Good people and a cherished piece of Berkeley history! Lots of knowledge and strong integrity.

Having my boat hauled and serviced here was a first rate experience. From the time I entered the office until they return her to the bay I was treated like a valued customer. Rubin, Cree and the rest of the staff were always friendly and helpful. Excellent work done on time for a reasonable price, what more can anyone ask for. Thank you again BMC read more

Berkeley Marine Center came highly recommended and I had a very positive experience there with my recent haul out of my Pearson 26. Ruben and the team there are knowledgeable and do quality work. It helps that the team is passionate about boats and sailing, and I totally trusted their assessment, they weren't trying to up-sell me with services that weren't needed and talked through what I can do myself etc. I did the bottom package and through-holes, plus mounting new outboard and various repairs that were found. My hull was also oxidized and it made such a difference to buff and wax it, which they did an amazing job with! Thank you BMC for working hard to help make our boat dreams come true! read more

This was my first haul out, besides the survey when I bought my boat almost 5 years ago. Honestly, I had not heard great things about Berkeley but all I really needed was a bottom paint and a few other things from my original survey (acid wash prop, possibly a new seacock for galley sink). It's also the closest to Emeryville marina & I was coming in solo. Obviously it's new management, Ruben was great! I ended up getting a coating for the prop, a wax and other minor repairs that made my boat look brand new! I was very pleased all the way around. read more

I've used several yards in the Bay Area, but BMC is now my go-to place. The crew is good, Cree is a great and Ruben, the manager is amazing. Sure, the era of the DIY haulout is probably over, but I did one last year and the experience was as pleasant as a DIY haulout can be. I just broke a spar on my S2 7.9. Ruben, Cree and Ryan at Rogue Rigging (on the premises) are setting me up with a "new" (used!) spar without putting me through the ringer. I've spent a couple of days on the premises and I see what Ruben, the manager is doing...constantly updating customers on the status of their work, calling customers, returning phone calls, being the liason to get customer needs and expectations out to the working guys in the yard. Re: Reviews on Yelp from 2016 and so on.....the crew at BMC is now almost completely turned over from that time, except for Cree, the owner. I love this place! read more

We just completed a DIY bottom job on our J80 at BMC and were thrilled with the very high quality of service. The staff hauled our boat right on time, first thing in the morning. Then when it was time to drop the boat back in the water, they were right on schedule once again, which allowed for a late afternoon sail home. This was our first DIY bottom job and BMC rented us a sander attatched to a vacume that worked to perfection while minimizing dust. We had several questions along the way and the staff was always helpful with great advise. When walking into the store, I was regularly greated by name and asked if I needed help. The staff was also very accomodating with moving jack stands and ensuring the paint was sutable dry before doing so. They also provided me the opportunity to put 2 coats of paint on the very bottom of the keel once it was in the crane straps before the boat was dropped back in the water. Thanks to Cree and Rubin and their great team for the best possible experience. read more

The experience I had at BMC was fantastic! It started with Cree, the owner, meeting me at the travel lift paying careful attention to the haul out of my Catalina 380... Rueben, the yard manager, met with me every day regarding the specifics of the job and coordinated the work seamlessly for me. I did a combination of yardwork as well as DIY. BMC is a one stop shop which included incredible rigging work done by Ryan from Rogue Rigging, who's shop is on site as well as Gian the metal fabricator and Dave on paint. Work was performed when I needed it and it was done quickly and professionally! Having a chandlery that charged a fair price was a bonus and made it easy to not have to run around the bay area looking for parts. Look, I realize that there are many boat yards in the bay area and I've been to quite a few but this yard and the professional service I received will have me coming back as well as referring my experience to others! Thanks again, Tom read more

The yard was great, Quality work , friendly service, fair prices. I brought in my 47 Vagabond and Had my hull painted and bow thruster installed , bottom job, generator replaced as well as several other jobs. The only downside was the delay in work getting started as they had a lot of boats ahead of me and they seemed a little short on workers however it was in the middle of a pandemic and I heard other yards in the bay had completely shut down for weeks at a time but once they started they got through it quickly and did quality work. I would recommend this yard as a great place to bring your boat! They also warranty their work which is always nice. I would definetly use this yard again. read more

Overall I guess we were fairly happy with the work done on my dear friend Kat's 1947 Kettenburg Antigua. With that said there was definitely a lack of communication from the yard manager Ruben. I informed the yard from the get go that we were on a very limited budget (we had a fund raiser to help Kat with the haul out and bottom paint). I was to be notified if there was to be any additional work & costs above the $5200 we paid for the bottom paint package. We were surprised to get a bill for an additional $850 for rudder repairs that a BMC subcontractor did without my authorization. Especially surprising as I spoke specifically to Ruben about our budget & needing an estimate prior to repairs being done. Not only did he not contact me with that estimate he threatened not to splash Kat's boat & to charge storage fees if we refused to pay the charges for the unauthorized work. I hate being held hostage & I hate excuses. If you take your car in for service & the work is going to be over the estimate a service manager calls you to let you know. Ruben said he doesn't have time for that & it isn't his responsibility to notify customers if there's additional upcoming costs. Beware if you take your boat here for service. read more

BEST EXPERIENCE IN A BOATYARD TO DATE I had fantastic experience getting an urgent repair completed on my Islander 30' I brought Baidin in as my engine intake thru hull was older than I am. I accidently snapped it off as I was snaking some speaker work through the lazarette. I had a baby geyser in the boat until I had plugged the hole with my gin bottle cork. Needless to say, I was anxious to get the work fixed. I called Berkeley Marine Center to see if they could do a lunch time hang and replace the thru hull. Cassandra immediately understood the urgency of the requested and put me in contact with the Yard Manager Ruben. Ruben was very friendly and coordinated a time for me to come in the next day. The work was completed promptly and professionally and the yard let me sponge off the underside as the Thru hull was being replaced. It was my best experience at a boat yard to date. I heartily recommended BMC. If you've an subpar experience there, consider giving them a second chance as it is under new management and the team is awesome. read more

PLEASE read these review carefully. The good ones are based on being hauled out for self service work. This is hard to mess up, so BMC can pull it off. If, on the other hand, you need them to fix something, this place is a nightmare. I needed them to swap out a transmission on my boat, something I was told would take a day. I was promised the boat would be ready after a week. Then another week. Still nothing done. When I finally called them on their lies about fixing the boat, Cree decided he just wouldn't do anything. So now I'm having the boat towed out - unfixed, to go to a reputable yard. PLEASE read these reviews, Cree and BMC will take your boat, lie to you, and then simply do nothing. read more

NOTE: Please read Robert. V's review below as well, It seems he had an identical experience with this boat yard. Due to the fact that Berkeley Marine Center (B.M.C) is really the only option to get major repairs done near the Berkeley / Emeryville marinas, Cree Partridge and his crew liberally use this to their advantage. I brought my vessel in for some Insurance repairs to the rigging, toe-rail, and paint. Not only did they take an unbelievably long time to actually repair my vessel, and the exorbitant final repair price did not even closely match my original estimate. They also failed to fix many of the items that I asked them to fix, such as adding a Windex to the mast, (seemingly simple, right?) I was never told about the extent of the extra work they decided to perform until all work had been completed. And the final price was more than $6000.00 (yes that's Six Thousand) (120.0%) above the original estimated price. On top of that, Cree threatened me with a lien on my vessel if the exorbitant costs weren't paid. I'm a working class parent, and I'm very cost-conscious. Also, I live between paychecks often, so needless to say, I did not have the funds available to cover these costs, nor would I have EVER approved that work if I had known prior. One would be hard pressed to get any kind of estimate from B.M.C prior to work being completed. They rarely can tell you the price for labor or parts prior to completion. If you ask for a price directly, they can't provide it without significant research of their disorganized work order structure. Furthermore, their final invoices do NOT separate Parts and Labor as outlined by the Vessel Repair Law, nor are items sold in units (such as wood, or lengths of rigging cable for shrouds ). And these items tallied thousands of dollars with no breakdown. BMC blatantly violates several tenets of the Vessel Repair Law ( which you can see here: http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/VesselRepair/VesselRepair.pdf ), including failing to follow Invoice and Estimate requirements, Performing and charging for work without a signed estimate. If you have your boat repaired here, I suggest you force Cree Partridge to fully disclose estimates, prices, and parts prior to ANY work being done. And while work is in progress, you'll need to call daily to insure they don't decide to just "Fix" something else and charge you for it. (NOTE: If Cree doesn't answer the Phone, he'll NEVER receive your message, no matter who you leave it with). The rest of the staff is quite disorganized, and are not technically savvy whatsoever. If you've been 'over a barrel' due to Cree and his crew, or any other of BMC's practices, you can submit complaints here: http://www.bar.ca.gov/ You're also welcome to contact me here! The only way this will get fixed is via volume of complaints, and joint action. Thanks for reading! read more

The bad things you are reading and hearing about? They are all true about this place. More damage is done to boats than is fixed. Boats are dropped. Boats are left to ground. Masts are dropped and bashed around by a construction crane that is completely the wrong tool as well as being unsafe. Look at their lift and the fluids leaking out of it. A few months ago someone lost a finger. Overspray on cars, boats, people.... They cause damage and expect the customer to pay twice for the 'work'. The anger and negativity at this place is huge. They just don't seem to like boats and for sure they don't like their customers. They want your money and don't really care how they get it. If you want to work on your own boat go to Svens or Napa - both good yards with professional staff who care about boats. read more

First let me say that Carl has been extremely fair and reasonable with me and but for the fact that I will miss his customer service and genuine kindness, I cringe whenever I have to set foot on their property to get to the sailing club they share space with. I took my boat in for its third service there in June of 2010 to have the following done: cockpit sole repaired (water intrusion), control cables replaced at the pedestal, shim the rudder and a new thru hull triducer installed in place of the existing thru hull analog knotmeter. When I had Cree look at it in October 2009, it was estimated at $1k (without the cables or triducer work). Then I took it in and they found a couple of other things--bad sheave underneath pedestal and a bad interface between the rudder post where it is held by a top cap. Ok.. So now the estimate is $2.5k. So I said.. ok.. please add in the triducer (I assumed maybe another $200-300 as I supplied all the parts and the bottom paint to touch up. Then there was a problem finding a replacement sheave for the quadrant. So they had to custom make one. I was told another $200, maybe $300 to do that. Fine. So in my mind we're just over $3k. Alright.. At my limit. TWO MONTHS LATER. After being patient, I got my boat back. But not before I had an argument with their subcontractor Steve Hutchison of Hitchison Marine (independent consultant) who all but accused me of being a liar when I told him that my transmission shift knob did not work in reverse (fwd was fwd, rev was rev). He told me that was impossible. Anyway.. Long story short, after bitching to Carl, they figured it out and away we go. So I go to pick up my boat, but the billing wasn't ready. Fine. I'll come back and we'll settle. No other mention of price at this point. Then I go to motor away from their dock and guess what. This guy Steve has HOOKED UP THE QUADRANT BACKWARDS!! So left is right and right is left!!! After bouncing off a couple boats, I figured out what had happened (shame on me for not checking the operation before attempting to leave) and got the boat back safely. Not before making some new marks on my bow which BMC had to repair at their cost. I nearly lost my mind and just threw my hands up and said you deal with this. Finally 2.5 months later, I go to take my boat back again and check the rudder and everything is fine. THe work is actually done quite well. All the play in the rudder is gone, the cockpit is solid, control cables new, transmission controls work correctly and triducer installed. I get slapped with a $9k bill! That was far more than I paid for the boat in the first place! I was absolutely floored. Needless to say thanks to Carl, we worked it out (far more to my benefit than to theirs in all honesty) and settled the bill. I had hoped that my first experience was a fluke since my second was so much better. But this third and final time was it for me. I get the feeling they want to be boat builders more than a service shop and that's fine. But for those of us looking to have professionals work on their boats in a timely, cost effective and forward-facing upfront manor, look elsewhere. read more

My friends and I had a fantastic experience taking our 1975 Catalina 27 to Berkeley Marine Center for a bottom job and and overhaul. I still can't believe how good the boat looks and sails! Doing the job ourselves was a lot of work, but it was much easier and more successful because of the great advice and help we got from Karl and Jamie and the rest of the Yard staff. They coached us through every step of the project and even suggested fixes and upgrades we hadn't imagined. The end result is that our boat looks better than we thought possible and we have the confidence of having inspected the keel and thru-hulls ourselves. I would recommend the do-it-yourself approach to hauling out and bottom work to any new boat owner--it's a great way to get to know your boat. And, I would recommend doing the work at Berkeley Marine Center. The yard had everything we needed and the people were amazing! read more

We choose Berkeley Marine Center as the delivery point for our boat delivery because it was a convenient location. The initial contacts and arrangements were pretty good. They got the boat and spars unloaded with no difficulty although the driver didn't much care for the condition of the road coming in which is not their fault. Next was stepping the mast. While they did allow me to rig my mast and prepare the boat, within a day or so the boat was filthy. So many boats, including one right next to me were sanding their bottoms without any dust pick up it was really pretty terrible. I had to mention something and they hung some tarps but really didn't prevent much from escaping. So now they jump up on my boat to stick the mast. It is the beginning of the pandemic, the yard has restricted people from working during the week, masks only in the ships store and none of the four guys on my boat are wearing any, not even the guy inside my boat. OK, after struggling for way to long, pushing, swinging and trying to manhandle the mast into place, they are done. The deck is an absolute mess. Even the dinghy on the bow is covered with footprints and smears of dirt and rubber. The collar on the mast was filthy and left whole sections of halyard black. Besides the obvious difficulty in setting my rig, I would have given them a three, maybe a four if they had worn masks, showing consideration for me, and had maintained a clean yard, showing consideration for not just my vessel but all the boats and the environment. It did not even occur to any of them to clean up the very obvious mess of black, red and blue all over my white deck. It is really the lack of professionalism and pride that bothers me and subsequently, I have noticed dust (the same black, blue and red) from their operation on the down wind boats in Berkeley Marina, clearly an indicator of a lack of consideration, respect and in fact, a violation of health regulations. While I think I paid more than I should have, considering the amount of cleaning I had to do simply to remove all their mess. That really wasn't the biggest thing. The lack of respect for me and my property was. read more

Berkeley Marine Center - Bottom of Dinghy. At times there were two people, supporting the mast, standing on it. - Boating Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My Santana 22' and I have just spent two months undergoing a complete refit at BMC. Hauling my boat at BMC has been one of the most fun experiences in my several years of sailing and boat ownership. First off, the people are wonderful. Really down to earth folk who love what they do, and who seem to relish every day of it. Cree, Julie, and Karl who run the place know what they're doing, and take clear enjoyment and pride in their operation. Secondly... they treated me like royalty. I have a beat up Santana 22, and was doing most of the work myself., and buying most of my materials outside of the yard. Hardly a model customer, and still they went out of their way to help me out.... flipping the boat upside down to make bottom paint removal easier, lending me tools, and free on advice. I couldn't be more stoked at the service. For a DIY boatyard, BMC seemed to be second to none. Cheaper, more flexible, and more accommodating than other places. Where I paid them to do work... spray painting etc, it was all done well, and efficiently Everyone else I met in the yard felt similarly grateful to be there. In two months of watching the ebb and flow of boats in the yard, I didn't see any major screw ups on the BMC end. I've noticed the same vindictive customer and his friend re-posting bad things on yelp, but I didn't witness any problems in my time there. Sure there are delays, and it's not run like swiss railways, but I watched as the BMC folks worked long hours to accomodate a myriad of shifting needs and schedules from boat owners. If you're on a budget and are looking for a yard that will treat your boat like a yacht, and you like a priceless customer, BMC is your place. read more

I am an experience boat owner and skipper. I have been using BMC for about 10 years to haul 2 different sailboats. I have had them help with 2 restorations and have hauled boats out at BMC about 8 times. Cree, Carl, Steve and David, Howard, all have taken time out to help me solve problems when I was doing work myself and when they have done work that I can't do, the work was good, intelligently planned and at a fair cost. I use BMC after having poor treatment at 2 different boat yards in Alameda, and now come here from Alameda. The only down side to doing such a good job is that it is now difficult to get into the yard on short notice. When other yards are empty, BMC is full. What do you expect? read more

I have hauled two boats at BMC, from opposite ends of the spectrum. I hauled my Coronado 25 back in May 2010 for a quick bottom job, but then decided after a closer inspection to repaint the topsides as well. I did all my own work, bought my paint off the internet, and was generally as 'cheap' a customer as could be - they were still unfailingly helpful with advice whenever I needed it. The bill was exactly what I expected - there's no reason for the poster below to have been 'surprised' by a bill, all their prices are on a rate sheet you get when they book you in. My second haul, in August, was a whole different story as far as the boat goes - it was a wooden 54' sloop. This was a large lift, over 24 tonnes, and it went perfectly. This big wooden leviathan was well stepped and supported, and was still rock solid when it went back in. Again I did almost all my own work and bought my own materials, except for a few minor jobs that were beyond me, and had no complaints of any sort. Cree, Carl and the rest of the staff were always available and free with advice, scaffolding was available at no charge to work 20' off the ground on my hull sides, and prices in the yard store are no more expensive than one would expect for the convenience of having it right there and just added to the bill. Between the two boats and then working on a whole new mast and rigging set-up for the 54' boat I've been in and out of the yard regularly for the last several months, and have never seen anyone there be anything but friendly and polite to customers. I've no idea who the two people are who keep reposting negative reviews, but they obviously have an agenda. Richard read more

I just spent 8 months at Berkeley Marine Center and couldn't have had a better experience! I hauled out in mid-December with the idea that I'd put-back-in in a couple of weeks. They were to do the bottom, and I was going to replace some seacocks on the thru-hulls. Well, as any boat owner will likely tell you, it's never that easy. I have an older fiberglass hull sloop (1962) with a wooden mast. The mast was starting to fail at the seams. It was Cree who pointed this out to me, and I can't thank him enough. Steve Hutchinson, a wooden boat specialist, gave me great advice on how to approach making the repairs myself. He was very generous with his time. Karl coordinated my repairs, and was great with engine help and coordinating custom metal work for my topmast. I ended up replacing the standing rigging, and Jay Butler of Butler rigging did a great job. He was patient with my novice sense of rig tuning as I figured out a backstay adjustment arrangement. I had a lot of anxiety about how much it would cost in lay-up fees after extending my stay in the yard 8X longer than ever imagined, but the final cost was very reasonable. Everyone was very encouraging throughout the process and I won't hesitate to haul-out there again. I've read some of the negative reviews here and have to wonder what kind of personalities were involved. In my 8 months there I never saw a bad launch, a boat fall, or any damage that the yard inflicted. I read the poor reviews in advance of my decision to haul-out there, and they had me concerned about my choice. I'm happy to report that all my fears were allayed. It's no small task to do what they do on a daily basis, and when your project changes unexpectedly (and you can expect that it will!), these guys are the one's you want working with you. read more

We brought our boat in to paint the mast, found rot in the deck and a very corroded chain plate. We only had less than week to get it done for the next mid winter race. Rueben and Cree's crew did a great job and got it all done on time. Thanks from the crew of Keaka! read more

This is the second time I have hauled-out at BMC and I have to recommend them for their professionalism. The yard was a great place to do my own bottom work and everyone was so helpful when I needed to know what to do and what products to purchase. ( Cree and Carl even opened up the Chandelry for me after it was closed just to allow me to buy a couple of "inny" bulbs for my mast light!) Wow, you don't get that kind of service these days... I also loved the new friends I made who were working on their boats next to me! Thank you BMC for all of your advice. read more

Cree, Julie and the crew have provided friendly great service at a fair price for several of our haulouts. They can also get paint and parts at port supply prices within a day if the shop doesn't have something in stock. When we've needed help with odd projects like removing a large old generator, and installing a modern replacement, they managed to carefully shoehorn our 57' Chris Craft back into the hoist area, maneuver the heavy machinery up out of the engine room, through the saloon, up onto the bridge deck, and out to the stern to hoist off without marring any woodwork or scratching the machine. Cree's a real artist with his crane. They got the new unit aboard and down below with dispatch. Berkeley Marine Center also provides access to experienced craftsmen like Steve and David of Hutchinson Marine Services, and Gian, a talented welder who was able to repair our bronze bow rail. They encourage do it yourself work, too. The fuel dock is sure convenient for the 1100 boats in the Berkeley Marina. Cree has made many improvements to operate the yard in a very environmentally conscious way. They are a wonderful local resource. The only downside is that they're so popular, it can sometimes take a little longer than you'd like to reserve a slot in the yard. read more

Berkeley Marine Center is our go-to yard. They exceeded our expectations, and we highly recommend them. My husband and I heard good things about Cree and Berkeley Marine Center, so I stopped in to meet the folks and see the yard. I was fortunate to meet Cree, who treated me with respect and took all the time needed to answer my questions. My husband checked them out as well, and we decided to haul our Mirage 39 with them. We have hauled out many times in the last 30+ years of sailing, and this experience was by far the best we have had. The crew took great care hauling the boat (on time). Then we met Rubin, the yard manager. Oh, my goodness, what a gem of a person, and super knowledgeable. He and Cree are cut out of the same time-tested mold of genuine integrity and attentive customer service. The office staff were always pleasant, knowledgeable and friendly. Ryan, Rogue Rigging, who works closely with Berkeley Marine Center, fitted us into his schedule, and he did a great job setting us up with some new running rigging and masthead work. Rubin was always around to waylay for questions and advice, and he rolled with it when we added extras to the work order. We would stop in almost daily to check the progress, and every worker took the time to explain in detail the process for each repair/upgrade. Every item was done with craftsmanship. Rubin deserves a medal for the way he treated us and his generosity. A week after we left the yard, Rubin called to see if everything was working correctly. That's the only time in 30+ years that a yard has done that. read more

A very painful experience having my boat worked on. Never again will I deal with berkeley marine center. They never know how much. The mysterious bill is never ready. My time is worth nothing. Pleasure was finally getting my boat away from them read more

Be weary. This place will rip you off! Spent over 20k at this yard on our islander 34. Bad workmanship and they DO NOT honor their warranty. Cree is a real piece of work. Be warned. read more

This is one of the last yards in the Bay Area that allows full do it yourself work. Cree, the owner, loves boats, and it shows. He will sometimes stop by to see how your project is going and offer helpful advice. The office staff are friendly and the yard workers are competent. Pricing is on a par with other yards or a bit cheaper. Pros: Friendly, busy place with excellent free advice from Cree. Karl the yard manager is friendly and responsive .Work force is competent .The store is convenient but pricey. Cons: Crowded and messy with equipment and boat parts all over. Travelifts need maintenance and the mast crane is nor Ideal for the job. Buttler Rigging a separate outfit, has mixed reviews. Overall, though far from perfect it's a great boatyard, and that shows in the wait time to be hauled. read more

Family atmosphere, exceptional service, always willing to help and advise. Their main goal is to make sure that all contractors and sailors are happy. I have been using their services for years as a contractor working on boats and I cannot say enough positive about Berkeley Marine Center! Highly recommend. read more

I hauled out my 23-foot sailboat here in February of 2008. The entire experience was nothing but pleasant. I opted to do the work myself. Unlike other boatyards, BMC was happy to accommodate me. Cree, Carl and the rest of the crew constantly checked on me and offered help and advise which was much needed. Their chandlery is well stocked and well priced, as a matter of fact, there were plenty of items cheaper than WestMarine and better than Home Depot. I have nothing but positive things to say about Berkeley Marine Center and I honestly would recommend them to everybody. I know this will be the only boatyard for me always! read more

Just completed a DIY bottom paint, thru hull transducer installation, and polish job at BMC. I was apprehensive about taking on my first haul out bottom paint and thru hull installation, but the yard staff were very helpful guiding me through the process without any attitude. It was a grueling and dirty job for a first timer's learning curve. Very friendly front office and staff. Definitely will be using BMC again in a few years for my Grady's bottom. read more

I've been hauling out my commercial boats at BMC for years now and have had nothing but good experiences there. I do almost all the work myself, but if I need help fitting in a plank, or have some technical questions - there's always someone ready to assist, either with knowledge or to physically do the job right. read more

Solid and professional crew. I run a fleet of commercial boats and I continue to go back.

This place is lousy. Boats are dropped regularly. Damage to boats is frequent and the owner refuses to take responsibility for damages caused by the employees. Overspray on cars is the norm. I've used this yard three times and all were terrible. During my first visit, gear was thrown away by an employee (never did know why he was under my mast and tools), and my NEW Forespar spinnaker pole destroyed. In the end the yard was only willing to provide me with a bag of screws. Lost were bronze Herreshoff cleats (rare and collectible), rigging, sail track, gear,the gooseneck fittings for my booms, and all the new bronze fastenings. The owner was responsible for running over the spinnaker pole (new) and then laughed about it before telling me he wasn't going to replace it. Nice. I had no other choice and had to visit them again. My second trip wasn"t as bad. A new set of sails was stolen from under my boat. I don't know who did it, but.... Trip #3 . I decided to give the yard another shot. John (then manager) was running the show and was a decent guy. We had to pull the masts asap and this yard had the earliest opening. My mast was stuck at the partners. Rather than trying to figure out what was wrong they appliedmore pressure to the mast with the crane and had 4 employees start jumping around on the bow. Eventually the mast came out. (BTW - John wasn't around that day - again it was Cree.) Damage: 20 coats of varnish ripped away, stringers under my foredeck pulled loose, & mast partners damaged. If you go there, don't complain to the rest of us. We told you so. read more

I cannot emphasize enough how bad our experience at Berkeley Marine Center was - years laterr we are still finding damage they did. The review by John L. pretty much says it all. For the record. I was a first hand witness to one of the violent episodes that required the police be called. It really did happen. Such behavior is never acceptable, and the fact that other people had uneventful experiences at this boat yard in no way provides reassurance. Disputes with customers should never escalate to threats of violence. This best thing for a proprietor who has a tendency to behave in this way is to find another line of work - one in which he does not interact with the public. They seem to have a pattern of not providing a bill until you are desperate to get your boat away from them. Lastly, Berkeley Marine Center did ten's of thousands of dollars of damage to our boat during the time they were supposed to being performing service. When we finally pulled the boat a few years later, we found that they had not done the keel job as claimed. Go read the numerous letters on Sailnet...they pretty much describe the situation at this yard. read more

We bought our boat in Long Beach & brought her up the coast to Berkeley on her bottom. We had to pull into multiple harbours & marine centers along the way. That's just a part of owning a boat! We have now been in Berkeley 5 months. No matter what we need help with from plumbing, elec, bilge pumps, dinghy restoration, leaks, windows, etc. The staff here is great. Thanks Cree, Carl, Tony, Alabama and you gotta love a woman who knows boats & marine paint~ thanks Julie for great tips. From our fiberglass sail boat to the vintage mahogany haul CCC these guys have been a great resource of knowledge & always willing to stop & take a look at a project & give you great advice. Also appreciate them not doing the typical cock of the head, disapproving judgemental look followed by "You bought a wood boat?" In short, this is the best place we know to haul out your boat, get great sage advice, learn and do your own work or have them do it for you. cheers read more

BMC hauled out my Ranger 23. 2 friends and I sanded and re-painted the bottom. Julie in the front office was helpful recommending a less expensive paint. The rented sander worked well and BMC provided extra touch up paint w/o cost. The boat was returned to the water on Thursday after 4 days in the yard. read more

The Berkeley Marine Center has been great for us with our first sailboat and the second "rescue" sailboat we adopted. We got reams of free advice along with the professional services we asked them to provide, like work on the gland on our diesel. They have environmentally responsible equipment to rent like the vacuum disk sander, which we used when we did the bottom of our boat. They helped us with the lower stays for our rigging, which we purchased there. As a place for absolute sailboat beginners, you will meet with great enthusiasm for sailing and great encouragement. Also, they give you realistic time frames on when they can get things done- a real problem for us when we dealt with KKMI in Richmond.. Oh, and they're a lot less expensive than KKMI, too. Lessons learned. read more

My thanks to Cree, Julie and crew who recently finished hull cleaning, blister repair, barrier coat and bottom paint on my Montgomery 15. As always I was treated as if I had a 50 yacht instead of a 15' trailer sailor. The work was done professionally, on time and under budget. I wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

Berkeley marine center did a faulty repair, that almost sank our boat. We brought it back for warranty work, which they wouldn't honor. Then, they left the portholes open, damaging our boat. Next, they left the bilge cover open, injuring us. read more

http://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/-11263-1.html recommended #1 boat yard for DIYers read more