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