Boating professionals are often at the center of controversy and anger among boaters, both on the docks and in online forums. So, are shipyards, marine mechanics, and other chandlers trustworthy, or do we, as boaters, also need to adopt some new habits?
How many times have we complained about the mechanic who winterized our engine? The belt was installed incorrectly, he didn’t do everything we asked. I remember a rather comical experience. I had bought a used sailboat and asked the mechanic to restart the engine. A few days later, I set sail for my first voyage, and The engine stops after 15 minutes.Forced to return to port under sail, in a channel used by trawlers… The tank was so clogged that the diesel fuel line was blocked. And of course, the mechanic got an earful. Not to mention the shipyard that, while replacing the forestay, had reinstalled part of the furler upside down.
In short, we all have stories like these. But what does that say? nautical professionals And perhaps from ourselves?
Boating professionals are often criticized
Let’s start with the accusations. Professionals are generally accused of two things. First, many boaters question their competence. And it’s true that we must acknowledge that Conflicts or disputes with nautical professionals are numerous.You only need to listen to conversations on the docks, or reflect on our own boating experiences, to realize this. And it applies to all trades within the industry: mechanics, riggers, lamination technicians, and shipyards. I even met, a few years ago, an expert who hadn’t noticed that a boat had run aground.
So yes, boating is a passion that sometimes attracts professionals who are more passionate than, well, professionals. And these pros can be the source of shoddy work. Just take a look at well-known forums to see rants and raves and conflicts every week.
The second accusation concerns their prices. And here again, it must be acknowledged that the wallet can sometimes take a serious hit. A simple intervention to do some stratification can quickly reach over €1,000. And, as soon as you move beyond standard diesel engine maintenance, The quotes quickly made us reconsider keeping the boat and led to tense debates within the family.Sometimes we get the impression that the pros take us for wealthy boaters that they will be able to bleed.
And so we are right to be demanding of professionals to whom we often give a lot of money.
I won’t deny that I was long distrustful of professionals, and that I still am at times. But I must also acknowledge that I’ve made an effort, after questioning myself. And so, I’m also going to act as their advocate.
And boaters who need to re-evaluate their approach.
I’m going to speak for myself here. I’m not going to be dishonest enough to assume that everyone has, or had, the same flaws as me. If some of you recognize yourselves in these lines, all the better. So, as I was saying, I’m going to advocate for the professionals, or at least for the majority of professionals.
I must admit that, as a recreational sailor, I love to sail. And I sail often enough to know a sailboat, its workings and structure, at least on paper. But the thing is, I don’t seek to go any further. Or at least, I didn’t seek to go any further. However, I think we tend to rely too much on professionalsConsidering them a guarantee of smooth sailing. Yet, we can all to spend the winter, on land or afloatourselves.
When I take my car to the garage for an oil change, I don’t ask the mechanic to inspect it. He changes the oil, maybe makes a few minor observations, and that’s it. It’s the same when I get my tires changed. I don’t ask him to poke his nose into the engine. So why is it that when I get my boat engine serviced, I almost expect a complete inspection? Because I don’t like the engine, and at the same time, I want peace of mind on the water.
But in this case, I’m not asking for a simple oil change and filter replacement, I’m asking for a more in-depth analysis.And I doubt the mechanic will charge me the same price.
As recreational boaters, I feel we need to be more self-reliant. Even when we’re sailing along our coastlines, We must also take responsibility and be aware that we need to master more than just adjusting our sails.A mountaineer going hiking in the mountains must be self-reliant and proficient with their equipment. It’s the same for us.
The second source of conflict is linked to our lack of foresight. How many times have I heard:
“Right now, we are overwhelmed, we will not be able to do the work immediately.”
And I replied:
“Yes, but I took a long weekend in May…”
As if the construction site couldn’t hire… Well, no, because if construction sites were rolling in money, we’d know about it. And logically, When 80% of customers want to take their boat out, for only 20% of the year, it doesn’t work.And yet, I know that if the work is done in winter, the construction site has plenty of time to do the job properly and calmly. So, here again, I’ve changed my habits and am anticipating what I need to do or delegate.
Finally, I sail on a boat that’s 30 years old, no less. A car that age would be considered a collector’s item. And I don’t know any old car enthusiast who doesn’t get their hands dirty. At some point, I’m not going to asker has a professional offered me a warranty on a boat older than himself.
That’s why I believe that if I’ve had problems with some boating professionals, I also bear some responsibility. And that doesn’t diminish the vast majority of these professionals who work with passion for their craft and customer satisfaction. Because I know some in Southern Brittany, and I could give you their names.
We are neither experts nor professionals, but we must at least take a serious interest in the maintenance of our boats. This will also allow us to be more demanding of professionals.