Best Worldwide Location to Bluewater Outfit a Cat?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by gunnado

If your not worried about cost I would say Saint Martin, Caribbean.
The biggest chandlers including specialised electrical and rigging, all within a dingy ride with experienced tradesman everywhere.

I doubt there is a place as good anywhere else in the world?

I agree.

In St Martin your cruise has already begun

I agree that Florida would be good too... But in Florida you would need a car, St Martin you wouldn't as its all a dinghy ride, and you wouldn't need an apartment either as you can live aboard.

[s/v Beth]

Originally Posted by colemj

I think the problem is he wants to buy a boat somewhere where he can outfit it. The catamaran market on the west coast is lean indeed. And it doesn't make any sense to buy a catamaran in the more favorable east coast/caribe markets and sail it to the west coast for outfitting - particularly Oregon.

Mark

Agree with you completely. Just saying for those that need a west coast approach- all is not lost.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by boatman61

...... just about all speak English or American..

Yep.... I speak both languages..............

[barnakiel]

I would go for the US or a major EU sailing place (UK or DE type, NOT Med).

Do it where equipment and materials are readily available, at good prices.

I think I would like a marina in a major town with at least two big chandleries and a boatyard nearby.

b.

[Adelie]

Port Angeles, Port Townsend or Anacortes Washington.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I would go for the US or a major EU sailing place (UK or DE type, NOT Med).

Do it where equipment and materials are readily available, at good prices.

I think I would like a marina in a major town with at least two big chandleries and a boatyard nearby.

b.

UK is far too expensive compared to many EU countries. Personally in Europe I'd pick the Netherlands.

Dave


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[CruiserAD]

Hi all

I did some work on my boat in Trinidad while circumnavigating. This was around 1995/1996 but at that time Trinidad (Chagueramas area) had very extensive boating facilities with at least three boat yards and relatively cheap labour. One could easily order material from the US duty free as a yacht in transit which saved quite a lot. Trinidad is also outside of the hurricane belt which i consider a major point when planning a longer stay.

Would be interesting if it's still like that?

Regards Jan

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by peteh007

Hi

Wife and I are about to go look for and buy a blue water world cruising cat. There are so many for sale.. we'd like to find an English Speaking location where we can tie it up for a lot of the time, live aboard for a few months, perhaps rent a local apartment too, and outfit the boat for single handing and with all the goodies needed to go cruising...

Can anyone suggest the best place to do this? I guess we're free to travel and relo anywhere?

Carrabean? FL? West Coast US? NZ? other?

Where's the best boating facilities, workmanship, lowest cost marinas? nicest spot to do this?

Suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Just Catamarans comes to mind in Ft Lauderdale. When your talking Cats-there are no places that have 'cheap labor' and cheap dockage. At Nanny Cay in BVI it costs $1200 a month just to store your 42ft Cat on the hard. In Grenada this costs $700....some places in Florida charge $450 for this.

[Wannabe-007]

Great thread.
Im planning on doing something similar very soon and had just assumed that Florida was the place to be in terms of fit out. Saint Martin sounds like a much more exotic place to be stuck doing the bits and bobs!

What is the down side to doing fit out in Saint Martin?
- Is there any import duties or additional fees for bringing items in?
- Is there any time limits to be aware of? (I plan to buy in Nov & go through the canal in Feb)
- Are there any other issues - eg. humpback spiders, climate,
- Is there more options in St Martin for cheaper 'housing' ie. anchoring?
- What about general cost of living - groceries / cafes / etc
- Any pros or cons because we're not American? Speak pretty good Enlgand tho.

The viability of Saint Martin for this work comes as something of a revelation to me... quite an exciting prospect.

[boatman61]

I've known folk fly in from Trinidad etc to spend time in the chandlers in St Martin.. and the saving plus instant (usually) availability more than cover the fare..
Yes you can anchor French side after going through the Simpson end.. in the shadow of the Witches Tit..
If you need any stainless work there's an artist on the S side of the French entrance.. he's S. African and Lille Marine can steer you his way if he's still there.

[Dave852]

Originally Posted by leftbrainstuff

The US is great, any coast for access to parts and services.

But ideally you want to buy a boat that is already well equipped and sorted in the area you wish to cruise. This will be very cost and time effective.

Don't underestimate the time needed to integrate and commission everything.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

I agree, don't underestimate the cost either. It is much more expensive to buy all the pieces of a boat individually than to buy the boat that has been recently refit by someone else. They will never recover that cost and you can benefit if you find the right situation.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Wannabe-007]

Hmmm... Noonsite reports that recent crimes against cruisers in St Martin is occurring at an "alarming and increasing rate, at many locations."

[boatman61]

Got all excited then Wannabe.. but turned into the same old same old..

[Wannabe-007]

I'm not nearly old enough to understand what same old same old might be.

[boatman61]

Same old tales every year..
My compliments on your youth..
may you live long enough to gather some 'Old'..