GREAT Experience - Dutch Wharf Boatyard in CT

[labatt]

We had an issue on Pelican that required a lot of attention. Passport 40's needed to be ballasted on the starboard side, so the King Dragon yard took the center punches of iron washers, put them in a slurry of epoxy, and poured the mixture under the water tank and boards on the starboard side. Over time, the welds on the water tank crack some and leak water, which then creates oxidation on the iron ballast. The oxidation proceeds to push up the floorboards above and displace furniture. We started seeing this evidence itself over the summer. To remove it, you have to rip up the floor on the starboard side, remove the watertank and grind out the ballast.

On Jim Malkin's recommendation (Jim is here on Sailnet), we brought Pelican to Dutch Wharf to put her up for the Winter and get the work done.

First off, when I called them and told them what we were looking for, they said that if we were paying for Winter layup that they would let us stay at the docks for free for a month before we hauled.

Then I called them a few weeks later to tell them that we were leaving to cruise instead of hauling for the season, and I asked them if they could do the repair in a two week period. They agreed, estimated the price (right on my budget) and I sent them the money.

2 weeks later, not only was Pelican completed (including a couple of brand new pieces of solid teak planking), but they said they came in UNDERBUDGET and gave me over 10% of my money back!!!! The job looks great, the came in completely on time, did more than they said they would, and gave me money back. On top of all this, they were extremely pleasant to work with and have a nice facility.

I just thought I'd share this excellent experience as I like to promote good, quality organizations.

Chris

[bubb2]

[xort]

labatt
What did you do about the cracks in the water tank?
Aluminum?

[camaraderie]

Excellent ....Always Nice to hear about GOOD Boatyard Service!

[labatt]

We had them welded. According to Dutch Wharf, they had been obviously re-welded before and we'll probably have to look at having new ones fabricated in the next couple of years. I'm sure there are only so many times the metal around the seams can be re-welded.

[xort]

I have a 23 year old aluminum. I'm hoping it will hold up for a while. It's a big tank with only one access port

[teshannon]

Great to hear that Chris.

[tlily]

Bubb2 - You have no idea how right you-r (sic)

[tlily]

Sounds more like Dutch Treat!

[tweitz]

Nice story Chris. Where in CT is Dutch wharf?