boatyard

A boatyard is a facility where boats and small ships are built, stored, maintained, repaired, and retrofitted. It is typically located on or near a body of water to provide ready access to docks, slips, and launch facilities. Boatyards range from small, family-owned operations serving recreational craft to large commercial yards that service fishing vessels, ferries, and pleasure fleets. They may specialize in certain vessel types or materials, such as wood, fiberglass, or steel.

Facilities and services: Boatyards include dry docks or floating docks, travel lifts or cranes, slipways, and berths for wet storage. Workshops handle fiberglass, wood, metal fabrication, and mechanical and electrical systems. Common services include hull cleaning and antifouling, repainting, engine and transmission repairs, rigging, plumbing, electronics, carpentry, and refits. They also offer haul-out and launching, seasonal or long-term storage, and sometimes boat-building or major reconstruction.

Operations and practices: Work is scheduled around vessel access, tides, and weather. Yard management coordinates surveys, inspections, and maintenance plans. Environmental and safety measures are important, including containment of paint and oil, waste handling, spill prevention, and compliance with relevant maritime and environmental regulations.

Types and clientele: Depending on size, boatyards serve private owners, charter fleets, fishing fleets, and commercial operators. Some yards focus on new construction, others on repair and refit, while community boatyards provide affordable, smaller-scale services and public access to basic facilities.