Where is the best place to carry out yacht repair? Sailors usually share their experience, and we won’t be an exception. This article, we hope, will eventually become a section dedicated to boat maintenance. For now, we will share what we know and have encountered.
Yacht Repair in Turkey
At first glance, with the constantly weakening Turkish lira, yacht repair in Turkey should be cheaper than in Europe. However, in practice, this is not really the case. Everything related to marinas and boats is expensive, and calculations are usually made in US dollars. So, there’s no real bargain.
As for quality, Turkish marinas employ attentive, intelligent, and helpful people. Those willing and able to work are a plus. Unfortunately, their capabilities are often limited by two factors.
The level of education and specialists in Turkey is often below European standards. Companies accept literally any work, though it is far from guaranteed that they can perform it properly. This mainly concerns electrical work. Yacht repair can end up costing more than even the most expensive places because you often pay twice: first for the work, then for a redo.
Some types of work are indeed cheaper in Turkey and, importantly, faster than in Greece. On our yacht Ganesh, we installed a bimini frame and solar panels — done perfectly. The restoration and upgrade of refrigerators and air conditioning — excellent. But the water electric pump for galley water supply — poor, had to be replaced within a month. Electrical connections required a complete revision and redo in Greece.
Additionally, one of our sails — a new genoa — was made in Turkey; so far, so good, but time will tell.
One important feature of Turkey is complex customs procedures, which can become a nightmare. Delivering equipment, especially electronics, is better postponed until Europe. As a result, much work in Turkey is done hastily with whatever materials are available — a major downside. On the plus side, urgent repairs can be done quickly.
Yacht Repair in Greece
Yacht repair in Greece is the complete opposite of Turkey — slow but high-quality. Greek specialists are far better trained, sometimes exceeding the requirements for the job. An electrician educated in Canada might handle your wiring — that’s the market. Quality is guaranteed.
In Greece, anything can be repaired professionally. They will not hesitate to look up instructions online while working. The approach is knowledgeable and thorough, resulting in excellent quality. Contrary to myths, repair in Greece isn’t necessarily more expensive than in Turkey. The price is often comparable but includes more work and higher reliability, so you don’t need to redo anything.
The main downside is the slow pace, especially on islands. This can be mitigated by timing your visit (off-season) and clearly setting deadlines with your contractor.
DIY Repairs
There is no perfect option anywhere. Learning to perform yacht repairs yourself is cheaper and safer. At sea, there are no professionals — neither Turkish nor Greek. A captain can quickly teach almost anyone, but only those who can solve problems become real sailors and captains.
How to learn? Besides reading instructions, observe others, participate, and volunteer as an assistant. Not all repairs can be outsourced; even buying a new yacht doesn’t prevent breakdowns — everything eventually fails at sea.
Owning a yacht is for those who can and love to work. Yachting is not for the lazy. If you are unsure of your abilities or just want to enjoy sailing, hire professionals who handle everything in advance. But you can still observe and learn on your own boat.
