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It’s easier to build good
boats
with good folks….
One of more common questions I get asked is where should
I build my boat? There are dozens of domestic builders and many more
worldwide. Some build commercial. Some only build yachts. Some work in
both worlds.
My answer, however, is
always the same.
If you think you’d feel
comfortable working with the boatyard, then that is the "right" one. Yes
cost is always a concern, but I truly believe a good working
relationship with a boatyard can be even more important. I have seen
projects where a skeptical owner locks horns with a combative boat yard.
The outcome is never good. Even if the final boat meets all of the
owner’s requirements, it is rarely recognized as "good" because of the
barrels of poison that have infected the entire experience.
Make no mistake. You are creating a big, complicated
machine that has to move and look good and accommodate all the things
desired. Bringing it to life can take many months if not years to
accomplish. It can only be successfully achieved if both the owner and
the builder are pulling in the same direction. In this marriage, the
boatyard needs the assurance that you will be understanding as the
myriad of unexpected details crop up. Likewise you need confidence that
the boatyard’s overall goal is to build you the boat you want without
unduly escalating the final price.
Guess what? The chances of success are more likely if
good folks (owner’s and builder’s) like each other, respect each other
and work toward a common goal. If that is not the case, no elements of
good design, great drawings, creative contracts or expansive
specifications are likely to salvage the final outcome. Find good
people, people that you like to work with, and let them build your
boat…But that’s just my opinion.
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