what one pays for. The up side to this is that when |
| Aside from the fact that broken gelcoat can let | | | | approached in a professional manner the dents and |
| water into the core of the lay-up and delaminate the | | | | dings of ten years hard use can be repaired and |
| fiberglass, it just plain looks BAD. | | | | made to look like new in an amazingly short time. |
| 5. What about rust? You are probably thinking right | | | | All too often we have seen people save $300.00 or |
| now; (what's a little rust on a boat?) Let me tell you. | | | | $400.00 on a detail only to loose $Thousands$ on |
| A little rust on a boat is a sure sign that the owner | | | | what their boat could have sold for. Then too, our |
| let's little things go by unnoticed and if there is one | | | | local marinas are clogged with many examples of |
| thing there are always more. What about oil | | | | boats with "For Sale" signs which were never given |
| changes? I wonder if he flushed out the outboard | | | | the least bit of attention to make the passer by |
| after use? The object of this little exercise is to | | | | want to stop and think, "Hey, I wonder what it |
| make the boat look like you are conscientious and a | | | | would be like to call that boat mine." Some of these |
| stickler for having everything perfectly "SHIP SHAPE." | | | | boats have sat for years when all they ever really |
| 6. One more little tip that you have probably already | | | | needed was a little T.L.C. |
| thought of. Take a look around the boat and remove | | | | I remember, years ago, someone saying something |
| EVERYTHING that isn't part of the boat. EXAMPLE: | | | | about being penny wise and pound foolish? Let's not |
| Engine controls, compass, life jackets, flare kit, and a | | | | let them be saying that about us. |
| first aid kit ARE part of the boat. Knick-knacks, | | | | |