Phuket Premier Boatyard, Thalang: Haul-Out & Storage Guide

Phuket Premier Boatyard is a dedicated dry-storage and vessel repair facility situated on Phuket's sheltered north-eastern coastline in Mai Khao, Thalang. Built around an excavated tidal haul-out basin shielded from open sea swells, the yard relies on a 60-tonne Roodberg hydraulic trailer capable of lifting both monohulls and wide-beam catamarans measuring up to 24 metres in length.

Set amongst quiet rubber plantations immediately adjacent to Phuket Yacht Haven Marina, the site provides a practical, work-focused base for private yacht owners, global blue-water cruising sailors, and local charter operators. In contrast to Phuket's upscale lifestyle marinas, which focus on resort amenities and waterfront dining, this commercial boatyard concentrates strictly on vessel upkeep. The yard is geared towards hardstand layups, scheduled anti-fouling, fibreglass and gelcoat repairs, and general marine engineering.

Visiting skippers typically haul out for periods ranging from ten days to six weeks for routine maintenance and hull care, whilst seasonal hardstand layups routinely extend across three, six, or twelve months. A primary draw for long-distance mariners is that the yard allows owners to live aboard their boats while settled on the hardstand. This policy fosters a tight-knit community of hands-on sailors carrying out their own do-it-yourself maintenance alongside local tradesmen and specialist marine contractors. It remains a dependable choice for practical boat owners seeking capable heavy-lifting equipment and reasonable storage terms over luxury marina facilities.

What's There

The yard centres on a sheltered, excavated tidal basin that buffers incoming vessels from sea swell. Rather than relying on an overhead travel lift and narrow lifting well, the facility operates a Dutch-built 60-tonne Roodberg hydraulic submersible trailer. Towed down a concrete slipway directly into the basin, the trailer recovers monohulls and wide-beam multihulls up to 24 metres. This setup avoids the beam-width restrictions common to marina lifting wells, making the site especially practical for catamarans.

The hardstand comprises a level expanse of compacted gravel and concrete pads. Vessels rest on steel cradles and sturdy hull props, with access ladders supplied for working on topsides. Each bay connects to fresh water and metered electricity delivering 220V single-phase and 380V three-phase power. A dedicated washdown area handles high-pressure hull cleaning immediately after haul-out.

On-site workshops cover everyday maintenance and major refit projects. Services include high-pressure washing, antifouling application, gelcoat and fibreglass repairs, painting, engine and generator maintenance, marine woodwork, and stainless steel or aluminium welding. Skippers managing their own maintenance can hire external contractors, provided outside tradespeople register at the yard office first.

Cruising crews living aboard during maintenance have access to communal toilets, showers, and site-wide Wi-Fi. The main office also houses a small chandlery stocking everyday boatyard consumables, basic hardware, and repair supplies.

Getting There and Logistics

Phuket Premier Boatyard is located at 177/6 Moo 7 in the Mai Khao sub-district of Thalang, situated on Phuket's north-eastern shore immediately adjacent to Phuket Yacht Haven Marina (8° 10' 34" N, 98° 19' 33" E). Phuket International Airport lies roughly 12 kilometres to the south-west, making arrivals by air straightforward. A private taxi or ride-hailing car from the terminal typically costs between 400 THB and 600 THB (£9 to £14) and takes 10 to 15 minutes. From Phuket Town, approximately 35 kilometres south, a taxi fare is usually around 800 THB to 1,000 THB (£18 to £23). By road, turn east off Route 402 (Thepkrasattri Road) following local signs towards Yacht Haven, then follow the unpaved two-kilometre access road through the rubber plantation to reach the boatyard gates.

Yachts approaching by sea from Phang Nga Bay enter through a tidal mangrove inlet channel. Skippers must take note of the overhead power cables spanning the entrance: these provide approximately 18 metres of air draught at mid-channel, so craft with taller rigs should favour the northern bank where clearance is higher. Due to cross-currents and a pronounced dogleg in the approach channel, vessel arrivals and haul-outs should be scheduled for high-water slack tide.

Yard and haul-out operations typically run during standard daytime working hours from Monday to Saturday, with Sunday reserved for rest. Hardstand slots fill quickly ahead of the south-west monsoon season, making advance booking essential for haul-outs between May and October. Package rates require full payment in advance, generally settled via Thai bank transfer or locally on site.

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