Why you can’t delay booking your summer maintenance

Old habits die hard in the boating world and many of us love to hang on till after Labour Weekend before we start to think about hauling out, changing anodes, antifouling, and other routine maintenance tasks that are part and parcel of boat ownership. But in 2022, Labour Weekend can be too late and in anticipation of a busy summer in Auckland’s boatyards, we talked to six operators around the region about their capacity and availability, their facilities, and their advice for boat owners ahead of the peak period.​

They all had similar advice: Yards are busy, and marine trades contractors are often booked out months in advance. But for those that are organised there is a way forwards, and that is planning and booking ahead - and getting major work done in the off-season wherever possible.

Orams Marine Village
Craig Park, Managing Director of the Orams Marine Village adjacent to Westhaven Marina says, “While we are perceived as a superyacht facility, we still haul between 850-1,000 local or recreational boats a year, so it’s a relatively big part of the business.”

Like all the other boatyard rep’s we spoke with, he says that early booking is the only way to secure a slot.

“We will be at capacity leading into summer.”

He says that owners will need to consider winter maintenance schedules as opposed to the normal scenario of trying to book after Labour Weekend.

Orams has big sheds that can accommodate many of the smaller local yachts with the rigs still in them, and also a 50 ton capacity transporter which means boats can be blocked closer together – meaning the yard can accommodate more boats.

Half Moon Bay Marina
When we talked to Mark Hollier at Half Moon Bay Marina, it was mid September and he said while the next two weeks were busy, and the first two weeks of October were 80% booked up (mostly due to entrants in the PIC Coastal Classic getting a last minute clean), beyond that, there were plenty of spaces available for a haulout – at the moment. The catch is, whether you also need a contractor to be available to do your maintenance.

“What we find is, we are never entirely full for the people that want to do the work themselves. We can normally accommodate them. But the marine trades businesses run out of people to do the jobs.”

For hard-to-lift boats, Mark says that no two boats are the same but there is a lot of ability in the industry, and Half Moon Bay itself now has a 7.6m wide bay and so can lift cats that it couldn’t lift before. “We have 43 boats out today. None of them are the same.”

One of the biggest challenges for boatyards and marine contractors, says Mark Hollier, is spreading out the demand. At his boatyard, around 50% of the year’s work is completed in a four-month period leading up to Christmas – so taking on more staff is not an option.

More boatyards, including Half Moon Bay, Orams, Gulf Harbour and Tamaki Marine Park, have built or added to their covered workspaces – at Orams many yachts can fit in them without removing their rig.

Mark also says it’s worth checking out those yacht clubs that have maintenance facilities, such as those in Devonport, Te Atatu, Panmure, Bucklands Beach Yacht Club and Waiheke Island. You’ll probably have to join as a member, they are often volunteer-run and cheaper and have a great ability to haul out different types of boats. Recently Half Moon Bay has also donated its older cradles to several clubs rather than dispose of them, so that the clubs can haul out more, and different types of boats. ​

Tamaki Marine Park
Tamaki Marine Park is one of Auckland’s most well-equipped facilities, particularly for powerboats. This facility fully opened in 2020 with the new marine precinct being completed in 2022. Tamaki Marine Park offers many storage options either in the dry stack or boat yard, outside and under cover options are available. If youphoned up wanting to get your boat – say a 40’ launch – hauled out today, they would be able to fit you in immediately or just about any time.

“Being a new yard we are filling up steadily but we still have availability,” says Martin Hannon. Tamaki Marine Park offers a friendly, professional and accommodating service, “We will make it work for boat owners.”

Martin still recommends ensuring you do get a space by booking ahead. “It is well understood in Auckland that November and December is exceptionally busy in all boat yards.”

For hard to lift boats, Martin says that the facility can haul out most hull forms (monohull, catamaran and yacht)because it utilises the very versatile Roodberg trailer system. While they can haul out yachts with a 2.8m draft but unfortunately the Panmure and Pakuranga Road bridges, with an air draft of 2.8, does limit access for sail boats which will need to drop their rig before entering.

“At Tamaki Marine Park we have a work berth available if a boat owner would like to deliver a boat the day before depending on tides, we have undercover boat yard options and outside options, and a good selection of onsite service providers such as Gloss Boats, CMS boat builders, Aquaplumb, HMB Electrical and more. Boat owners can bring their own tradies or contractors on site and DIY is allowed too.
“At Tamaki Marine Park we have berths available if a boat owner would like to deliver a boat the day before depending on tides, we have undercover boat yard options and outside options, and a good selection of on site such as Gloss Boats, CMS boat builders, Aquaplumb, HMB Electrical and more. Boat owners can bring their own tradies or contractors on site and DIY is allowed too.

Hobsonville Marine Services
At the time of the interview in mid-September, Hobsonville Marine Services was fully booked until 9 November.

A spokesperson from the boatyard advised not to wait to book. “Hobsonville Marine services suggest getting your bookings in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, this includes vessels that need a wash prior to Christmas.”

Top Tip: Book your lift and wash for before Christmas – but save the big jobs until after the New Year

The Landing
Unfortunately The Landing will be closing permanently in early 2023, but operator Scott Fickling says that it is booked out until Christmas, with 45 boats on the waiting list. If you are after a lift and hold in December it’s worth checking closer to the time, once they know when boats are going back in the water. The Landing is one of two facilities to close. Pier 21, a privately owned boatyard, has also stopped operating.

Gulf Harbour Marina
The boatyard at Gulf Harbour Marina is busy but still have spaces available. At the time of our interview at the end of September they said they have space available for a lift and waterblast in late October, November and December, and for haulouts in mid November and December. But they say it’s best to schedule as soon as possible.
Travel lift administrator Jan Edmonds suggests “As soon as you have decided your dates I would advise booking ASAP to avoid disappointment in hauling.”
She also says that cancellations can free up spaces too so it’s always worth checking if you can bring y our booking forwards.
“A common comment made by customers when they are scheduling, is that they have to check with their tradesmen, painters, electricians etc to confirm if they are available, as many of the tradies are booked also well in advance.”