Bock Marine Consummate ripoff artist beaufort, North Carolina

I read a ripoff report on Bock Marine, Beaufort, NC and I must refute it.  Bock Marine's charges are clearly stated on their prointed price sheets to include charging certain services based on the overall length of the boat, including overhangs.

I just had my boat hauled there, the bottom painted, and some other minor work done.  The bill was exactly as I had been told it would be prior to the service work.  The work was done on time by an efficient, polite, caring crew of workers. I felt that my boat was in the best hands it could be in, and I will return to Bock Marine for all future work.

I recommend Bock Marine highly.

    We have been customers of Bock Marine since Sept 2006 and have been very satisfied with the work ethics of owners Kenny and Nancy Bock from the beginning. These people don't only treat you as customers but also as friends.

     As for the complaint above, this boat was brought into the yard and blocked within 30 feet of our boat, we got to see the condition of it when it came in and also saw the progress as the workers stripped many coats of Cetol from the woodwork and then applied 2 to 3 layers of epoxy to smooth the surface sanding between coats, alot of this by hand no machines. Then came the primer 2 to 3 coats with the same care sanding between each coat, lastly the finish color was put on, rolled and tipped again sanding between coats. Somewhere in the middle of the project the mast and boom and other pieces were also added to the project, again with the same care sanding and scraping began epoxy applied, primer then finish coat. While all of this work was going on we never saw the owner of this boat show to say one way or another if he was pleased with the work.

    As a concerned customer of this one of a kind business we are very displeased with the way the boat owner went about handling his problem, I know for a fact that the Bock's bent over backwards to do everything they could to resolve this in a timely and business like manner.

Regards

Ken Farwell

S/V Starfish

I've had my boat hauled at Bock for over three years now and have been in and out of the yard actively working on my boat throughout that time.  I am very glad that a long-term local from Eastern NC recommended Bock and I am sure that I am in one of the best yards of its type in the country.  While I'm just a paying customer I couldn't let a criticism of Bock go without a word and it looks like Tom felt the same way.

Fair billing, expert help and service beyond what is required is what I've found at Bock.  Kenny and Nanci are honourable folks that work hard to run this yard well and to take care of their customers as they would friends and family.  Boats can be expensive headaches and folks from all over the world come through here so their job is no easy task, yet they do it well.  I'm also sure that they will adjust or work to correct any mistake on their part which can come up in such a complicated business, even when you are as good as they are.

The new lounge/showers, yard-wide wifi and other regular improvements are also great.  Come see for yourself,

I am a satisfied customer of Bock Marine. My 40 foot sloop has been  hauled out twice in the past year and I have lived aboard for a total of 7 months at Bock Marine during these two haul outs. In context, I have cruised internationally during the past ten years almost completing a circumnavigations and  having put almost 50,000 miles under the keel, and have been hauled out numerous times by other yards both overseas and in the US.

I have found the billing and charges to be reasonable and completely in line with the services provided and always in conformance with the advertised billing rates.

Bock Marine does indeed measure the boat and bills based on the total length of the boat and appendages. This is stated in the form signed before the boat is hauled. Relying on the boat owners statement of the length of the boat is a practice abandoned over the past ten years by yards around the world as boat owners typically understate the length to save a few dollars.

Bock Marine does not charge for small parcels of mail that can be held in the office. But they do charge a fee for moving large parcels when the owner is not present to receive items himself or when the owner is not capable of moving them due to weight constraints.

The post does not say the weight of the "crate of parts, but crated boxes of parts and tools often exceed 100 pounds. Parcels of this size can not easily moved by an owner and  require the use of a crane and operator to relocate the parcel.  $50 is slightly more than 1/2 of the hourly rate for a crane and operator so I believe this fee is not egregious. (I recently paid a yard in SC $100 to move an engine)

The complaint states that the shower facilities are poor. This was true in 2010, but a brand new lounge with excellent shower and laundry facilities has been built. This facility is well maintained and by far and away is the best facility of any boat yard I have  used or visited, ever!  In fact, the new facility is better than the facilities provided at marinas that provide high end transient dockage!

The staff is indeed friendly and courteous, and with  the yard is primarily offered as a do it yourself yard, the staff will often provide, for free,  advice and tips for those who might need such advice.

In short, Bock Marine is the best kept secret on the east coast!

Readers of this letter need to know only 2 things:
1) For the truth about a business that has been in operation since 1975, read testimonials at bockmarine and activecaptain, and
2) This website does not verify the accuracy of any report, nor will it remove a report, even at the author's request. Rather, the victim is required to pay $2,000 for "arbitration". Read more at Wikipedia.