re-fitting in the United States or in the islands of the Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean. There is no shortage of yards to choose from but they each offer the visiting yacht the same advice suggesting that good planning beforehand lies at the very core of a successful job. In Florida, Captain Bernard Calot is the Marketing Manager of the Universal Marine Center conveniently located on Marina Mile the yard is just minutes from Ft. Lauderdale International Airport and I-95 and his advice echoes that of other shipyards. “Planning way in advance is imperative,” he says. He adds, “Make sure you ask for quotes and verify those with other Captains who have done similar projects in the yard. Ask them about the quality of workmanship, the service and flexibility the yard offers and check out the refit experience of the managers to prepare accurate timings and budgets.”
Flip over to west coast of the United States and you will find Neil Wilson, the manager of Fifth Ave Landing Megayacht Marina one of the facilities operated by the Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW) in San Diego. He has a five-point questionnaire style guide that he believes should be asked by Captains of yachts visiting for refits. He suggests they should ask; “Does the yard have the financial stability to
complete the project and warrant the work?” Financial stability is the backbone to what takes a project from start to finish. It allows material to flow, workers to work, and ultimately, the boat to be launched back into the water.
When that question gets answered satisfactorily, the next question should be; “Does the yard have proper insurance to mitigate a potential claim?”
No one wants to walk into a refit expecting to file a lawsuit. Although it is standard practice that a yard provides proof of insurance, it’s worth checking to make sure the amount of the coverage is worth the value of the repairs, if not more.
Captains should also ask: “Does the yard have the man power to complete the job in the allotted time, considering other projects they have?” It’s one thing for a yard to say “we have 200 employees,” but it is another story for the yard to be able to access them at the specific time they are needed. Always consider the question; “Does the yard have the proper overhead/ support staff to facilitate material flow, project management and accurate billing?” ‘Overheads’ is not always a bad word. Often it reflects what is needed to provide the necessary infrastructure to properly manage a refit.
Finally Wilson believes Captains should ask; “Does the quote sound too good to be true?” Here he explains, “There’s no magic
MARINE GROUP BOAT WORKS Marine Group Boat Works, (MGBW) is a family-owned, full-service boat and superyacht refit and repair facility occupying over 15 acres of land and water. Located at the southern part of the San Diego Bay with a second location in San Jose del Cabo, MGBW specialises in refits, repairs and new construction of boats up to 67m long. Marine Group Boat Works is recognised worldwide for its 665-ton travelift, making it the premiere San Diego superyacht refit facility for the West Coast. Its specialties include haul-outs, bottom paints, Lloyds’ and ABS-class surveys, engine repowers, mechanical repairs, propeller service, custom fabrications and more. For more details Tel: +1 619.427.6767 or visit
www.marinegroupbw.com
in yacht repair. If you have four bids that all say it’s going to cost $100,000 in repairs and a fifth bid that says they can do it for half the amount, do not be afraid to ask for a detailed explanation of how they can do it for much less. If the reason is low labour rates, keep in mind that someone’s wage can be a reflection of their quality, skills and their company’s position on cutting corners whether its regulatory requirements or qualitative ones.”
MGBW has two newly renovated facilities in San Diego both outfitted to cater to the superyacht market. One facility is solar powered and boasts brand new floating docks with ample amount of shore power and equipped with a 300-ton travelift and brand
ONBOARD | AUTUMN 2017 | 73
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176