Can't really help you on where to go, but I can tell you one place not to even consider if you're in the
Med.....Egypt. Just forget it. Doesn't matter whether you are in the
Med or the Red Sea.
I'll justify that by saying that I've lived and worked in the boat and yacht
repair industry here for most of the past 20 years (only 19 DTG before departing this sandbox for good!). Why I've stayed here so long is worthy of a short novel in and of itself, but that's for another time.
Boat
repairs by Egyptians is suspect as best.
Repair parts used here are either made in
China of which the quality is not good enough to be
sold in
Europe or the U.S., predominantly
electrical components. Mechanical repair
parts are usually recycled from various places and are of unknown condition. While one can get quality parts and
equipment, they will most likely have to be imported and taxed to death as very few suppliers keep the "good stuff" in stock (example: Gel and
AGM batteries...3-month lead time, 2-3 weeks in
customs, taxed at 115% of value).
I earn my living here by only working on foreign flagged boats with non-Egyptian owners. Egyptian owners don't want to spend
money on their boats to maintain them or pay for quality services. I always provide a guarantee on my work, which is another thing you won't find here in the
marine repair industry ("Look Mister, it's working! Pay me now!" Customer: "But for how long?" Response: "Insha-Allah, God willing, forever! Pay me now!").
Additionally, qualified technicians are a rare, almost unknown breed here. There are exceptions, but most boat electricians are nothing more than slightly over-qualified housing electricians, a "Boat Engineer" is nothing more than a
diesel mechanic that has a State-issued
license which does not cover anything
electrical (battery issue? Not my job, call an electrician....). Standing
rigging issues...only 3 companies that I am aware stock rigging supplies and have the
equipment to conduct repairs. Cost is approximately 3 times what it would cost in
Turkey or
Greece due to
Customs fees on their imported stock.
Many have heard the stories of corruption while transiting the Suez
Canal (Fatty Goodlander has some good stories on this). While I have not personally experienced this as I have only ever transited the Suez on U.S. Naval vessels, I can believe the stories as it occurs nearly anywhere in this country where a
government body is involved (example: had to make a 10K Egyptian Pound "donation", about $800 at the time, to have my marriage certificate to an Egyptian issued in Arabic and then another "donation" for the certificate to be issued in
English for the US Embassy....2-months after the wedding!)
So no, not
Egypt. Great country to visit, lots to see and do, people are generally open and friendly. But just don't have boat repairs done here, just don't....