Just purchased my first sailboat

[DingiesnTheories]

Just thinking ahead like I always do, when something goes awry with my boat... what are some challenges you guys have faced when hiring a technician? What goes into the decision making process of you veteran sailors... what matters most to you?

For myself, at the top of my head, it would be waitlist time because I would hate to have my boat out of the water for any extended period of time, but I'm hoping some of ya'll could give me some more thought-out responses to this.

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard and congrats on your new boat, I guess…. Just kidding. Have fun with it.

 

[firehoser75]

OK, I'll bite.
For me there is a list of things, and in no particular order the things I consider are:
- recommendations from others or "reputation".
- reliability. Does he/she show up when agreed.
- wait time for sure.
- willingness to "teach" as they work, and have me observe.
- cost. Labour rate, mark up on parts, etc.
- effectiveness or how they use their "billable" time. Are they efficient?

- friendliness and/or personality.
Admittedly some of these items are for "ongoing use" of the same tech but some do apply to a first time use. Once I find a tech I like, I stick with him/her. I am sure there are other considerations that factor in that I have missed.

Just my initial thoughts after reading your post.