Medium Term Storage in USVI or BVIs

[Tasso]

Looking at summer storage (6 months) - preferably on the hard in the Virgin Islands.

Would like budget storage and DIY privileges...

Any recommendations welcome.

- Tasso

[captainjay]

There is no budget storage. Independent boat yard on St Thomas is the only place you are going to get DIY they are probably full. BVI now requires a work permit to wash your own boat once it has been hauled. Nanny Cay is full you can probably get in at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor.

Good luck.

[masonc]

I would take a couple of days tho run to St. Kitts and put the boat in the ground, much safer than up on sticks. Price is half of BVI and no issue with DIY.

[steffan]

Originally Posted by masonc

I would take a couple of days tho run to St. Kitts and put the boat in the ground, much safer than up on sticks. Price is half of BVI and no issue with DIY.

Please forgive my ignorance, but what does "put the boat in the ground" mean, and why St Kitts?

[masonc]

The safest way to store a sailboat for hurricane season is for the yard to dig a hole and put the keel in it. The boat sits so low it can't fall over. When all the boats are on sticks close together, they fall like Dominos.

[masonc]

Originally Posted by steffan

Please forgive my ignorance, but what does "put the boat in the ground" mean, and why St Kitts?

St Kitts has lots of capacity, very nice people run it, and they don't care if you work on your boat. The boat is safe. Cost are very reasonable.

[bobnlesley]

Originally Posted by steffan

Please forgive my ignorance, but what does "put the boat in the ground" mean, and why St Kitts?

Rather than store boats on stands/cradles, they dig a hole for the keel and sit the boat (suitably padded/protected) 'in the ground'; much harder for the Hurricanes/T-Storms to knock over.

St Kitts is the nearest place to the USVIs/BVIs that you'll find 'budget' priced storage and they've plenty of space; St Martin's in pricey (not as outrageous as the BVIs though) but also probably fully booked for this summer by now too.

[steffan]

Thanks for the replies. That's great info. I had no idea intentionally burying a boat was a thing. I've never seen it done around here. I imagine it wouldn't work out too well in the land of snow and ice.

[RickG]

We have a contract to haul our boat at Independent Boat Yard in August. You can do DIY there. They fill up early. Another option is Puerto Del Rey, PR, but they fill up as well. VGYH is expanding their boat yard, but I'm not sure of their status; they bought a big new lift, but there were problems with it sinking to its hubs in the sand unloaded. The yards in St. Martin require you to drop your mast. We know people who do that every year, but it is an extra step in lay up and commissioning. There are facilities on St. Croix, but I am not familiar with them.

Cheers, RickG

[jholder51]

OK. Now we have 2 questions. If you "bury" your boat, what happens if there is a storm surge? And then how do you "unbury" your boat?

[sailcrazy]

Insurance companies, at least the ones I've checked, all prefer the BoatUS-described method of storing boats-on the hard, very close together(a fender apart only), and each strapped to a continuous concrete beam that extends under the row of bows and sterns. The only place we've found that offers that is Puerto Del Rey in Fajardo, PR. Their storage yard is also chain-link fenced, under 24-hr security, protected by mangroves, and elevated and well away from the water. Not especially budget, but the safest we've found so far.

[Joyful Noise]

there is only one yard on St Croix and it is very expensive

[contrail]

Originally Posted by captainjay

There is no budget storage. Independent boat yard on St Thomas is the only place you are going to get DIY they are probably full. BVI now requires a work permit to wash your own boat once it has been hauled. Nanny Cay is full you can probably get in at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor.

Good luck.

Actually, they have the work permit fiasco sorted, to some extent. You can't bring in workers, without their having work permits.

[svMarite]

To answer the question of digging in the keel. The land is above the flood plain probably and the hole is only slightly wider and deeper than your keel. The boat physically cannot fall over. Also, being lower to the ground, probably has better wind protection than up on stands where it's very exposed. The gent suggesting St. Kitts seems right on the money - thanks for that tip and will definitely keep that in mind my next trip.