We have worked with Custom Yacht Service for over a decade now. We feel fortunate to have had excellent service from John Friday and his crew. Each time we have needed something done, the work is well done, the boat is tidy, secured and clean. We have always been dealt with professionally and fairly. Consummate professionals. read more

Unless you have months to wait for your boat and have no regard for your money go someplace else. There are many boaters who do drop off their boats for six months and are happy to spend excessively on boat maintenance but if this is not what you want do not go to this business. There is not much competition in the area and I have gone here twice. Both times were for 2 week or less jobs that ended up being over 2 months. Rain, holidays, sick employees are all excuses for delayed work. This is an hourly business and a task that should take one or two hours will appear on the invoice as a ten or twelve, or more, hour tasks. Tasks where a power tool could be used will be done with a hand tool. Think hack saw instead of reciprocating saw and picture two employees operating the hacksaw at one time. It really happened! Your boat will be dirty, inside and out, when you finally get it back. Vendors who come in to do wax and bottom jobs are good and work very quickly and use time saving electric and pneumatic tools. Check everything before leaving. Look for tools and parts in the bilge. Check that everything works correctly like bow thruster pushes in the right direction and not rigged backwards. The invoice has been a jaw dropper both times. About a 30% charge above whatever a generous estimate would be for the work. The hour totals are unbelievable, if true then there is a very serious time management issue or there are integrity issues. I checked progress on the boat every other day based on my first experience and did not see the effort match the hours on the invoice. Little to no communication re the pace or work unless you initiate it. The yard is organized and customers are allowed to work on their boats while here, which is nice, but your boat will be there for a long time. Address every issue, delay, or questionable time management and status of your invoice frequently during the process because once the invoice is written the owner is not open to a discussion and will resort to the old chestnut "if I give you a discount, then do I have to give everyone a discount" as a response to a question about charging 24 hours of work to remove one part. Avoid this business if you plan to boat in the same year you want to get work done. read more

There's not an option for 0 stars. I took my boat to Custom Yacht Service because John Friday seemed concerned with the security of the owners' boats and that may be but he cares little about the needs of his clients. Although I took my boat to the boatyard in November, absolutely no work was performed on her until after Memorial Day. I did receive a letter over the winter listing all the boat defects Friday discovered while rooting around in the boat, an assessment I had not requested. Friday insisted the running rigging all needed replacement when I'd had the boat re-rigged months prior. He said the bilge pump wasn't working when it had been disconnected from the battery. Mistakes like these made me think Friday was gouging me and didn't know what he was doing but I did agree on some of his electrical fixes. I've been doing my own boat repairs for the most part but since starting a new business don't have the time anymore. But wThere's not an option for hen the boat had not been launched mid-July, his response to my comment "I feel completely at your mercy," was "It appears that way," which didn't alleviate my despair. When I specifically requested I be able to see the boat before launching so I could confirm bottom work was done as invoiced, Friday called the day after my surgery to let me know he'd launched the day before though I'd told him I wouldn't be available. It wouldn't have been an issue if Friday had taken pictures of the completed work, a simple thing for a business owner who cares about their clients' concerns. The relationship with Friday felt adversarial from the very beginning. Maybe he works better with men? Not sure. A male friend has gotten no service from Friday either. Unless you have an infinite amount of cash, nothing to spend it on but your boat, you don't care if it's in the water, and like working with arrogant, self-satisfied people, go to Custom Yacht Service, this is the boatyard for you! read more

Jonh Friday and his group are great. They are easy to work with and do great work. They've helped us out with the boat for two seasons now and we've never had any trouble with them. Prices are competive. read more

I have been living in Lancaster County for 33 years and never worked with anyone more thorough or professional! John Friday and his crew are extremely reliable and conscientious. They are the only marina that I've worked with that made and met a schedule. It was a pleasure dealing with them. In addition, their pricing is very reasonable for the quality of work performed! I recommend them highly and I will never go anywhere else! read more

Avoid this business. They overcharge customers year after year due to lack of competition, and they cannot or will not provide accurate cost estimates so the final bill is always a bad surprise. After taking advantage of my father who was battling brain cancer, we determined enough was enough. Please go elsewhere. read more