Boat Triage
Your work list,
sorted.
I spend an hour or two aboard and tell you what to do now, what can wait, what you can do yourself and who to hire for the rest. Bring your yard quotes. $500.
Why it helps
A long work list is hard to look at.
In an emergency room, triage decides who gets seen first and who can wait. Your boat needs the same thing.
Most owners I meet are afraid of the list. They don’t know what they don’t know. The soft spot in the deck is a big deal, and it’s not a weekend project. The pump in the head looks scary and usually isn’t. Nobody has told them which is which.
So they put it off, or they do the wrong job first, or they pay for the same haul three times. I come aboard, we go through her together, and you get straight answers.
What you’ll know when I leave
Five answers for every item on the list.
Now
What needs to happen this season, and why it can’t wait.
Later
What can wait, and roughly how long you’ve got.
You
What you can do yourself, with a few tips if you’re nervous about it.
A pro
What to hire out, and what kind of pro it is: a rigger, a mechanic, a glass guy.
Together
Which jobs to group, so you pay for one haul and one crew instead of three.
I’ll also tell you what’s new on the market for the problems you’ve been fighting. There’s usually a better answer than the one you’re living with.
Holding a quote?
Bring your estimates.
Reading them is included.
Some estimates come in high because they’re well scoped. Some come in low because they leave out half the job. I can usually tell which, and which ones are going to grow once the boat is on the hard.
You’ll know what’s fair, what’s missing, and what to ask your yard before you say yes. None of it is a knock on the yard. A good yard likes a customer who knows what to ask.
One flat fee
$500
- 1 to 2 hours aboard with me
- Your whole work list, sorted by what matters
- A read on any yard quotes you’re holding
- What’s new on the market for problems you’ve been fighting
- Your $500 credited toward your first month if you sign on for management within 30 days
Before you book
The fine print, in plain terms.
Not a survey. A survey is a formal document for a buyer, a lender or an insurer, and they won’t accept this in its place. I’ll tell you if you need one.
Advice, given aboard. We talk it through on the boat. I don’t do the work myself, and I don’t have a yard I steer you toward.
A long list? We can roll it into management. Sign on within 30 days and your $500 is credited toward your first month.
In their words
The owners who’d know.
Daniel met us at the marina on day one and took a thorough inventory of the boat and her systems — then got to know us as sailors. He handled routine upgrades and troubleshot complicated repairs faster than we expected. Having one responsive point of contact is a luxury like no other.
Joe & Kerrianne Ciccone
Charlestown, MA
Working with Martingale has made boat ownership easy. They're responsive, detail-oriented, and genuinely care about keeping things running smoothly. I spend less time worrying about maintenance and more time on the water.
Barbara Vietor
S/V Fidelia
After 25 years away, Martingale made my dream of cruising again come true. Daniel is an invaluable partner — his expertise brings a real level of safety and security to my itinerary. Prompt, efficient, and with a smile.
Phil Strother
S/V Rebel Fox
Common questions
Boat Triage, in plain terms.
What is Boat Triage?
It’s a one-time visit. I spend an hour or two aboard your boat and sort your work list into what to do now, what can wait, what you can do yourself and what to hire out. I also tell you which jobs to group to save money. It costs $500.
How long does it take?
One to two hours aboard. Bigger or older boats run closer to two.
Do I need to be there?
Yes. I’ll want to point at things, and you’ll want to ask questions while we’re looking at them.
Is Boat Triage a survey?
No. A survey is a formal written document for a buyer, a lender or an insurer, and they won’t accept this in its place. Boat Triage is advice, given on your boat, in plain English. If you need a survey, I’ll tell you, and I can point you to a good surveyor.
Will I get a written report?
No. It’s a conversation aboard. Take notes or record it on your phone if you like.
Can you look at an estimate from my yard?
Yes, and please bring it. Some estimates look high because they’re well scoped. Some look great because they leave out half the job. I can usually tell which, and which ones are going to grow once the boat is on the hard.
Do you do the work, or send me to a particular yard?
No to both. I don’t do trade work, and I don’t have a yard I steer people toward. I tell you what kind of pro each job needs and what a fair scope looks like. If you’d rather hand the list off, that’s what management is.
What if the list is long and I want you to take it over?
Then we talk about management. Sign on within 30 days and your $500 is credited toward your first month.
What if I don’t need management?
Then you’ve got a plan and you’re done. Plenty of owners stop there, and that’s fine by me.
What size boats and where?
Any size, power or sail, in Rhode Island and the greater Boston area. If you’re farther out, ask.
Should the boat be in the water or on the hard?
Either works. Some things I can only see on the hard, and if that’s the case I’ll tell you which ones.
Book Boat Triage
Tell me about your boat.
I’ll get back to you within 24 hours, usually a lot sooner, to find a day that works. I send an invoice once we have a date. Everything but your name and email is optional.
Rather talk first?
Text me the make, the marina and what’s on the list. I’ll tell you if Boat Triage is the right fit.