Satun - Docking
Anchorages:
Most yachts prefer to anchor at the entrance to the channel and go ashore by dingy. It is also possible to anchor by the Tammalang Pier, but make sure you anchor in the middle of the river to avoid going aground.
Note:
- Expect a reasonable amount of local boat traffic.
Town Quay:
Satun has most services required including a boatyard (predominantly for fishing boats) as well as workshops for repairs.
Dinghy Docks:
Dinghies can be left at the boat ramp next to the Harbor Master’s office and up the river at the Customs office dock.
Security:
It is advisable to leave at least one crew member on board when clearing in and out. If leaving the boat unattended, ensure you stow any valuables and lock all hatches at all times.
Last updated: August 2019
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We anchored in Satun to clear in. The clear in process went fine, but we did get stuck in the mud in the river. The western shore is a very gradual slope, and I’d recommend boat anchor in the middle of the river, despite the traffic of local boats. The ferries don’t go far into the river, so ferry wake wasn’t a problem.
We hauled out at PSS. In advance, we told the staff (Julie, via email) that we were hauling out for three days only, and had some fibreglass work that needed to be done above the waterline. Julie said no problem.
The haul out is via a rail system, which is very jerky. There was a lot of banging down below us, but we couldn’t see what was going on. When I got down off the boat, I pointed out to the yard staff that they were damaging our bottom paint. Untold me it would be no problem because they’d fix it when they did our bottom job. I told him we weren’t doing a bottom job. Un then had all the supports redone with padding to protect the bottom.
We got our project done in time and when we started asking about the launch, the staff told us they couldn’t launch us for another week (10 days total) because of the tide. News to us! PSS has a very limited window for hauling and launching the boats, not only because of the rail but also because the river shallows at the mouth and boats get stuck trying to come and go.
Julie was very apologetic to us and set us up in a hotel. She coordinated a car or ride for us to get to and from the yard and kept in touch with recommendations for the area.
We never did get the fibreglass repair done, as they eventually told us they didn’t have the proper gel coat to do it. While we had time twiddling our thumbs, we did get the yard to apply Propspeed for us.
Most of the boats hauled out are local commercial boats – fishermen or tours. There are a handful of cruisers there, most of them for long term work – months spent at PSS. The yard is bare bones – the first three nights we stayed in the yard we were the only ones sleeping onboard. Everyone else rents a room across the way.
Be sure to clear out with the Harbourmaster in Satun before you head north.
I hauled out my Najad 390 at PSS In February 2018.
There were many negative reports circulating in the cruising community prior to my haul out so I decided to visit the yard before I committed to a lift out there.
My previous experiences at the yard were positive. Whilst its primary function is the haul out and servicing of the huge Thai and Malaysian fishing fleet, the yard also caters for yachts with special yacht cradles available for fin keeled boats.
On my visit, I spoke with Julie, Un and Michael and felt reassured about the haul out and I booked to lift on the next appropriate tide. When I had hauled out there in previous times, the yard was chock full of both fishing boats and yachts. This year, there were a handful of yachts and just a few fishing boats.
The lack of yachts was largely due to the negative reports doing the rounds amongst the yachting community and the purpose of this review is to report my experience there fairly.
My haul out needs this year were fairly simple but my experience at the yard was a positive one. I was in the yard just for 8 days which was my target.
The work was done to a good standard and whilst I never enjoy the boatyard experience, it was as good as it can be.
So I would like to say that PSS is certainly welcoming private yachts and I would recommend the yard to anyone thinking of going there. They carry out good work and are competitively priced in the region.
Ignore the rumours, they are simply false. I would not hesitate to lift out there again in the future.
I would like to endorse what hvVega said about PSS at Chebilang, Satun. I have brought my boat (Sade) here for two biennial haul outs and one other visit – which involved fabrication and installation of SS davits for my RIB – and I will keep coming back because I believe PSS is excellent value for money.
Sure, it can be dirty and dusty with servicing the fishing fleet (its bread and butter work) but I can put up with that. Yes, Jia and Julie’s absence has been a blow, but it is also great to see Un and Michael step up to fill that huge hole.
I have just had Sade hauled out for a bottom clean, topside polishing, upgrades to two aft cabins and some mechanical and electrical repairs. The work was carried out and completed ahead of the 10 days (4/1/18 – 14/1/18) that I told Un and Michael that I had to spare.
Things are much quieter here compared to the same time two years ago. The benefit, of course, is that I had access to the best trades and there was zero waiting time. I am disappointed to hear some negative comments from various sources but thought I would share my most recent experience so you can all make a better-informed decision where you go for your next haul out.
Make sure you obtain a letter of confirmation of your boat being at PSS for repairs from the office before you clear in with Customs, to avoid an 800B fee from Customs. Hang on to a copy as Customs will try the same at Clearing Out and do avoid going in during weekends and public hols, as they charge a hefty 1000B compared to 200B.
Happy and safe sailing,
Ed
We have been using PSS shipyard in Satun, Thailand for several years now. The prices are reasonable and we have always been quite pleased with the team and their work. That said, they recently suffered many problems when their young dynamic manager Jia had a severe stroke. This threw the yard into temporary chaos which has since been more or less solved.
Most of the problems people experience stem from communication difficulties. When we were last there Michael, whose English and Thai are superb, was a great help – although he was usually up to his ears sandblasting a yacht whose owners were never satisfied.
We have seen some wonderful first-class work come out of PSS, just have a look at what was done on superyacht Cariad for an example. There are two levels of workers there, with different skill and pay scales, so you must decide which you need for your jobs. Obviously, the ones who turn out five-star work are more expensive. Asking the fishing boat workers, who are less expensive, for fine yacht work rarely pays off to satisfaction. The machine shop does lovely work, although they do attend to the commercial fishing boats, who are usually well-known repeat customers, first. That said, by giving them the jobs you need doing early you will most likely not even notice the difference.
We like the place and the friends we have there, so, if you do decide to haul out at PSS do not be surprised if you find Vega high and dry in the midst of our annual haul out.
Others have commented on the toilets and showers as well as the apartments that are available.
The river entrance may look daunting but is actually quite OK if you faithfully follow the waypoints. Be sure to go in on the tail of a rising tide… just in case!
Posted on behalf of SY Kiwi Blue:
We were in PSS Shipyard from late January until mid-May 2017 for a sandblasting job that should take a maximum period of 6 weeks. We were there for 3.5 months.
Work was promised but always delayed and every morning you had to compete with other yachties to get people working on your yacht.
The management situation in the yard has changed dramatically since Jia had a stroke. There is hardly any qualified labour available so quite a few jobs had to be done twice which adds to the length of stay in the yard. The commercial fishing boats have priority and they bring their own maintenance crew. We were on a side track for 3 weeks without any work done because of the priority of the fishing boats.
When you come in for a small antifoul job, you might be OK, but for sandblasting or another big job we would not recommend this yard.
Gert and Mies Harbers
Kiwi Blue
Update 9 December from Ian Gower:
We checked in yesterday at Koh Lipe and no fees were mentioned – no agents in sight. The one Immigration officer gave us about 5 forms to fill in and asked us to be patient as he had an incoming ferry to process, took about an hour.
He checked details, passports, boat registration and last port check out papers required.
No stamp in the passport – we received instead a document signed & stamped by the Immigration officer with permission to stay 30 days, captain and crew.
Not sure yet if we keep that as proof at next port, but I have made a copy.
Koh Lipe: New Clearance charges for yachts
Reported 26 November 2016
Latest charges being imposed at Ko Lipe – closest island to Langkawi Malaysia.
Check-in: 1000 Baht
Check-out and port clearance: 2500 Baht
Visa on arrival: 2000 Baht per person
Service charge: 500 Baht per person
Photo service: 200 Baht per person
Thai currency only – non-refundable
Charges listed are about 10 times the normal fee as charged at check-in at Phuket.
Update 30 November 2016
Last weekend we did hear someone had been arrested for excessive charging as an illegal agent, working in conjunction with immigration. Apparently, Immigration was sending yachties to an agent before they would check them in. Anyway, friends arrived, got sent to an agent by Immigration, who tried to charge huge fees plus a fine as they said he took too long to arrive from Langkawi. The skipper refused after an argument and he lodged a complaint with the Police. However, Immigration then refused to stamp him in or out (but did say if you come back early tomorrow we will check you in for half price).
They said there was a new rule with Malaysia, the Captain does not need a stamp in his Passport. Such crazy stuff.
Fortunately, when they came back to Langkawi, the Malaysian Immigration stamped him back in and said they have no contact or dealings with the Ko Lipe officials.
Good news – the most recent contact who sailed over to Ko Lipe was checked incorrectly – no fees. Apparently, there were 3 people pretending to be agents in cahoots with Immigration. Speed boat tour operators. The Police did tell our friends they would deal with the man concerned.
A group of us are heading that way in about a week, so will let you know what transpires.
I have been bringing my boat here for 7 years and over that time the quality of the workmanship has increased many folds from the yard attracting large yachts for full reconstruction mainly by the recently retired Captain Des. Lots of good workmen as long as you give them adequate instruction, diagrams and encouragement.
Good luck make sure you keep a daily log of events people work on the boat, if they guys get taken off the boat for other urgent work make sure you document it as sometimes things are missed in the paperwork system its in Thai so you have a devil sorting it out, We asked for a Bill fortnightly and got it on time. Engineering shop is very good, but they like to line up the motors and shafts in the water like they do in a fishing boat. Good luck