Are these refit costs accurate?

The grit reminds me of a boatyard on the lake a few years ago that had to pay for paint jobs for two cars. They were bottom painting a boat and didn't take precautions. The wind just gently put the nice overlay on the cars. In fact the total cost to them for that mistake was about $10,000 by the time they were painted and the metal and glass cleaned and all was completed. Unfortunately they didn't happen to be a couple of old junkers but a one year old Jaguar and a six month old BMW.

There was some poetic justice though. Jaguar was married man, BMW his young girlfriend as they were meeting for a rendezvous on his boat. Wife knew girlfriend's mother, although not close. But they were to go somewhere and girlfriend's mother asked wife for a ride since daughter was using her car while hers was being painted. Well, when she explained why that got wife's attention. She even made a trip to the body shop. Things did not end well.

If spread out of 9 years we can all say it's reasonable. Especially if the dates are not accurate and multiple jobs went into each description. You are right- I mis-spoke about the spelling on the bill- it's not a bill or invoice but a list of work and dates. Cable has a good reputation as far as I know and my one experience there was just that- one experience.

It's still a great learning topic for the forum. Your advice on handling maintenance and bills is very valid. Worst billers I ever encountered were law firms. And I required detailed logs from them all. Actually had no problem getting it since I required it. But I saw others pay based on just a bill reading Month of October: Lawyer A 42 hours at $400. Lawyer B 36 hours at $300.

And bad experiences even at good shipyards remind us it's possible. I saw an excellent first class marina on the lake just completely miss winterizing a boat in dry storage. Now they redeemed themselves by immediately getting with their insurer and even before approved ordering new engines for the boat. It was less than a year old so they went factory fresh and new. But still a pretty big mistake. And to the owner's credit he had called to verify the work had been done and was told yes. So he even followed up. Shipyards change too. I know of one right now that was among the best, but ownership change and lots of turnover and more work than they can handle, that could be a past thing. Time will tell.

Distressing thing to the owner of that particular boat would be that just spent nearly $1.2 million on it and only got it listed for sale for about double that. 2010-13 refit but still a 2004 boat. And with all the refit there was no engine rebuild so who knows when that's coming.

I don't know if you can consider that list as covering 9 years... it has a time span of 3.5 years. But if that is the case the boat went a long time with not much and even new boats need work done particularly maintenance as well as old boats. Deferring maintenance on a new boat is worse in my opinion than an old boat.

From just that record I would be suspecting problems lurking. And, it might not even be worth a good surveyors time to completely and throughly do a totally hide and seek or properly search and find survey. The records are very important to have as part of the process of owning or buying a boat as the survey needs them... and remember if the boat is "classed" you cannot be sloppy without paying for it well and good down the road. Classification certifications are only only for a brand new boat. This can greatly effect insurance rates and being able to charter safely. Think on it would you if you were in the insurance business be insuring accidents read to happen?

Comment on attorneys... they are a well meaning lot but remember what they consider your best interest may not be what you consider it. And, they are in business of making money. I should say... my attorneys billings are absolutely unintelligible to even them... so the way this get handled with me is me making a guess from past experience what something should cost and putting a number to it. I have found this works pretty good but if you try to cheese pare and keep them on a short leash (to save money) it just doesn't work. Another client with whom I share the exact same attorneys fightings and cheese pares and complains... and he actually pays more in the long run... and he is unhappier for it. And, I get better service.

Interestingly, one day my business attorney said to me... "for the vast majority of our work... our job is making "petit bout de merde" deals a little less so... but they are still "petit bout de merde" deals... but you unique in that you have never had to accept a "petit bout de merde" deal." My comment in return was "Why would anyone accept a "petit bout de merde" deal... no one really has to!" Well the key is preparation before you get there and willingness to stand your ground. And, importantly not get yourself in the position of having to take a "petit bout de merde" deal in the first place.

Buying a boat you have NO REASON to accept any deal you don't want too. If you are buying a pre owned boat remember its someone else's dream second hand... meaning it no longer their dream. It really has to be right to make it yours... because the boat really boils down to a dream... don't get yourself into a nightmare.

Teak decks

I di teak decks so can only really comment on that part of the invoice. Always be wary when anyone uses the terms teak deck system. That tends to refer to the new teak deck systems they use these days that look like teak but are not made from teak planking. If you want a genuine teak deck system you have to make sure you go "old School" and for that size boat the teak decks with actual teak planking would run round $10,000.

http://www.teakdecking.com

There are some systems that are actually teak, and this company does a very good job.