Cost effective refit in the Caribbean

[Capn Gee]

Hello all,

I am looking at getting another 50' sailboat and she will require a little TLC to get her back to her former glory.

In the past I have sailed from Trinidad to the Virgin Islands, but that was over a decade ago, so much has changes I'm sure.

Where are good cost effective marinas and boatyards in the Caribbean?
Somewhere with a good mix of technical skills from electrics to joinery, fibreglassing to metal work and engineering.
I live in Scotland so would need to fly in and out, so cost effective mooring and storage is also important between refit visits.

Does anyone have any good experiences they can share as well as places to avoid?
Thanks and Kind regards
Graham

[boatman61]

^^^^^ Ain't no such thing^^^^^

But... St Martins your best option... cheapest suppliers in the Caribe

[Canibul]

St. Martin or Fajardo, Puerto Rico. But forget about cheap. Everything down in the islands is imported in small quantities from somewhere else. The work force has to make enough money to live in expensive economies. Have you considered Central America?

[Triumphant]

Originally Posted by Canibul

Have you considered Central America?

Just finished a 6 month major refit on a 40 year old Steel boat in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, very reasonable prices but we did lose a lot of days to rain IN THE DRY SEASON!!

[Capn Gee]

Thank you for your feedback, I like the sound of St. Martin as it has the cheapest flights I can find anywhere

[Canibul]

Originally Posted by Triumphant

Just finished a 6 month major refit on a 40 year old Steel boat in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, very reasonable prices but we did lose a lot of days to rain IN THE DRY SEASON!!

Really? this is of interest to me, but don't want to hijack this thread. We're planning to head that way and need aluminum and steel welding and a lot of woodwork.

[Capn Gee]

Please be my guest, it is all ways good to get as much info from across the the network

[dohenyboy]

It depends where the boat is now. If its anything significant and the boat is not there already, you will be much happier in Florida.


Why can't things remain where i carelessly left them?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Triumphant

Just finished a 6 month major refit on a 40 year old Steel boat in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, very reasonable prices but we did lose a lot of days to rain IN THE DRY SEASON!!

+1.

If you are one of us who considers the Western Caribbean as being part of the Caribbean then its very hard to beat the Rio Dulce. Long thread here discussing the Rio Dulce as a refit destination...suggest searching for a reading it.

Importation of materials and parts is easy too.