Haulout-Ferroalquimar Cartagena Colombia

[sy_gilana]

Well here we go again. Last time we took the paint down to steel was in 2006, so the paint system was very good. Our last anti fouling was in 2011, so we got 7 years on that, also good.

We know of several people who have asked us about this yard. Our opinion so far is that it is fantastic here. A little dirty, but we are making most of the dust so we cannot complain. The yard is very professionally run, you can live onboard, and they will plumb you in to be able to use your overboard discharge too. (poop in the land toilets though) A new rec room, with cooking facilities, free fast wifi, Sat TV etc. The GM is Jesus, and they like to do all of the work, but are open to outside contractors, and of course you can do whatever you like to your own boat. Very helpful, they arranged the clearing in agent, and handed us hard hats and a cash advance (for incidental purchases) as we stepped off the boat.

The list of jobs:

Remove protective paint to UW hull and replace
New Antifouling (ABC-3)
Spraypaint topsides
Rewind generator stator
Galvanize anchors and chain
Re-chrome some winches
Internal hull inspection and if necc repair.
New Fiberglass Dorade Boxes.
Renew main engine exhaust piping from Stainless Steel to Rubber.

One thing...Bring your own anodes. They are expensive here like $80 each for 11Kg and metric shaft sizes are not available.

[belizesailor]

How are their rates now?

I got a quote from them a few years ago for a bottom job and it was wildy expensive, 2-3 times what I usually pay. I had them recheck, thinking there must surely be an error, but nope that was correct.

I do agree they seemed to be a very professional yard though.

[sy_gilana]

Hi, the rates are much better than anywhere else around here, bearing in mind, that there are cheaper yards, but there are no stores anywhere for miles.

We are in ship repair heaven here. You can get anything. That being said here are our rates.

Haul and Launch $413.00 (were 50 ft and 70+000 pounds)
Days on hard $18.00 per day..
Per coat of paint, applied by them $130.00
We contracted them to do all the work, they said it will all be done in 5 weeks, if they are late we don't pay.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

Hi, the rates are much better than anywhere else around here, bearing in mind, that there are cheaper yards, but there are no stores anywhere for miles.

We are in ship repair heaven here. You can get anything. That being said here are our rates.

Haul and Launch $413.00 (were 50 ft and 70+000 pounds)
Days on hard $18.00 per day..
Per coat of paint, applied by them $130.00
We contracted them to do all the work, they said it will all be done in 5 weeks, if they are late we don't pay.

Seems reasonable, still dont get why my quote was so high...like $4,500! Paid about $2,000 at Shelter Bay.

This past year I bought TransOceanic paint here in Panama at $175/gallon (distributor in Colon) and paid two guys (with bottom painting experience) $150 to prep and paint...they knocked it out in day (the bottom was in good shape so it was an easy job). I gofer'ed for them and did the sail drives. Pretty cheap bottom job, since I was also hauled to do other work.

Maybe we will try again in Cartagena next season...we do like it there a lot. [emoji41]

[sy_gilana]

UPDATE.

I want to declare that I have no financial interest in this business.

This is intended to help other cruisers who want to know about Haulout facilities in the Western Caribbean.

This is without doubt the most effective haulout we have done in 20 years of cruising.

Initially I suspected the abilities of the yard itself. I am a suspicious person now, after having bad experiences at other yards in the past. As a result, I have tried to seek alternate quotations from enterprises outside of the yard itself. Every time, the yard as beaten quotes, time and quality.

I will give a full report after the haul, but at this point, I would suggest you don't look any further for your next haulout in this general area, even as far as Colon or Curacao.

Make a list of what you need done, have a meeting with the General Manager here, and leave it to him. He is a most helpful person, and has a solution for every problem.

The local businesses here are used to large jobs for big ships. I am having my Onan Generator Stator re-wound here for $248.00 Excellent facilities all around, and a canteen is soon to open in the yard for the staff and visitors.

Very professionally run. For example:

Arrived in dock, 4 linehandlers waiting with lines.
Operator discuss sling placement.
Diver in water.
Step ashore, and given local currency loan for incidental purchases.
Boat placed, and asked if happy with levelling.
Chocked and placed.
Electrician arrives to provide power.
Plumber arrives to arrange fresh water and waste connections.
Both meter readings handed over.
WiFi password handed over.
Off to restaurant for lunch with the money provided.
Return to boat, and found ladder provided but not placed.

And so it went on .... They bend over backwards to help, and the prices are most affordable.

[sy_gilana]

Anti Fouling Paint Ameron ABC3 $94.00 per gallon.

[Ex-Calif]

Very timely post. I am currently in Bocagrande vacationing and am starting to gather information on boatyards in and around the various countries on the Caribbean Sea.

Colombia is near the top of my retirement locations so it's good to hear first hand about the quality of the boatyard. Might try to drop by the yard before I leave...

Looked at a couple of boats here as well.

[sy_gilana]

Time for a summary of our haul-out.


Quite easily the best one ever.


Negatives = The dust from stripping the old paint off the hull.
The mosquitoes at dusk.


Positives = You can get ANYTHING done here.

This whole area is historically a ship repair and ship building zone.

There are amazing skill sets in the area.

Do not even try to "shop" outside the yard itself.
We tried, and the yard beat the price, time and quality every time.
The General Manager, Jesus, is amazing and accommodating.
If you use the yard for everything, you get favors in return, like transporting our chain and anchors some 500 miles for galvanizing, free.


Here is a short list of the most important items.


Haul and Launch $413.40
Days on hard $ 18.18 per day.
Strip underwater epoxy to steel $354.31
Paint Sigmacover Primer 280, 5 gal $130.91
Paint Sigmacover Primer 300, 5 gal $131.64
Paint Sigmacover Primer 525, 5 gal $151.27
Anti Fouling Sigma ABC3 (Ameron) 15 gal $1414.00
Spraypaint Topsides Dupont Elite 2 coats, on 2 coats epoxy primer, after sanding fairing and filling $2012.00
Electricity per KWh $0.51c
Water per m3 (268 gal) $1.36
Galvanize 100m (330ft) 13mm (1/2") chain, plus 50Kg (110#) anchor and dinghy anchor and two 5/8 shackles $312.00
Rewind Onan Stator $237.14
4 new GRP Dorade boxes $143.00


I think, if you need to do some serious work on your boat, get down to Cartagena Colombia, and pull right in to this yard. Ferroalquimar. As a vessel in transit you are exempt VAT.


Let the yard also do your clearance papers.



Attached is a GPX file of the entry, minimum depth seen was 12 ft.
Please rename to .gpx to open in your nav software.

[Boatguy30]

What is the max beam and do they have a long term storage rate?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

What is the max beam and do they have a long term storage rate?

They could lift my boat at 22' wide...part of their business is big ass construction cranes so I suspect there is not much they cant lift. Dont know their storage arrangements.

[sy_gilana]

There is a lot of info, and some photos here...

https://web.facebook.com/groups/6596...?ref=bookmarks


Long term, ie 6 months plus, is negotiable with a payment in advance.

[sy_gilana]

Thought I would post an "AFTER" photo, seeing as there is one above taken the day we were hauled.

[belizesailor]

Looking good!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

There is a lot of info, and some photos here...

https://web.facebook.com/groups/6596...?ref=bookmarks


Long term, ie 6 months plus, is negotiable with a payment in advance.

For those of us who dont do FB...do they publish their storage rates anywhere else?

[Bill Streever]

Hi all.

We want to store out boat in Colombia during the 2019 hurricane season. While there, we want to haul out for bottom painting, a survey, and possibly some fiberglass work.

I see the thread here regarding Ferroalquimar yard. We are looking for a place with both a yard and a marina, as we will be in the water part of the time and on the hard part of the time. Does anyone know anything about Manzanillo Marina? They claim to have a yard with hotel/apartments (a place to stay while on the hard) and docks.

This review makes Ferroalqumar look pretty good, though, so maybe we should go with that and just find a place to stay nearby.

All thoughts/suggestions welcome. -bill