trade
Keep the owner, the yard and the subcontractors looking at the same boat
A boat build or refit runs for months. The owner pays in stages, changes their mind along the way, and mostly sees the boat in photos. Meanwhile subcontractors (electricians, engineers, upholsterers) work through the same hull and need to know what was agreed.
A walkthrough gives each stage one record: what you said, what it looks like, and when.
Where boat building updates go wrong
- Stage claims without context. A photo of a finished bulkhead does not tell the owner what changed since last month.
- Changes agreed on the dock. The owner points at a locker and says "make it bigger". Nobody writes it down.
- Subcontractor handovers. The next trade finds out what was decided by asking, or by guessing.
- Distance. Owners often live elsewhere. A site visit is a flight or a long drive.
What to record
- Stage update. Walk the boat from the keel up or the bow aft, and say what is complete, what is next and what is waiting on parts.
- Decision points. Layout, finishes, fittings. Say the options and what the owner chose, while you are standing there.
- Changes. When the owner asks for something outside the agreed scope, record the walk and write a variation record.
- Handover. Show the owner how it all works before they take the boat.
Walkflow records the walkthrough and drafts documents from it. It does not manage the build schedule or write progress claims or invoices.
Using the documents
After a stage walkthrough, Walkflow can draft a scope of work for the next stage and quote items for any extras. You edit them before they go out. Each line can point back to the moment you said it.
Example uses
| Moment | What to capture | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Hull complete, before fit-out | Structure, penetrations, space for systems | Owner and subcontractors agree what happens next |
| Layout decision | Mock-ups or taped outlines, owner's choice spoken aloud | A record of what was chosen |
| Owner-requested change | The location, the request, your estimate of the work | A variation the owner has seen |
| Handover | Systems, access panels, how things work | Fewer questions after launch |
Common questions
Is this useful for small builds and refits?
Yes. The same walkthrough works for a single refit job or a full build.
Can subcontractors use the same link?
Yes. A link can be shared with anyone who needs to see what was recorded. No login is needed to watch it.
Can I keep the documents in one place per boat?
Yes. Put the walkthroughs for a boat in a project and generate documents for the whole job.
For the wider picture, see site walkthrough app for builders, site walkthrough app for marine electricians and when someone says they never agreed to that.