Best Worldwide Location to Bluewater Outfit a Cat?

[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!

[colemj]

Well, I guess some of that decision would involve where you want to start your cruising. Outfitting in NZ when you want to cruise the Caribe wouldn't make much sense.

Somewhere on the Chesapeake Bay may fit your requirements.

But wait - are you also looking to buy a boat in the place you are outfitting it? If that is the case, then Florida - no contest. Huge selection of boats and even those for sale throughout the Caribe will be willing to sail it to FL to sell it. And everything you could possibly need is there. If you want to move it somewhere less expensive, you have the entire US East Coast easily accessible.

The US West coast would be about the worse place I could think of to buy a catamaran, get an apartment and outfit the boat.

So your wife is going to help you outfit the boat for single handing? You haven't caught that hint yet?

Mark

[Moonos]

Skip Australia and go somewhere in the US. Parts are just ridiculously expensive here (and probably NZ also). Most stuff is probably 50% cheaper in the US

Perhaps Langkawi, Malaysia is another option as it's duty free?

My guess would be Florida though.

[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?


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Ex-Calif]

Florida, USA - Land of plenty.

Offset cheap labor with a terribly long supply chain and lack of choice when you go to Asia.

If you have lot's of laborious type work - cabinetry and so forth, Asia makes more sense.

Systems, wiring, electronics, plumbing etc - USA wins hands down.

If world cruising, think about getting all the systems work done in USA then maybe delay interior work until Asia or other low cost area. Although renting apartments in many countries is not possible as a non-resident...

Oh - if you are doing the work yourself, think about the climate. Stinking hot (equator) and snow really slow things down...

As far as apartment - 1 B/R max (studio better) - Get used to living in a small space - LOL...

[SV THIRD DAY]

Say away from US West Coast and head to Florida USA. We ship more water makers to boats refitting in the State of Florida than any other US State. They are all there for a reason!

[Lucky Larry]

Marina Puerto Del Ray, Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Largest marina in the Caribbean. And we have a catamaran there that is for sale.

[two fast]

Australia/ Sydney is not the place to do it IMHO. Having almost finished fitting out my 50' cat over the last two winters, I had 4 quotes for a complete fitout each were way over the top, So my wife,daughter and her boyfriend helped, most weekends mainly on the mooring, I had some good help from a shipwright and his wife's and trimmer, but with the amount of work in a cat this size labour is just too expensive here. But if you can do it yourself you can save heaps it helps if you can find a good machine shop to do the things which require big equipment you can't get on board.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[weavis]

South Africa

[Ozbullwinkle]

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?


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

I also recommend Saint Martin.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Boatguy30]

Happy to lend a hand in St Augustine or Green Cove springs, fl

[s/v Beth]

Just to give an alternative view: I have sailed/been part of the scene in Florida. Wonderful place. I am outfitting my boat in....Oregon! Cheap slip fees in near fresh water, DIY boatyard that is run by the city and overjoyed to have you there. Walk up to a big marine chancellery, and friendly folks and cheap restaurants/motels. And I am not the only one. My slip in next to two other cruisers slowly updating their boat to take them out. One is a professional captain who works full time in the gulf of mexico. He could put his boat down there for free, but would rather live here off work.
One other thing- old boats like mine tend to have a lot of maintenance. Because of the cloud cover and constant near 50F here, we seem to have to varnish/paint less. Maybe it's only my false impression, but out there in Florida it seemed like everything was bleaching out fast. But then again, I do have to wash it two or three times a year to keep the moss down.
But if I was off to do the Pacific, I would do my work here.

[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

[boatman61]

Buy in BVI.. then head 80 odd miles E to St Martin and kit her out there.. great skills if you look around not just head for the 'big boys'.. good chandlers.. good restaurants.. just about all speak English or American..

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Florida, USA - Land of plenty.

Offset cheap labor with a terribly long supply chain and lack of choice when you go to Asia.

If you have lot's of laborious type work - cabinetry and so forth, Asia makes more sense.

Systems, wiring, electronics, plumbing etc - USA wins hands down.

If world cruising, think about getting all the systems work done in USA then maybe delay interior work until Asia or other low cost area. Although renting apartments in many countries is not possible as a non-resident...

Oh - if you are doing the work yourself, think about the climate. Stinking hot (equator) and snow really slow things down...

As far as apartment - 1 B/R max (studio better) - Get used to living in a small space - LOL...

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