Are boat yards cheaper in Florida?

[Looking Glass]

I am buying a boat in Florida that needs some work done at the yard (soda blast and bottom painting, and new shaft seals). I have been told by a surveyor that getting the work done in Florida would be less expensive then having it done closer to where I live, in New Jersey or Maryland. Does anyone have an opinion on this?

The work that needs to be done is not urgent, just maintenance, so I can go either way. However, it would be easier to have it done locally, so I can be more involved.

 

[bobk]

Depends on the yard. Where in Florida is the boat?

Bobk

 

[Boatsb]

Im not sure of the rates in your area but florida has a few areas where rates are higher than others too.

 

[Pascal]

It really depends on the yard. I've had maintenance done both here in sofl and up in New England and i woudl agree that it may be cheaper here.

That said I woudl much prefer diong the work locally at home even if the cost is a little higher. You ll need to get quotes and deck each from there

 

[krush]

You said NJ/MD. I bet there are some places on the eastern shore that are very fair on prices. As you move north though...well somebody has to pay for the awesomness of NJ

 

[motoryacht lover]

It has been my experience that there is not much difference overall between the yards in VA, NC, SC, GA and FL. I might give FL yards an edge in talent. In other words, the avg. Fl yard is a little better at the work they do than the avg yard in the other states I mentioned. Although as I think about it the Bay has some yards capable of some very nice work.

 

[SeaEric]

IMHO there is something to be said for having the work done at a yard with which you plan to use going forward. May as well start the relationship.

 

[tomrealest]

If you take the boat thru the Chesapeake Bay, in Crisfield on the lower Eastern shore of Maryland it is reasonable. It is kink of a depressed area.

I have used contracters at the Do it Yourself Yard in West Palm Beach, Cracker Boys. Been there twice been happy both times.

If you have any interst pm me and I will give you details or look at their website.

 

[seasalt]

I would say that East Coast Florida is way cheaper than West Coast Florida because of competition.

 

[Looking Glass]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I am buying the boat in Ft. Lauderdale. I am waiting on a quote for a bottom job, strip and paint shafts & props, replace shaft seals and stabilizer seals. I would prefer to do the work locally, if the prices are reasonably close.

One concern I have is that the "dripless" seals are dripping a lot. Although the engines were started weekly, the boat has been in a slip for the past year because the owner passed away. I am not familiar with these seals at all. My current boat has a stuffing box and I would just tighten it up. It has me nervous that there could be a problem while bring the boat up north. If I have the bat hauled to do the shaft seals it might just make more sense to get everything done at once.

 

[bobk]

Those seals may just need to be exercised. My boat was out of water for the hurricane season in 2014. When we launched it, the dripless seals were really dripping. The yard advised just running in gear a while and indeed to drip rate slowed quickly and then stopped. Might be worth a try.

Bobk

 

[Looking Glass]

Those seals may just need to be exercised. My boat was out of water for the hurricane season in 2014. When we launched it, the dripless seals were really dripping. The yard advised just running in gear a while and indeed to drip rate slowed quickly and then stopped. Might be worth a try.

Bobk

Thanks. It would be nice if that is all it is. I would much rather have the bottom done locally. The shaft seals are the main reason I was looking at Florida yards.

 

[jim rosenthal]

See the existing thread on shaft seals. Replacing them involves at least opening the shaft couplings and so on, which involves pulling the wheels so you can back the shafts out at least part way. You can do the bottom anytime, but I think in your shoes I would see to all the safety and running issues before embarking on a thousand mile trip with a boat new to you.

 

[Tim Powell]

I live in NC there about 5 yards within a 30 min drive of each other here in Morehead city hour rate is from 65 per hour to 165 per hour . Lift rates are all over the board 2.25 per foot to 10.00 per foot. From 3.00 per foot for a slip to if i am working on your boat the slip and power is free. It all depends on the overhead of the place. Basically work is about the same. A bottom job is a bottom job.

 

[capttonyf]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I am buying the boat in Ft. Lauderdale. I am waiting on a quote for a bottom job, strip and paint shafts & props, replace shaft seals and stabilizer seals. I would prefer to do the work locally, if the prices are reasonably close.

One concern I have is that the "dripless" seals are dripping a lot. Although the engines were started weekly, the boat has been in a slip for the past year because the owner passed away. I am not familiar with these seals at all. My current boat has a stuffing box and I would just tighten it up. It has me nervous that there could be a problem while bring the boat up north. If I have the bat hauled to do the shaft seals it might just make more sense to get everything done at once.

The dripless seal maybe fine. They may just need cleaned up a little. The way they work is the two collars have slight kind of a tongue and groove to them and held together with just a slight amount of pressure. It's important that the two collars are clean and smooth or water will leak through. When a boat sits for awhile growth can develope in between the metal collars causeing them to not have a good clean contact, therefore causing them to not seal well. Sometimes just cleaning the growth out between the two collars is all it needs to be good as new again. At least as far as the seal goes.

One thing to watch for with any yard is them advertising or quoting you a cheap rate to do a bottom job to get you in there and then slamming you on their "Recommended", well,,,, since you have it out of the water you should do this that and the other thing, maintanence updates.

Tony

 

[Tim Powell]

The dripless seal maybe fine. They may just need cleaned up a little. The way they work is the two collars have slight kind of a tongue and groove to them and held together with just a slight amount of pressure. It's important that the two collars are clean and smooth or water will leak through. When a boat sits for awhile growth can develope in between the metal collars causeing them to not have a good clean contact, therefore causing them to not seal well. Sometimes just cleaning the growth out between the two collars is all it needs to be good as new again. At least as far as the seal goes.

One thing to watch for with any yard is them advertising or quoting you a cheap rate to do a bottom job to get you in there and then slamming you on their "Recommended", well,,,, since you have it out of the water you should do this that and the other thing, maintanence updates.

Tony

You missed one reason the shaft may have a grove in it .If that is the case there goes about 4 to 7 grand a side for new shafts that really makes for a eye opener.

 

[Byresch]

The dripless seal maybe fine. They may just need cleaned up a little. The way they work is the two collars have slight kind of a tongue and groove to them and held together with just a slight amount of pressure. It's important that the two collars are clean and smooth or water will leak through. When a boat sits for awhile growth can develope in between the metal collars causeing them to not have a good clean contact, therefore causing them to not seal well. Sometimes just cleaning the growth out between the two collars is all it needs to be good as new again. At least as far as the seal goes.

One thing to watch for with any yard is them advertising or quoting you a cheap rate to do a bottom job to get you in there and then slamming you on their "Recommended", well,,,, since you have it out of the water you should do this that and the other thing, maintanence updates.

Tony

Listen to Tony about the yards with the "cheap rates" to lure you in. My first experience with a yard as a new boat owner was like that and cost me a lot more than going to the yard that was recommended to me in the first place. So please be careful when making your decision.

 

[capttonyf]

You missed one reason the shaft may have a grove in it .If that is the case there goes about 4 to 7 grand a side for new shafts that really makes for a eye opener.

Great Point!Tony

 

[krush]

You missed one reason the shaft may have a grove in it .If that is the case there goes about 4 to 7 grand a side for new shafts that really makes for a eye opener.

That would only matter for lip seals. Most likely, even with a groove cut in the shaft, a face seal can be moved somewhere to get a good seal.

 

[pizzazsdaddy]

Good advice from everyone. I think the best Hatteras service yard in Ft. Lauderdale is Cable Marine. Lowest price in town for a bottom job, but just as expensive as everyone else for the rest (not excessive). Their quality of workmanship and Hatteras specific experience makes them a great choice, because no matter what needs to be done they do it right the first time. In Palm Beach County I've been real happy with the bottom work and the independent contractors at Murelles Marine in Lantana. It depends on what work you need done.