Boat repair in Palma de Mallorca

Palma concentrates most of the island's workshops, chandleries and engine dealers, because it has the busiest marinas and the large STP refit centre. For a repair that means parts closer at hand, specialists for each brand and more options when one workshop is fully booked.

The city's boatyards cover almost any size: the Real Club Náutico de Palma has a 100-tonne travelift, Port Calanova a 75-tonne one and STP, in the commercial port, from 30 up to 1,000 tonnes. When the fault is below the waterline, the workshop usually books the haul-out.

Call with the details ready: make and model of the boat and engine, hours, marina and berth number, and a description of the fault with photos or video. With that the mechanic knows which parts to bring and whether it can be fixed afloat.

Check that the professional can work in your marina, since some ask outside companies for prior registration or liability insurance. And ask to be told before any extra work, with a fixed price: in high season it is easy for a small repair to grow.

The repairs owners ask for most are engine problems (starting issues, overheating from the impeller or heat exchanger, injection faults), knocks and cracks in the fiberglass, leaks at through-hulls and stern glands, electrical failures caused by corrosion, and damaged propellers and shafts.

Many small repairs can be done afloat, at your berth. Anything involving the underwater hull, shaft or propeller usually needs a haul-out, so it pays to combine it with antifouling or new anodes.

Describe the problem in as much detail as you can: engine make and model, hours, symptoms, photos or videos and where the boat is. With that, a serious yard can give a first estimate and tell you whether they need to inspect it before fixing a price.

Be wary of fixed prices without a diagnosis on complex faults, and ask to keep the replaced parts. Some yards in Palma de Mallorca handle emergencies in season; ask when you get in touch.