Safe Harbor City Boatyard

Reviews

• ML

  Mike Larsen

  Oct 30, 2025
  5.0
  I had a terrible experience with another shop working on my Mercury 150. Called these folks and explained my situation. They sent someone out the next day. Within 20 minutes, they identified the problem and explained the issue to me (I know nothing about boats). I had them undertake the repair, which they did within a day of me signing off. Totally different experience from the other shop. We couldn’t be happier.
• EM

  Erik Manders

  Jul 15, 2025
  1.0
  Boatyard is a good place if you have more than enough money and if you do not care to spend it. We had to replace the oil- and water seals of the Yanmar Saildrive of our 37-ft sailing boat. Here some prices: Hauling out- and into the water (together) is 518 USD for our 37-ft sailing boat. A day at the ship-yard costs 0.60 USD/ft, so for us it was (only) 22 USD. So far everything OK, but than labor costs: this is 155 USD/hour/person. Since they always come with two mechanics, it costs you 310 USD/hour, so 2480 USD per day(!!). This means that if the job takes one week, you have to pay 12400 USD!!!! I think there are not many cruisers who can pay this. Especially because at the start of a job you never know how much time it will take: maybe 5000, maybe 25000 USD. So, you think it is better to do the work yourself like we did? Then you will be confronted with the DIY-fee of 250 USD for every day you work on the boat, with a minimum of 7 days!! So, at least you pay 1750 USD (also when you finish your job within a day or two). In our case we paid 750 for 7 days of work since we only could work 4-5 hour per day (due to health problems), so we were lucky that they were so kind to reduce the price for us. Then you will have costs for a hotel (you are not allowed to sleep on the boat) which are extremely expensive in the weekends. We found a "cheap" hotel in Sain Stephan, at 50 miles drive, and you have to rent a car to go to your hotel. They have a cat that you can use for small shopping or picking up your rental-car, which is very nice. Then on top of these costs, you will pay "environmental charges" which was in our case 277 USD and a mysterious "Other Charges" of 200 USD (very unclear where it is for) and tax 173 USD in our case. We went here since they are Yanmar dealer. Well, there is a mechanic with expertise, but first he sends two people with less experience. They conclude that oil is leaking and you have to pay for them. Then he comes and confirms that oil is leaking from the saildrive (which was also my conclusion since there was oil under the engine and no oil in the saildrive). But again, you pay. Then he orders parts and also charges his hours for that. Ordering parts you can also easily do yourself. So, do not ask them for help unless you really need them. Remember: Youtube is full of instructions for every boat-job! It is clear that this is a extremely expensive harbor. They have many managers and boss-managers in office who have to be paid every month, so I understand that this is the only way for them to survive. But for a simple, not extremely rich sailor, this harbor is far too expensive. One positive thing: the people working here are very nice and helpful.
• JY

  jason yates

  Apr 30, 2024
  5.0
  Ryan and his team really care about the customer. My experience over the past year has been superb.
• JB

  John B

  Mar 19, 2024
  5.0
  The work quality and customer interaction were exceptional The work was completed in a timely manner The cost rates and structure were on the high side
• DH

  David Hazinski

  Jul 9, 2014
  2.0
  Can't say I'm happy. We had a lot of work done while also working on the boat myself. The main issue, overheating, was never taken care of..... but we still had a bill that was pretty hefty. Had new vinyl done of the inside of a hardtop. I am now contracting to have it done again... this time right, a year later. I pointed out that it was a POS job and the yard said they would discuss it. That was the last I ever heard, so maybe they're still discussing it. Oh, and they missed the schedule after five phone calls to make sure the boat would b ready for the rental captain. It wasn't. Had to reschedule vacation and the captain. I would personally never take our boat there again. Nice folks but at the end of the day, the important work wasn't done, some of the work that was done wasn't done right, and it wasn't done on time. Not sure what other criteria to judge on but that was our experience.

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