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