Spring launch season is the Super Bowl of the UK boatyard calendar. From March through May, every boat owner wants their vessel in the water, every crane slot is at a premium, and your workshop is finishing the last winter maintenance jobs while prepping boats for launch.
The yards that handle spring smoothly are the ones that prepare early. Here's how to get your yard, your team, and your schedule ready for the busiest weeks of the year.
Start Planning in January
The best time to plan for spring launch season is mid-winter. By January, you should know which boats are in storage, which have outstanding work, and which are ready for launch. Contact owners whose boats need work and agree scope and timelines before the rush begins.
Create a preliminary launch schedule based on customer preferences, crane availability, and tidal windows (for tidal yards). Early planning gives you a realistic picture of your capacity and highlights potential bottlenecks.
Prioritising Pre-Launch Work
Not all boats are ready to launch. Some need antifoul, others need engine commissioning, and some have outstanding repair work. Triage your stored fleet into three categories: ready to launch, minor work needed, and significant work required.
Schedule the significant work first — these boats need the most lead time. Minor work (antifoul, safety checks) can be batched efficiently in the weeks before launch.
Crane and Lifting Schedule
Your crane is the bottleneck during spring launch. Maximise its utilisation by scheduling lifts in blocks, minimising repositioning, and ensuring boats are fully prepped before their lift slot. Nothing wastes crane time like discovering a boat isn't ready when the slings are already in place.
Publish the crane schedule to your team so everyone knows what's happening and when. Digital scheduling tools that show crane slots alongside job status help prevent the 'boat not ready' problem.
3–5 boats/day
Typical launch capacity for a single-crane yard during peak spring season
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Customer Communication
Proactive communication is essential during launch season. Send customers their confirmed launch date as early as possible, followed by reminders as the date approaches. Include a checklist of what they need to do (insurance, mooring arrangements, personal items) so there are no surprises on launch day.
If a launch date needs to change — and some will — communicate immediately with alternative options. Customers are far more understanding when they're told early than when they discover their boat isn't in the water on the day they expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start scheduling spring launches?
Start planning in January and begin confirming customer launch dates by early February. The earlier you plan, the smoother the season runs.
How many boats can I launch per day?
This depends on your crane capacity and team size. Most yards with a single crane can manage 3-5 launches per day, depending on boat size and complexity.
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Written by
Hamish Lowry-Martin
Founder & Lead Developer
With 30 years in IT and 20 years developing business systems, Hamish spent the last decade working closely with marinas and boat yards — watching first-hand how they struggle with outdated tools. That hands-on observation led to Marina Yard Manager.
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