Large Vessel Retrieval & Maintenance

Large Vessel Retrieval and Maintenance at Wallaroo

Bigger boats need bigger facilities. Sawley's Auto and Marine handles the retrieval, haul-out and ongoing maintenance of large vessels through our slipway operation at Wallaroo Marina, backed by our workshop in Kadina for the mechanical and cosmetic work that follows.

Mobile crane lowering a yacht onto its trailer at the launching ramp — Retrieving a yacht onto its trailer at Wallaroo — click any photo to enlarge

What's Involved

Retrieval starts with a safe, controlled haul-out on the Wallaroo slipway, followed by handling and transport to wherever the work needs to happen. Once a vessel is out of the water, this is the time to get on top of jobs that simply can't be done while it's afloat — hull inspection, antifoul, running gear checks, sacrificial anode replacement, and any structural or mechanical repairs a survey turns up, including fibreglass and osmosis repair work.

What We Work On

Our slipway and handling equipment are set up for vessels larger than the average trailer boat, including cruisers and bigger sports and commercial vessels that need a proper haul-out rather than a boat ramp. We also carry out pontoon re-carpeting and refurbishment from the same Wallaroo slipway.

Where We Work

Haul-outs and slipway work happen at Wallaroo Marina. Depending on the job, follow-up mechanical, electrical or cosmetic work may be carried out at our Kadina workshop.

Planning Ahead

Large vessel haul-outs take coordination — slipway scheduling, transport and the right equipment all need to line up, so it pays to get in touch and book ahead, especially heading into the busier parts of the boating season. Regular haul-outs also make it far easier to catch hull and running gear issues before they turn into bigger, more expensive repairs.

What to Have Ready

Before a haul-out, it helps to know the vessel's length, beam and approximate weight, along with access details for wherever it needs to be transported to. The more we know in advance, the more smoothly the retrieval and any follow-up work can be planned.