Repair docks don't get upgraded

[AlP]

I remember being able to upgrade repair docks by having ships repaired there (on CD version of the game). Now they always give me the base repair time :(

Is it just the docks, or maybe the shipyards as well? If the only way to maintain a decent repair speed is to order ships, that's going to suck.

[knighttemplar1960]

Ordering ships upgrades the repair docks faster than just repairing ships. If you use a hub system to automate your fleets you should try to base them or schedule repairs in a city that has a ship yard rather than just a repair dock.

[TheMaster1]

Well I actually never thought about the repair docks only as opposed to shipyards.

I know repairing does help, and the main way to upgrade a shipyard is to order ships. You know this too... without that possibility I dont know, sorry

[russmiller4445]

You need to order ships to get the shipyard to level up to a Hulk, progression. This also causes the weapon maker to progress to making cannons. Sorry, but there tied together. The more they build, the faster they repair & build. Keeping people employed also gives you a city wide boost to popularity.

[Jambie Lionheart]

I know that repairing used to improve repair and build speed, but at a slower rate compared repairing ships. but I'm pretty sure it doesn't anymore.

I haven't tested it yet but improving your ship at these repair docks should still gradually improve the repair dock. Though honestly, why bother using them :D Just find a shipyard and designate them as your auto trade's repair dock.

[Jambie Lionheart]

Also, you have to keep using these shipyards to maintain that level of upgrade. I THINK, but am not sure repairing maintains the faster repair and building speeds. Haven't really tested it, but I've noticed shipyards I designate as trade convoy repair docks don't lose building or repair speed so far. To early to really tell for sure though.

[russmiller4445]

Keep your dock workers working, if there's a lengthy gap between builders, it may be that you lose some speed, but I don't think so. I don't think the game is that complicated. I build in almost every town to get the weapon smith making cannons. Not an easy feat. PS. It helps if your in a town that produces its own iron works, so the weapon smith does't run out.

[knighttemplar1960]

Originally posted by russmiller4445:

Keep your dock workers working, if there's a lengthy gap between builders, it may be that you lose some speed, but I don't think so. I don't think the game is that complicated. I build in almost every town to get the weapon smith making cannons. Not an easy feat. PS. It helps if your in a town that produces its own iron works, so the weapon smith does't run out.

The weapon smith needs iron goods, timber, leather, and hemp to make weapons. Make sure to sell enough of those goods in towns you want to buy weapons from.

[Oakshield]

If you mean by "upgraded" giving the ability to build ships, that'll never happen.

However, if you mean by "upgraded" doing faster repairs, all you need to do is to make sure it keeps busy and keeping an eye at the lanterns at that dock.

There are 3 stages with lanterns, with increased speed when a lantern is added. However, keep in mind the speed can decrease as well if you cut down the amount of repairs.

Thorin :)

[AlP]

I did some testing, and it looks like repair docks do get their repair speed upgraded by having ships repaired, although it is a bit slow. They also revert to slower repair speeds if not busy enough.

Shipyards get upgraded much easier, and they don't lose the ability to build 250b snaikkas or 700b hulks if you stop using them. The build/repair speed increases significantly, though it takes a couple of years. It takes 98 days to build a 250b snaikka, compared to the 45 days at max efficiency. It takes 224 days to build a 700b hulk, instead of 77.

[russmiller4445]

You want to keep them busy at all times. Better ships also means better weapon upgrades in the weapon maker. I find it better to ship build in cities that produce iron goods. Repairing ships in Brudges when they return from long voyages will quickly allow you to repair & build faster.

[knighttemplar1960]

Originally posted by russmiller4445:

You want to keep them busy at all times. Better ships also means better weapon upgrades in the weapon maker. I find it better to ship build in cities that produce iron goods. Repairing ships in Brudges when they return from long voyages will quickly allow you to repair & build faster.

I tend to use London for the base of long voyages. Except for hemp produced in Brudges neither town produces materials required to build ships. London is my iron goods hub on the west side of the map (buy pig iron in London and sell it while sailing north to buy iron goods to bring back to London) I buy timber while I'n buying iron goods and I get my pitch in Bergen but to each his own.

[AlP]

I use Groningen because it's the most central location for a hub. Any other town adds a day or two to the autotrade convoy routes. Not having a shipyard is a bummer though.

[katt_nanoha]

Originally posted by AlP:

I did some testing, and it looks like repair docks do get their repair speed upgraded by having ships repaired, although it is a bit slow. They also revert to slower repair speeds if not busy enough.
...

yes, the shipyard efficiency does change according to the 'activity', it will revert to slow if you don't use it periodically. You can check the activity level by looking at its appearance, there is 1-3 lamp post(s) 1 is slowest, 3 is fastest, and if you notice, the goods scattered on the platform also differs. This is not the same as technology level, the level that let you build improved ships, which will never downgrade.

[macbraveheart68]

Activity does change the efficiency. Shipyard wise building a snaikka first will upgrade the yard faster from the start of the game. Or any unused shipyard during the game.

the thing is, building a ship doesn't give the same rate as finishing said ship. Finishing a build really bumps the rate of build.

To test this theory build a snaaikka in one town and a cog in the other. you will build 2 ships in the time it takes to build the cog. And the shipyard Lanterns will climb much faster. I hate snaikkas but you can dump them later. but you will build a snaikka and crayer in about the same time as just building a crayer first.
My guess would be that finishing repairs would also yield better results then the act of repairing the ship. no proof but it's probably similar to the way building works. Building snaikkas first is documented all the way back to the german site and the contests they ran.

repairs are slow, very slow I've never had the patience to finish an experiment with that. although there is a guy on this forum who says he doesn't build ships until the docks are upgraded (Why when they don't inhibit any other function of the yard I don't know).
I do keep severely damaged Hulks for maintenance between builds.

[macbraveheart68]

so I did some experimenting seems repairs have zero effect on the repair dock or shipyard.
test went as follows: built up shipyard in Leubeck to max only repaired ships there and constantly did so, (no gaps) same in Stettin but did nothing there. the shipyards decreased back to 1 lamp in around the same time.

second experiment: upgrades at repair docks, again constant and zero growth.
third experiment: repairs at repair dock, again constant and zero growth.
did not do upgrades only in a shipyard.

Conclusion repair dock can never be increased in size or become faster at repairing or upgrading.
Shipyards work the way you expect them to. except repairs don't do anything at all.