- Agree a regular check routine and ask for a written report with photos.
- Plan the annual jobs (engine service, antifouling) for when you are not there.
- Keep a simple boat file: engine model, serial numbers, last services, paint used.
- One contact who coordinates all trades saves a lot of phone calls and invoices.
The problem with a boat that waits
Boats deteriorate faster when they are not used. Seals dry out, batteries go flat, water gets in where it should not and small leaks go unnoticed for months. Most expensive repairs start as something small that nobody saw.
Set up a routine
- Regular visits: once a month in winter and more often in summer or after storms.
- What to check: mooring lines and fenders, bilge water, battery voltage, shore power, deck and covers, signs of leaks or mould.
- Proof: a short written report and photos after every visit.
Schedule the big jobs for when you are away
The annual engine service, antifouling, upholstery or electrical work are best done in the months when you will not use the boat. Plan them in advance so the boat is ready, tested and clean when you arrive, instead of losing the first days of your holiday to a workshop queue.
Before each trip, ask for the boat to be aired, the water tanks filled and the batteries checked a few days earlier. It is a small job that changes the first evening on board.
Keep a boat file
Whoever works on your boat will be faster and more accurate with good information. Keep a simple document with: hull and engine models, serial numbers, last service dates, oil and filter references, battery types and age, antifouling product and colour, and photos of key areas. Share it with your service provider.
Quotes, payments and language
Ask for itemised written quotes before work starts and agree how changes are approved. If you do not speak Spanish, make sure your contact does speak your language and can talk to the trades for you. Payment terms and invoices should be clear before the job starts, not after.
One contact instead of five
A mechanic, an electrician, a painter, a cleaner and an upholsterer often means five phone numbers, five schedules and five invoices. Krautic coordinates vetted local professionals at your marina with one point of contact, fixed written quotes in English and one guarantee for the job.