Folks,

I find myself in need of immediate stabilizer repairs requiring a
haulout (a seal appears to be compromised and bearing grease is oozing
into the boat). We are on the west coast (currently lying Sarasota, at
Marina Jacks moorings). Naiad's official service center directory lists
only a single service center on all of the FL gulf coast, to wit,
MarineMax Yacht Service in St. Pete.

I hate to be backed into a corner with only a single option. I've
already spoken to MarineMax and they have enough depth and a big enough
lift, but their Naiad tech is out next week. On top of that, we'll have
to be off the boat while it's on the hard due to yard policy.

I'd love to have an alternative, even if it's not a factory-authorized
service center. The job is to remove the seals, inspect the bearings and
replace as needed, re-pack, and install new seals. As long as we are
getting hauled we'd also like to inspect the bottom paint and touch-up
or re-coat as needed.

Requirements are six feet of navigable water (not necessarily at MLW)
and a lift capacity no less than 60 tons. Anywhere from Sarasota to
Clearwater would be fine. We'll be pinning the bad fin so we can run on
just one, but I really don't want to cross the gulf to Mobile, the next
authorized service center on our route (and I certainly don't want to go
back around to the east coast).

Recommendations welcome, either here on-list or by direct email. Thanks.

-Sean
m/y Vector
lying Sarasota, FL
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

Thanks to everyone who responded to my query. I think it's instructive
to summarize those responses here:

Slightly less than half of you thought that replacing seals and bearings
on Naiads was really no big deal and that any competent yard could do
it. Some of you in this group passed along recommendations for specific
yards, but only one was aware of direct experience with Naiads.

Slightly more than half thought that Naiads were so finicky that the
only person I should even consider for this is Craig from Stabilized
Marine (who would have already been my first call had we still been in
SE FL), and that I should pay for eight to ten hours of travel time to
have him come out and do the work, on top of having to find a yard for
the haulout where he could do it.

Which leaves me sitting here wondering which it is: No big deal, or so
delicate I should spring an extra grand to bring in a specialist? I
suppose this could go into the bin of infamous T&T debates like which
anchor is best or flooded versus sealed batteries.

Interestingly, of those who mentioned it, no one thought MarineMax was a
good idea and some even recommended against them, without citing
specifics. I'm wondering why that is, considering the yard there seems
to have good reviews, and, after all, they are the only
factory-authorized Naiad servicing dealer on the west coast. Are we,
here on T&T, so collectively biased against go-fast yachts (and perhaps
their skippers) that we tar the dealers who sell and service them with
the same brush? Surely owners of expensive Azimut and Hatteras yachts
must be as demanding as we trawler owners are when it comes to service
and support, if not more so?

Tomorrow morning, under way to Tampa, I will make some phone calls to
the yards you all have recommended to me and see what they say about
their willingness and ability to do this work. If one of the yards will
allow us to remain aboard throughout the haulout, the hotel savings
alone would cover the cost of travel to bring Craig out if need be.

I will report back with my findings, for the archives.

-Sean
m/y Vector
lying Sarasota, FL
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

On 04/30/2016 12:46 PM, Sean Welsh via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
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