How Bad Is This?

Jason K · Post by **Jason K** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:07 pm

I have only one yard willing to haul my boat and allow me to do my own work on it. A number of yards made it through the storm, but they are not allowing DIY-ers in anticipation of high fees from insurance boats...once they get through the assesment process. I found only one yard, 30 miles away on the Northshore of the lake, that will let me haul the Triton.

They want $386 to haul, block, and put her back in the water. The first week is $180, the second $150, and every week thereafter $98. That's FAR more than I had anticipated. Are these rates close to normal though? This will be the first time I'll have used such a yard.

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:52 pm

I suspect that CT money and LA money aren't exactly apples vs. apples, but....

$6.80/ft for hauling and launching is a pretty good deal around here.

$15/ft/month is a smidge above middle of the road for storage. Will they place you near power and water, or out in the middle of nowhere?

If the costs really are out of line, can you change your repair strategy? Maybe focus on in-water tasks for a few months in the hope that yardspace will be in less demand after the big Katrina Rush has passed?

Jason K · Post by **Jason K** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:20 pm

I suspect that CT money and LA money aren't exactly apples vs. apples, but....

Welcome to the third world. Really.

My options are highly limited and there is absolutely no way I'm leaving the boat in the condition it is in for one day longer than absolutely necessary.

I just wanted to know whether I was getting gouged. As to services...we'll see. He said there was power and water, but this was a telephone yard search. I'm going to head over there Saturday to find out though.

CharlieJ · Post by **CharlieJ** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:12 am

Jason- there is a funky sort of boat yard in Mandeville, on the Tchefuncte River, or just off of it, where a friend of mine keeps his boat. I don't recall the name of the place, but if you can't find it I can email the guy and get it for you. They have a yard guy there who is a past master with wood work. I suspect they have people in there doing work on their own boats too. Worth a shot.

Jason K · Post by **Jason K** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:46 am

I would appreciate the lead, though this may be the same yard mentioned above. There are a couple yards on the Tchefuncte and I certainly don't know them all. Thanks.

heartofgold · Post by **heartofgold** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 11:06 pm

Jason,
Here in P'cola, that price is about right (though a complicated formula) compared to where I work. A 30'er in our yard would be right about $15.00/day, and we are one of only a few yards between Mobile and Panama City, and it is by far the cleanest and best equipped. I can't really comment on haul out rates, but that does not seem out of line with what I have heard here.

Jason K · Post by **Jason K** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 11:50 pm

Good enough. I was just watching the news and was suprised to see #218 get her second appearance on the small screen. The first time I saw her I was still in Baltimore and they did a slow flyover - right over my slip. That was cool because all I had seen to that point was her aft quarter in a photo of another boat. Tonight though, they were showing the salvage operations and she was front and center for awhile, looking pretty rough. Of course, she's one of the better off boats out there. Right now, I'd pay a lot more to get her back to looking good.

The price really isn't all that bad, upon reflection. I didn't have a frame of reference though, and because it was considerably higher than I expected, I didn't want to use a yard that was taking advantage of the situation.