A boat is like any vehicle. The purchase is simply the beginning of a lengthy and sometimes bumpy experience.
At some point, the boat will need repairs, maintenance, upgrades and refurbishment to keep it looking good and performing at its peak – again, just like any vehicle. Here are some things to consider when looking for a shop to work on your boat.
CONVENIENCE
One of the first factors you’ll have to deal with is the convenience of the repair facilities. Depending on where your boat is located, you may have lots of options to pick from or a more limited selection.
Oftentimes there will be marine mechanics on or near your favorite lakes; other times you may need to tow your boat to a remote location. The decision may also depend on your boat’s needs and the nature of the repairs needed. Basic oil changes or routine maintenance can be completed by any experienced mechanic, but serious hull repairs after a collision might be better handled by a specialist.
No matter what your needs, picking a shop with a convenient location is important for getting your boat back on the water with a quick turnaround.
EXPERIENCE
The most important part of your decision will be finding a mechanic with the right skill set to handle your boat repairs. Again, the nature of those repairs will play a big role in what to look for and how specialized the experience needs to be.
Ideally, you should look for a mechanic who has been certified to repair your specific model of boat and motor. Ask about any certifications or specialized training the mechanic has received, especially if it involves an unusual or high-performance watercraft.
The skill level of employees can also vary considerably from shop to shop. If possible, look for examples of repair work that the shop has done on other watercraft. Pay close attention to the quality of fiberglass repairs and metal flake refinishing. A good, high-quality repair job will be virtually invisible in the finished product, making it tough to distinguish between the repairman’s work and the original factory work.
TECHNOLOGY
The boat repair world has gotten surprisingly high-tech in recent years, with very precise, computerized equipment used to diagnose and repair some problems.
Since many of today’s boats come with technology that looks like it belongs in a NASA spacecraft — from fish finders to entertainment devices and advanced radio equipment — finding a shop that understands your boat’s electronic gadgets is critical when they need to be repaired or upgraded.
The same goes for modern motor repairs. Just like today’s cars, the high-performance motors in today’s boats often have advanced features that take up-to-date knowledge and equipment to diagnose and repair properly.
TIMELINE
Finally, make sure you find a shop that can do quality repairs in a timely manner. Depending on where you live and what time of year you need the repairs completed, this can be easier said than done.
Communicate with the shop about when they can realistically get the job done. The best shops are likely to be quite busy at certain times of year and will give you an honest assessment of what kind of timeline to expect for the work you need done.
In the end, you should feel comfortable with the shop you pick. It should have employees you trust, a location that’s convenient and, most importantly, a long-term reputation for quality work among local boat owners.
When you want to be out on the lake, every day of downtime can feel painful. Finding the right boat repair shop will ease some of that pain and keep your boat purring on the water.
