GL: summer storage on the hard in lower Georgia/Savanah area

[Bill Donovan]

Wayne, et al:

Wow!  I guess Wayne had a shocking  experience....  So, I will wade 
into the fray with a little more positive review of Hinckley in Savannah.

The Savannah Hinkley Yacht Services is perhaps the most professional 
yard I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with.  Dustin Hartley, 
the service manager is an energetic, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and 
very helpful professional.  He is an accomplished former "Coastie" 
and one of the best boat handlers I have ever witnessed.  The service 
staff obviously respects him and they seem to enjoy working at Hinckley.

The Hinckley technicians are excellent workers who obviously enjoy 
their work.  The estimates I was given for a variety of (extensive) 
jobs were very close to the final cost (they were "estimates," not 
"quotes").  I was never charged a dime for dockage or use of the 
facilities (showers, restrooms) while there for some 5 months.  By 
the way, they do have limited transient space, and at a very good 
rate.  No fuel or pumpout.

Yes, the work seemed expensive, but I have learned that marine work 
IS expensive.  Hinckley charges a labor rate that varies by skill 
set, and all seem to be fair.  And, no, they don't want you to do any 
significant work on your boat while in storage on the hard (insurance 
reasons, no doubt).

If you are to be in Savannah, the only yards that can haul you would 
be Hinckley or Thunderbolt Marine -- only a mile apart on the 
Wilmington River.  I never have had Thunderbolt work on my boat.

You may want to call each one and talk about your needs, then decide.

Bill


At 11:09 AM 3/2/2009, Wayne M Barski wrote:
>In response to your inquiry about the Hinckley Yard, I can only tell our
>experience in the Hinckely Yard in Stuart Florida
>...snip...