... I've been dealing with boat yards in Florida for ten years, all mid/south east coast, I think most of them suck, I've had a number of bad experiences there. I've been to the Hinckley Yard, it's been several years, my experience there & then was quick & easy, no complaints, but I have a number of friends who have had similar experiences that you had w/Hinckley. It's a shame really. I think they're all thugs, and maybe part of the reason is they cater to the sport-fish crowd, with wealthy owners, and captains coordinating the work who okay the bills. The list is long, not only full-service boat yards, but sailmakers, riggers, suppliers, and especially the DIY yards. I've dealt with many and every time I wind up being unhappy. Perhaps its me, perhaps I expect too much. (I should note I've not had the pleasure of dealing with Rob at American Rigging, who participates on this Board, the next time I have a rigging need, he will get my call, he should have got it before, he has been more than helpful on the phone) ... the other stooges, like Mack Sails, in South Florida who do rigging work either have no idea what they're doing, or are flat-out dishonest.

The problem with the Florida yards is you are paying $90/hour to the Yard, who is paying the guys working on your boat $15-$20/hour, who quite frankly shouldn't be working on your boat. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way, for the past several years I've been all the work on my own boat, along with a friend from Maine who works in a Yard there, but spends the winters in Florida, he is amazing.

I'll be doing a bunch of major refit work on my boat in the next year, and there is no way any of this work will happen in Florida, I've been burned too many times there. It's a bummer, because there are good, honest independent guys & gals there doing great work, but you still have to deal with the Yards. So, my boat will go to Annapolis for some work, Rhode Island for some other, and then to Maine, where in my opinion you will find the best boat work done, by the most competent of people, who are as good & honest as the day is long, and fun to work with, no problems, no comparison. Our boat used to live in New England for years, there the quality of work IMO is unmatched, so she's going back ...

I'm really sorry to hear that Dan, I hope it all works out for you. It seems to me I have a story like yours that happens to me every year in Florida, for considerably more money ... ugggh.

Cheers, John