Service Cost HKD
Cleaning, waxing – labour $1,000 / wash or wax
Antifouling, brightwork, fiberglass – labour $1,500 / day
Underwater hull cleaning $1,500 / dive
Mechanical, electical, aircon, refrigeration – labour $2,000 / day
Parts, consumables 10% handling charge
Transport At cost
Management 10% overall charge

Parts and materials costs are backed-up with third party invoices/receipts, and payable in advance. Labour charge: 50% on order confirmation, 50% at completion.  Diving rates based on 40 ft yacht in sailable condition. No transport charges for Aberdeen and Causeway Bay.

Boat Servicing in Hong Kong

Servicing one’s boat in Hong Kong is neither cheap nor simple. At times, it can feel like bringing a punctured tyre to a jewellery shop. At one end of the market, big dealerships thrive on the lucrative warranty business and often charge premium prices for basic maintenance work; at the other, communication problems with local shipyards can become an excuse for poor service. In the middle, a host of independent agents and technicians ply their trades over the telephone. As for boatyards, they are either “members only” or overbooked.

The same goes for spare parts and consumables. More often than not, spare parts on European and US-branded equipments (diesel engines, petrol outboards, generators, navigation electronics, etc. ) are originally sourced in China but charged to Hong Kong yacht owners anywhere between 5 and 10 times above their Taobao / Mongkok prices.

Having owned three houseboats, two sailing yachts, a trawler, a teak junk, two sampans, countless RIBs and dinghies during his first twelve years in Hong Kong, The Boater had to get organised. After  patiently building up a team of reliable workmen, covering most service requirements, we are now in a position to offer fellow boat-owners an affordable, professional service, under the SAILORMAN brand.

Antifouling

Aberdeen’s southern harbour (part of the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter) has some of the most desirable moorings in Hong Kong. The club moorings of the Aberdeen Marina Club (AMC), Aberdeen Boat Club (ABC) and Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) are reserved to club members and subject to a waiting list. The rest of the harbour is shared between Marine Department moorings (fore and aft moorings on MarDep buoys) and traditional moorings (on quasi permanent anchors), all of which are available at a price. The presence of numerous shipyards on both the Ap Lei Chau and Wong Chuk Hang sides, as well as the multitude of workshops in the Shum Wan and Po Chong Wan Temporary Industrial Estates make Aberdeen Hong Kong’s main hub of leisure vessel repair and maintenance.

The proximity of Lei Tung and Wong Chuk Hang MTR, the busy Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau town centres and Wong Chuk Hang business centre, as well as the nearby beaches and clubs of the island’s more relaxed South Side, all contribute to making Aberdeen Hong Kong’s most attractive typhoon shelter for leisure vessel owners.

Hull painting

Kwun Tong is the most recent of Hong Kong’s many typhoon shelters. Situated on Kowloon’s south side, between Kowloon Bay and Lei Yue Mun, it is also one of Hong Kong’s least congested.

There are no Marine Department moorings in Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter and space is allocated on a “first come first served” basis. Vessels can either anchor (fore and aft) for free or berth alongside a commercially operated barge (prices vary with services offered: water and electricity, cleaning, etc.). Unlike most other typhoon shelters, where fishing boats or dumb lighters (crane barges) have traditionally been the majority, Kwun Tong mostly hosts leisure vessels (superyachts, leisure junks, sailing boats and stay-aboards) and landing pontoons.

Given its proximity to the thriving Kwun Tong business district, soon to be rebranded Grand Central, and the Kai Tak Cruiser terminal, which was built on the grounds of Hong Kong’s old airport and now hosts regular exhibitions, Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter is bound to become increasingly attractive to leisure vessel owners. The proximity of the Kwun Tong MTR and North Point ferry make access reasonably easy, while the scheduled opening of a Kai Tak MTR station (Shatin to Central Line) will doubtless turn the Kwun Tong T.S. into one of the most convenient and attractive typhoon shelters in Hong Kong.

Brightwork

Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter is located on the north-eastern shore of Hong Kong island, between Sai Wan Ho and Chai Wan. Well protected, this traditional fishing harbour boasts half a dozen shipyards.  Over the last few years, leisure vessels have started to make an appearance. There are no Marine Department moorings and all vessels are either moored on anchors (fore and aft) or berthed alongside licensed barges. There are a few moorings available, at a price.

The proximity of Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho MTR stations, as well as the busy Shau Kei Wan town centre, make  this an attractive alternative to other,  busier Hong Kong island typhoon shelters.

Other services

Kwun Tong is the most recent of Hong Kong’s many typhoon shelters. Situated on Kowloon’s south side, between Kowloon Bay and Lei Yue Mun, it is also one of Hong Kong’s least congested.

There are no Marine Department moorings in Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter and space is allocated on a “first come first served” basis. Vessels can either anchor (fore and aft) for free or berth alongside a commercially operated barge (prices vary with services offered: water and electricity, cleaning, etc.). Unlike most other typhoon shelters, where fishing boats or dumb lighters (crane barges) have traditionally been the majority, Kwun Tong mostly hosts leisure vessels (superyachts, leisure junks, sailing boats and stay-aboards) and landing pontoons.

Given its proximity to the thriving Kwun Tong business district, soon to be rebranded Grand Central, and the Kai Tak Cruiser terminal, which was built on the grounds of Hong Kong’s old airport and now hosts regular exhibitions, Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter is bound to become increasingly attractive to leisure vessel owners. The proximity of the Kwun Tong MTR and North Point ferry make access reasonably easy, while the scheduled opening of a Kai Tak MTR station (Shatin to Central Line) will doubtless turn the Kwun Tong T.S. into one of the most convenient and attractive typhoon shelters in Hong Kong.