Boat maintenance in Palma de Mallorca

Much of the maintenance on a boat in Palma is done without leaving the berth: engine and generator service, electrics and electronics, watermaker, upholstery, cleaning and teak care. All it takes is a mechanic or technician who comes to the pontoon, and in Palma nearly all of them do.

Anything below the waterline means hauling out: antifouling, shaft and sterndrive anodes, propeller, seacocks, stern tube and gelcoat repairs on the underwater hull. If you are hauling out anyway, group these jobs together and pay for a single lift-out and relaunch.

Every marina has its own rules for outside contractors: some ask for prior registration or liability insurance, or limit noise and working hours in summer. Before hiring, check that the professional can work in your marina, whether it is the Real Club Náutico, Club de Mar, Marina Port de Mallorca or Port Calanova.

For small and mid-size boats, the Real Club Náutico de Palma yard has a 100-tonne travel lift and a 12-tonne crane, and Port Calanova, on the west side of the bay, has a 75-tonne travel lift. STP, in the commercial port, has travel lifts from 30 up to 1,000 tonnes and is best known for large yachts; Astilleros de Mallorca is next to the Real Club Náutico.

The practical difference is who does the work. At STP the owner picks the companies that work on the boat from those authorised on site; at other yards some services are provided by the yard itself, or there are conditions for outside contractors and for owners who want to do their own work. Ask before you book.

A comparable quote needs your boat's details: model, length, beam, approximate weight, engines and hours, the marina where it is berthed and a few photos of the hull or the fault. Ask for lift-out and relaunch, days on the hard, pressure wash, labour and materials to be listed separately.

Clarify who books the yard date: sometimes the maintenance company does, sometimes the owner. Put in writing what happens if extra work turns up once the boat is out: photos and a price first, work only after your approval. Nautify's price guides give indicative ranges for haul-outs and antifouling to compare against.

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 Palma de Mallorca 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.