Just like a car, your yacht requires maintenance from time to time to ensure that it runs smoothly and retains its good looks. It will need experienced hands to inspect the engine piece by piece, tuning whatever is out of sync or not performing up to par. A proper full service boatyard will have a sizeable marine elevator that’s required to lift the engine during the haul-out alongside other state of the art tools needed in order to provide quick, quality service. Fort Lauderdale is home to a good number of these boatyards so if you happen to live there, or are just passing by, you should be able to find a qualified boatyard for all of your maintenance and repair needs. Here’s a rundown of what you should look for in a boat repair boatyard.
Mechanical Repairs
Typical repair services should include basic mechanical checks and repairs including oil changes, fuel injector testing, cooling system maintenance, propeller reconditioning and restoration, as well as rudder repair. Additionally, the boat repairs may demand a repowering of the main engine. Parts such as rudder bearings, stern gears, keel bolts and shafts should be inspected and replaced as part of preventive maintenance. Precision shaft straightening, optical or laser engine and shaft alignment and complete engineering refits are some of the many procedures carried out.
Electrical Repairs
Electrical repairs should include work on the air conditioner, refrigeration and other electrical installations in your yacht. Parts such as cooling towers, air make up units and different types of power cables are often replaced or restored by electrical engineers. Most boatyards in Fort Lauderdale cater to both European and American power standards and their engineers are familiar with equipment and components from both places.
Bodywork
Other than keeping your boat's engine in tip-top condition, boat repairs should also ensure that its body is kept in great condition. It may need a paint touch-up from enduring Florida climatic conditions and salt water, and some boatyards will offer a spray shop specifically for this purpose. With a professionally done paint job, you will take to sea with your yacht looking almost brand new. A professional paint job should last up to five years, and withstand blistering and peeling away especially below the waterline. Should the woodwork on your vessel need reworking, any full service boatyard will do it as part of the bodyworks. The fiberglass parts of the yacht are also repairable whether you have small cracks or major damage to your boat, or need major modifications to the fiberglass.
Charges
You can expect to pay between $65 and $95 per hour for labor at most Fort Lauderdale boatyards, but charges for the equipment used and the storage of the boat while under repair will vary depending on the nature of the repairs and how long it takes to complete the job. Should you also require dry storage for your yacht, most of these repair shops will be willing to provide it at an affordable monthly fee. To get quotations for your yacht repairs, simply get in touch with the boatyard via email or telephone.