Slipyards in Tasmania can save you!

As an island with a high rate of boat ownership, Tasmania offers a good range of slipyards and boat repair facilities. Tim Oxley takes a look at some choices and shows how mainland boat owners can have their boats maintained for less. (Read more)

Building and maintaining boats is a well-established Tasmanian industry: one of the first established by European settlers. Repairs would have been necessary after the long voyage south, and the availability of timber close to the water would have been noticed by shipwrights. The industry developed to build and maintain whaling and transport vessels and various ports around the state have been supporting the fishing fleet for many years. More recently the industry has established an international reputation for producing and maintaining high speed catamarans, offshore support vessels, aquaculture work boats and of course, recreational boats.

Recreational boat owners planning to sail to Tasmania for the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival or for a cruising holiday, often ask about storing and slipping their boats when they are here.

It’s a good question as it usually takes a team of people to help maintain various aspects of a boat. Fortunately Tasmania has a brigade of shipwrights, sail makers, boat painters, diesel mechanics and all the other required trades. Many mainland slipyards quote a price to slip and antifoul your boat, rather  than advertising lifting and daily hardstand rates. Most Tasmanian slipyards will provide slipping and daily hardstand rates and the painting bill may be separate. Most allow DIY work – sadly a thing of the past in many mainland slipyards.

We have compared three slipyards in Tasmania with a sample of similar facilities in NSW, where the information is available online.

Clean Lift Marine at Prince of Wales Bay in Goodwood, 10 mins by car north of Hobart, is well known for having a 70 tonne Travel Lift and 32m high workshed. Boats being transported by truck can be loaded and unloaded here. Liveaboard is permitted.  A wide range of marine trades and marina space is available in the Prince of Wales Bay marine precinct.

Margate Marina Park is located in North West Bay near the top of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, about 20 minutes by car south of Hobart.  The owners have recently built a large slipyard and hardstand area, the first stage in a new 300 berth marina development. The slipyard has a Roodberg boat trailer which can launch and retrieve vessels up to 60 feet in length and 47 tonnes.  It can handle the growing catamaran fleet, many of which are too wide for travel lifts.

Spencer Marine’s Slipyard at Triabunna is a part of the growing Spring Bay marine community on Tasmania’s East Coast. The yard has two slips and can handle boats up to around 35 tonnes. A range of on site and local trades can undertake most marine work. A recently built floating marina and the Spring Bay Boat Club make this a popular spot.

How the slipyards compare

To get an idea of prices we’ll look at the price for antifouling a 38′ yacht. This includes lift out, pressure wash, spray a coat of premium antifoul and return to water. We have ignored any extras like anodes or repairs, which will add to the price.

We compared two Sydney area marinas who provide pricing on their website. It’s clearly not a complete list and no doubt there are other prices available. However, here is what we found for a haulout, pressure wash, spray coat of premium antifoul and return to water.

Newport Marine Services                                                                   $2235

Cammeray Marina                                                                              $1862

Clean Lift             (total of slipyard and painter)                                  $1142

Margate Marina    (total of slipyard and painter)                                 $1261

Spencer Marine    (total of slipyard and painter)                                 $1300

Please contact the slipyards to check prices for your boat. You may be asked to provide evidence of your insurance before being lifted out.

So if you are thinking of sailing to Hobart for the festival or for a cruising holiday, bring your boat down and have the work done in Tasmania. The cost of slipping and work here will save you heaps.

Boats in images: Cyprea on the slip at Spencer Marine, Rachel Christine at Clean Lift and Estella at Margate Marina.

Tim Oxley contributes to AWBF news and ReviewMarineProducts