| As the owner/operator of a full service boat | | | | probably all right as long as they're kept |
| detailing-yacht maintenance business I can't | | | | neat and clean.Make a list of things that |
| help but chuckle sometimes at seeing the | | | | need attention, and get it taken care of. A |
| extremes that otherwise bright, intelligent, | | | | few dollars spent now will pay back in spades |
| successful, people will go to in a misguided | | | | when the time comes to show your boat. |
| attempt to save a few dollars.One of the | | | | Anything that isn't right will stick out like |
| biggest mistakes that we see is that people | | | | the proverbial sore thumb, be noticed and |
| will decide to sell their boat without first | | | | start the price spiraling down. (if it |
| having her completely detailed.According to | | | | doesn't just send them scurrying off shaking |
| Rob Scanlan, a well known and respected | | | | their heads)Hint: If you are not a woman |
| Master Marine Surveyor;"Detailing a boat is | | | | reading this and don't have a wife of your |
| the single most important investment of time, | | | | own, ask your mother or sister, or see if a |
| energy and money a seller can make because a | | | | friend will loan you his for a few minutes. |
| clean and shiny boat sells faster and for a | | | | For some reason women can smell things that a |
| lot more money. I strongly recommended that a | | | | man would never notice. You may think that |
| seller enlist professional assistance to do a | | | | men buy boats but in my experience they buy |
| quality (Email) (Web site)We at BoatDocs1, do | | | | the boats their women like. Along this same |
| a lot of work here on the Emerald Coast with | | | | line, pay particular attention to the cabin |
| local yacht brokers and know what the | | | | and heads.3. Prioritize the JobWith your list |
| standards are for a "ready to show" boat. | | | | you are in good shape to decide what needs to |
| These professionals know that the cosmetic | | | | be done and whether or not you want to do the |
| appearance says everything to the prospective | | | | work yourself or have it done by a |
| buyer as to the overall care and maintenance | | | | professional.Most of the professional yacht |
| that the previous owner has given the yacht. | | | | maintenance companies we are familiar with, |
| Add to that the universal wisdom about | | | | would be happy to take a look and give you an |
| first impressions and it's not hard to see | | | | estimate of what it will cost to have the |
| the importance of this vital first step.Even | | | | work done right. We can do part of the job, |
| if you intend to do most of the work yourself | | | | for example the compounding/polishing and |
| we can offer the expertise to assure that | | | | will gladly help you choose the best wax to |
| your time and money are spent wisely. Our | | | | finish the job yourself.What about those |
| trained eyes will often pick up the little | | | | little chips and dings in the gelcoat?Many |
| details that only a prospective buyer would | | | | books have been written on fiberglass repair |
| notice and likely balk at.Here is an outline | | | | and it isn't the intent of this article to |
| of the standard procedures we use when | | | | cover the subject in any depth but many small |
| preparing a yacht to be put up for sale:1. | | | | repairs are well within the reach of a |
| Thoroughly Wash and Dry the BoatNote: For | | | | fairly skilled do-it-yourselfer. Like |
| this part, pay attention to everything you | | | | anything else though, if you have never done |
| see and unless your memory is a lot better | | | | it before, "consult an expert."I've been |
| than mine, make notes on a piece of paper | | | | building and repairing in fiberglass since I |
| for later.Wash and chamois-dry your boat top | | | | was 14 and while the first wooden boat I |
| to bottom including transom.clean Isenglass | | | | glassed was water tight and lasted a good |
| and other ports/windowswipe down and dress | | | | many years, it was far from pretty. The |
| all aluminum/stainlessclean and dress vinyl | | | | small investment you lay out for expert |
| seatswipe down fly bridge and cockpitvacuum | | | | repair now will pay big dividends when your |
| exterior carpetclean and dress nonskid2. | | | | boat sells at the price you want.In the |
| Stand Back and Survey the BoatNote: Bring | | | | Emerald Coast region the standard fees for |
| your list and organize it with the following | | | | compound/waxing run between $15.00/ft. and |
| outline* Put yourself in the buyers shoes, be | | | | $18.00/ft. for the topside (rub-rail up) |
| critical, the buyer will.Is it shiny? It's | | | | which includes a thorough cleaning and |
| the first thing most people notice.What about | | | | treatment of the vinyl, windows, isenglass, |
| the smell? People have a way of getting used | | | | and metal. In other words, for the price of |
| to almost anything. Get a second opinion and | | | | doing the "hard" part we'll detail the |
| see the hint below.Is all hardware intact and | | | | entire topsides and leave it in |
| presentable? Just because you've used that | | | | "ready-to-show" condition. Hulls (rub-rail |
| broken table for years and are rather fond of | | | | down) run about $8.00/ft. but, of course, |
| it, to anyone else, it's just a broken | | | | the boat must be out of the water in order to |
| table.What about dings, any damage to the | | | | do it. (This walking on water with a |
| fiberglass? Aside from the fact that broken | | | | hi-speed electric buffer in hand is still |
| gelcoat can let water into the core of the | | | | beyond me, but I'll let you |
| lay-up and delaminate the fiberglass, it just | | | | know;-)Fiberglass repair runs from $45.00 to |
| plain looks BAD.What about rust? You are | | | | $65.00 per hour and in general as with most |
| probably thinking right now; (what's a little | | | | everything else, one gets what one pays for. |
| rust on a boat?) Let me tell you. A little | | | | The up side to this is that when approached |
| rust on a boat is a sure sign that the owner | | | | in a professional manner the dents and dings |
| let's little things go by unnoticed and if | | | | of ten years hard use can be repaired and |
| there is one thing there are always more. | | | | made to look like new in an amazingly short |
| What about oil changes? I wonder if he | | | | time.All too often we have seen people save |
| flushed out the outboard after use? The | | | | $300.00 or $400.00 on a detail only to loose |
| object of this little exercise is to make the | | | | $Thousands$ on what their boat could have |
| boat look like you are conscientious and a | | | | sold for. Then too, our local marinas are |
| stickler for having everything perfectly | | | | clogged with many examples of boats with |
| "SHIP SHAPE."One more little tip that you | | | | "For Sale" signs which were never given the |
| have probably already thought of. Take a look | | | | least bit of attention to make the passer by |
| around the boat and remove EVERYTHING that | | | | want to stop and think, "Hey, I wonder what |
| isn't part of the boat.EXAMPLE:Engine | | | | it would be like to call that boat mine." |
| controls, compass, life jackets, flare kit, | | | | Some of these boats have sat for years when |
| and a first aid kit ARE part of the boat. | | | | all they ever really needed was a little |
| Knick-knacks, fishing tackle, cutesy wall | | | | T.L.C.I remember, years ago, someone saying |
| plaques, and half full paint cans are NOT | | | | something about being penny wise and pound |
| part of the boat-and look tacky. A few | | | | foolish? Let's not let them be saying that |
| cleaning supplies, in their own locker is | | | | about us. |