OnBoard Magazine - Summer 2015

A RELATIVELY SMALL MINORITY of people gain the means and opportunity to begin a new boat build with a world- class yacht builder each year. As such, it’s no surprise that for an unprepared buyer, the process can be rife with challenges and unfortunate surprises. This is why Bluewater sales professionals pride themselves in expertly handling these challenges for retail customers with around-the-clock advice, service and expertise throughout the new construction process. A “from-scratch” new build often starts with a broker walking a boat show with the buyer, getting to know his goals and feature requests, and helping pin down a list of accommodations. The next step is often a trip to the factory to learn first- hand about the construction process, meet with the management or design team and ultimately get started on fulfilling the contract. 1 KNOW YOUR DEADLINES From the outset, it is the sales professional’s job to relay information between the customer and builder in an effort to keep the project on schedule, avoid costly setbacks and exceed expectations. As Virginia based salesman Jud Black explains, helping owners understand their deadlines for certain decisions and options is a top priority. “In many cases, at busy production plants like Viking and Princess, fixtures such as cabinetry and bulkheads are often started months ahead of the hull,” Black adds. “If an owner wants to make certain changes to the layout or even just the finish, those requests need to be relayed earlier in the process than STARTING FROM SCRATCH 3 TIPS FOR NAVIGATING THE NEW BUILD PROCESS AT TOP YACHT MANUFACTURERS Considering a builder’s commitment to customer service should always come first. 14 BLUEWATER