The Offshore Voyaging Reference Site

Bock Marine Soothes Boatyard Hell

“Boat Yard Hell” is our term of endearment for Morgan’s Cloud’s annual date with a boat lift. There just isn’t much fun to it: living at the top of a 15’ ladder, peeing in a bucket, the morning dash to the toilet building, and of course day after day of boat chores as we try and get it done.

This summer’s plans necessitated hauling early in the spring when our normal yard, Billings Diesel and Marine, is still “enjoying” spring in Maine, complete with dripping fog and chilly nights, neither conducive to getting five coats of paint on the bottom in the time allotted.

So, based on the recommendation of a friend, we selected Bock Marine in Beaufort, North Carolina. They’re a great yard. No, they are not Billings, who have just about every service possible available under one roof, but if you are looking for a haul and paint efficiently done at a fair price, Kenny Bock and his crew are worth a try.

Best of all for many of us, they actively encourage owners to work on their own boats, almost unheard of these days. The whole place and all the staff are imbued with Kenny’s easy going and flexible can-do attitude. They haul with an old, but meticulously maintained, 75 ton boat lift so quite large boats can be accommodated. Draft is restricted to about 8-feet (check with Kenny) and there is an overhead power cable charted at 86-feet that must be negotiated.

Contact: Kenny Bock, moc.silc@ramkcob, (252) 728-6855

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Andrew Jones

I had heard great things about this yard, and gave them a shot. 28 foot falmouth channel cutter. Not much brightwork, but more than I wanted to maintain since a very bad accident left me barely walking. Wanted mast, bowsprit, gaff, boom, rub rails, hand rails and winch boards sanded, sealed and painted. I told Mr. Bock that I was there after being amazed at the behavior of essential piracy at some places. Trusted him to source and manage the labor for the paint.

Would you believe a labor bill of over 15000 dollars for painting the brightwork on a 14 year old boat that had damned little brightwork?!?!

I know that lots of folks have had good experiences, but I am telling a true story. It’s not over, and if Mr. Bock steps up and does the right thing I’ll let you know and sing his praises with the rest, but at this point he doesn’t seem fair or honest to me. 919 606 1799 for photos, copies of billing, etc. Just the facts for you to decide who to trust. I’m tired of ripoffs and I’m trying to help you from getting the shaft like I am.

Andrew Jones

I wanted to follow up and report that my dispute with bock marine has been resolved to my complete satisfaction. I continue to have work done there and can recommend bock marine. It’s easy to look good and get a good review when everything goes well. After 40 years in a service business I can say that you really find out about the fundamental ethics of a business’s when it all goes sideways. Kenny listened to my concerns and worked put a solution that proved that he is essentially a honest and trustworthy business person that delivers on putting reputation and customer satisfaction first.

Andrew Jones