HAUL-OUT PLANNING · 3 min read
Your first Darwin haul-out: what to organise
The vessel details, job list and timing to have ready before you book a lift.
1. Gather the vessel details
Start with the make, model, overall length, beam, draft and current weight. Include any manufacturer lifting information and mention unusual appendages or equipment. Mark uncertain figures clearly. Spot On Marine’s travel lift is rated at 50 tonnes with a 6.1 metre wide beam, but the team still needs to confirm your individual boat is suitable.
2. Write one practical job list
Separate the jobs you definitely want done from anything that needs an inspection first. Include cleaning, surface preparation, fabrication and storage if relevant. This makes your enquiry more useful than a request for a lift alone, and helps you work out how long the boat may need to stay ashore.
3. Share a date window
Give your preferred arrival date, expected time ashore and any departure deadline. A range of dates can be useful if your plans are flexible. Confirm the yard arrangements before committing other trades or travel to a specific day.
4. Sort out the practicalities
Decide who will deliver the boat and who will be the main contact during the work. Ask about arrival instructions, water, power and access. If you hope to stay aboard, enquire about liveaboard availability at the same time. Keep confirmed details together so everyone working on the project has the same plan.
5. Leave room for discoveries
An exposed hull can make previously hidden work easier to identify. Think about who will make decisions if the scope changes, and avoid treating an initial return-to-water target as a confirmed outcome for unfinished work. A clear contact and a prioritised job list make those conversations easier.