How to write a job post that gets comparable quotes

A padded quote is usually not greed, it is risk. When an engineer cannot see what they are walking into, they price for the worst version of the job. Give them certainty and the number comes down.

Name the boat properly

Make, model, year and engine. 'Small yacht, diesel' tells an engineer nothing; 'Bavaria 32, 2004, Volvo Penta D1-30' lets them check parts availability before they quote.

Say where it is and how they get to it

Berth, yard or mooring, and whether the boat is afloat or ashore. Access is a real cost.

Be honest about the symptom

Describe what happens, when, and what you have already tried. Do not diagnose for them — 'starts then dies after 30 seconds' is far more useful than 'needs a new fuel pump'.

Give a real timeframe

'Urgent' with no date attached is the phrase engineers trust least. A window — 'any weekday in the next fortnight' — attracts better prices than false urgency.

Photograph the thing

Two or three photos of the engine bay, the hull or the fitting in question will do more for your quote spread than another paragraph of description.