Big boats make a beeline
For boat owners heading north for the season, The Boat Works at Coomera on Queensland’s Gold Coast is pulling out all the stops to accommodate vessels of every size for repairs, maintenance and major refits either on the way up to the Whitsundays, or the return trip south.
Photography by The Boat Works
18 July 2017
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Following the devastating impact of Cyclone Debbie in late March, The Boat Works has experienced an influx of damaged boats from the Whitsundays and, as the storm surge swept south over the week of deluge and strong winds, further vessels from the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and northern NSW.
According to Shane Subichin, General Manager at The Boat Works, as a consequence of the 10 days of wind and torrential rain, The Boat Works received 15 large vessels ranging from 18 to 33.5 feet.
“Many arrived with substantial damage to hulls and some with entire sections such as hardtops and duckboards ripped off,” he said. “Because a lot of them are charter vessels, their owners need them to be back to work as soon as possible. We operated around the clock, working with owners, skippers and tenants to get the work done.”
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The yard’s tenants are able to provide service for both motor and sailing yachts, mono- and multihulls. There are experts in upholstery and stainless steel, shipwrights, mechanical and electrical engineers, sandblasting specialists, surveyors, watermakers and desalination equipment, chandlery, safety gear, electronics and refrigeration, signage and graphics, project managers and boat brokers.
Owners and captains can deal directly with businesses for any job, from antifouling to complete refits, or assign a project manager to handle the entire project.
“The surrounding Coomera precinct is unique in its proximity to manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, meaning further cost-savings for clients and quicker turn-around times,” added Subichin.
Word-of-mouth referral from satisfied customers and surveyors is one of the main means of promotion of The Boat Works’ cost-effective, professional five-star service. The facility features an all-weather, climate controlled working environment to ensure boats are protected and work runs to schedule.
A 24-metre Sunseeker charter yacht from Hamilton Island was the most recent vessel to arrive for insurance repairs, including a full respray after being damaged by debris. The yacht subsequently extended its stay to undertake an internal refit.
Equipment at The Boat Works includes two marine Travelifts with capacities of 100 tonnes and 70 tonnes, and a 45-tonne hydraulic submersible Sealift, which is particularly useful for the wide-beam catamarans that are prevalent along the coastline.
Adding to its complement of 35-plus screened sheds for refits are four prestige “supersheds” up to 15 metres in height, which can accommodate yachts of up to 36.5 metres. Due for completion within the next few months is another hardstand precinct, including covered hardstand and a spacious showroom, which will be the Bayliner Queensland headquarters.
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