Your first boat haul-out in Dubai: how to prepare
What the yard needs to know before the lift, what to sort out on board, and the checks to make once she's back in the water.
On this page
The short answer
Send the yard the boat's dimensions, its weight if you know it, the engine set-up and the work you want done. Before the day, clear loose gear, ask which tanks should be empty and write down every job and known problem. Once she's out and washed, the inspection usually adds to that list, so agree in advance how extra work gets approved.
A first haul-out can feel like handing over the keys and hoping. It goes better when the yard knows the boat before it arrives and you know what will happen once it's on the cradle. This guide follows the order things happen at our yard in Dubai Maritime City.
01What to send before you book
The yard plans the lift around the boat's size, weight and hull shape, and plans its people around the job list. The more of this sheet you can fill in, the fewer surprises on the day.
Print it or copy the headings into a message.
Haul-out request
If you have the builder's drawings or a docking plan, send those too. They show where the hull can take the weight of the blocks, which matters most on larger yachts and catamarans.
Related serviceDocking & Un-DockingSafe haul-out and re-launch at Dubai Maritime City, with cradles, blocking and full hull access arranged around your vessel.
02Settle the job list before the lift
Yard time is easier to plan, and to price, when the list is fixed before the boat comes out. Start with the jobs that need her out of the water, then add work that's convenient while she's there and the crew aren't using her.
| Job | Needs the boat out of the water? |
|---|---|
| Antifouling and hull preparation | Yes |
| Propellers, shafts, cutless bearings and rudders | Yes |
| Hull anodes | Yes |
| Through-hulls and seacocks | Yes, to replace them |
| Gelcoat and fiberglass below the waterline | Yes |
| Engine and generator service | No, but easy to add |
| A/C service | No, but easy to add |
| Teak, interior and upholstery | No, but easy to add |
Our trades work as one team, so a single haul-out can cover the whole list. The maintenance checklist has the full set of haul-out jobs if you want to make sure nothing's missing.
03Getting the boat ready
10 items
Owner handover checklist
Before the lift10
- Owner
- Owner
- Owner
- Owner
- Owner
- Owner
- Owner
- Owner
- Owner
- Owner
Ticks are saved in this browser only.
04On the day: lift, wash, inspect
She comes up the slipway on a cradle, is set on blocks and gets a pressure wash straight away. Growth comes off far more easily while it's still wet; once it bakes dry in the sun it has to be scraped. Then the hull is walked round and inspected while it's clean.
This is when surprises turn up: a worn cutless bearing, an anode eaten down to its bolts, blisters under old antifouling, a cracked through-hull. Ask for photos of anything new, and for the extra cost and time in writing before you approve it. A list agreed by message is fine. Work agreed with a nod on the slipway tends to be remembered differently by each side.
05What decides how long she stays out
We don't quote a standard number of days, because the boat sets the pace. The main factors are these.
- Coatings. Each product has a drying time between coats and a minimum time before launch, set by the manufacturer and affected by heat and humidity.
- What the inspection finds. Extra work adds time, and some of it can't run alongside other jobs.
- Parts. Bearings, seals and engine parts for some models have to be ordered in.
- The length of the job list. More trades can work at once on a bigger boat, but a long list still takes longer than a short one.
Each day on the hardstand appears on the quote, so a clear list and quick approvals save money. Our guide to reading a maintenance quote shows how those lines are usually priced.
06Relaunch: checks before you take her home
- Before she goes back down, check that every seacock is set as it should be and that any through-hull that was removed has been refitted.
- Once she floats, and while she's still alongside, look at every through-hull, the shaft seals and the rudder glands for leaks. Some dripless shaft seals need air let out after launch; follow the maker's instructions.
- Start the engines and confirm cooling water from every exhaust.
- Run ahead and astern at the berth and turn the wheel from lock to lock.
- Check the bilge again before you leave the boat, and once more the next day.
Before you sign off, ask for a written record: the work done, the parts and products used (including the antifouling and the number of coats), anodes replaced, photos, and anything the team recommends for next time. Then add it to your maintenance log.
07Common questions
How often should a boat be hauled out in Dubai?
Most owners haul out about once a year for antifouling and an underwater inspection, because growth is fast in warm Gulf water. The right interval depends on the coating and how the boat is used; our haul-out service page has the details.
Can I add work once the boat is out?
Yes. Ask for the cost and the extra yard time in writing and approve it before work starts. Adding a job is usually cheaper than a second haul-out.
Do I need to be at the yard?
Not the whole time, but stay reachable for approvals and come to the relaunch if you can. It's the best moment to ask about what was done.
What does a haul-out quote include?
Usually the lift and relaunch, days on the hardstand, washing and the agreed work, with parts, materials and VAT shown separately. Our guide to maintenance quotes goes through each line.
