Marine Group Boat Works

REPAIRING YOUR BOAT IN THE WINTER MONTHS

BY: MARINE GROUP BOAT WORKS

MOST BOAT OWNERS WOULD ASSUME that winter is the best for downtime and being off the water. Which in a sense it is, but this downtime should also be spent getting work done to your boat.

Winter provides the perfect opportunity for vessels to get serviced, especially in San Diego and Cabo, because of their yearround good weather.

Marine Group Boat Works (MBGW), a family-owned boatbuilding and repair company with locations in San Diego and Cabo, has had quite the busy refit season with notable superyachts and commercial vessels passing through to get geared up for their upcoming spring season.

They have a unique advantage over the rest of the country in that they’re not only equipped with excellent weather, but they are located in easily accessed ports, have reputable relationships with superior vendors and subcontractors, and they themselves have the manpower to get the job done.

Though the winter season is coming to a close, there are always some tips and tricks to keep in mind for your next yard period.

Be sure to have your worklist ready to go when you call in to schedule an appointment. When you have your worklist detailed out, it provides an upfront labor expectation, and an opportunity to work out what needs to be ordered as soon as possible.

Schedule Early! Don’t put off scheduling your haul out. There is a lack of boatyards to meet the demands of the industry. Yards like MGBW book-up months in advance, so be prepared with a few available dates.

That leads us to our next tip: have a flexible timeline. With the pandemic and the shortage of workers across the nation, parts being shipped have been delayed and labor needs to be planned efficiently. If you have a time constraint, that could incur more shipping costs for the parts and may cause a delay in your plans if an unexpected repair comes up.

Work with your insurance to understand the yard’s terms and conditions. Have them read through and be sure you are fully covered for an easy transition into the yard.

If you want to save some money on labor, have you or your crew do any and all work that can be done dockside at a marina. This will also shorten your time in the yard and get you back on the water sooner.

MGBW has two locations (San Diego and Los Cabos) that can service your vessel year-round, or in the winter months if that is what suits you! Be sure to check out MGBW’s website at www. marinegroupbw.com, or give them a call at 619-427-6767, to start your haul-out scheduling.