Boat maintenance in Ibiza

In Ibiza town, Varadero Ibiza, on the fishing quay next to Marina Ibiza, has a 160-tonne travelift for boats up to 45 metres long and 10 metres in beam, one of the largest in the Balearics. In Puig d'en Valls, a few minutes from the port, there are sheds and yards for repairs, winter storage and boat custody ashore.

On the west coast, the Club Nàutic Sant Antoni yard has a 20-tonne travelift for boats up to 18 metres and a slipway for smaller ones. In the east, Marina Santa Eulalia has its own yard. And on Formentera, the La Savina boatyard lets you haul out, service and store the boat without crossing to Ibiza.

Choose a yard by your boat's length and weight, but also by logistics: a yard close to your berth saves the delivery trip and makes it easier for your usual mechanic to work on the boat.

The season in Ibiza is intense and short. From June to September workshops and yards deal mostly with breakdowns and emergencies on rental and charter boats, and a big job can wait weeks for a slot. Pre-season servicing is done in spring, in April and May, and haul-outs with antifouling and hull work are concentrated in autumn and winter.

Many Ibiza workshops also work on Formentera, and some come to the berth with a workshop van. If your boat is in Santa Eulària or Sant Antoni and the workshop is in town, ask whether they charge for travel. On an island, parts that are not in stock can take days to arrive: ask the workshop to check spares before taking things apart.

Preventive maintenance is what keeps breakdowns out of your summer. A full annual plan usually covers the engine service (oil, filters, impeller, anodes and belts), a haul-out with hull cleaning and antifouling, a check of the electrics and batteries, greasing winches and seacocks, and inspecting the safety gear.

Many maintenance companies in Ibiza offer annual contracts with regular visits: they run the engine, air the boat, check mooring lines and bilge pumps, and tell you if anything needs attention. If you don't sail every week, it is the cheapest way to have the boat ready when you arrive.

Always ask for a written quote that separates labour and parts, and check whether the yard is an authorised dealer for your engine brand: some warranties require servicing by an official agent.

Look at reviews from other owners, whether they work in your marina (or charge travel time) and whether they hand over a job report with what was done and what to watch. On Nautify you can contact several companies at once and compare replies.