Where to buy gear? France or Portugal?

[ObiWanSand]

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the forum!

We have the option of buying gear that we need for our planned circumnavigation in either France (Les Sables/La Rochelle) or in Lisbon, Portugal.

To be more specific the gear we are talking about are;

-a custom made stainless steel frame for solar panels
-solar panels
-Highfield dinghy with outboard
-Wet suits and scuba gear
-misc.

Happy to hear if anyone on the forum have any comparisons in this regard!

[TravellingKiwis]

A good question and one I am interested in the answer to but for UK v France rather than Portugal. This may be a decision many people buying a FRENCH catamaran are interested in .... buy where the launch or buy at home.

Anyone have any thoughts?

[ReneJK]

We bought much of the stuff in your list in Portugal
Highfield 3.10 Hypalon and 20 HP Suzuki outboard from Sopromar (they will deliver to the marina / yard you're at)
Dive gear can be bought from Decathlon close to lisbon
SS Mfg can be done (quite cheaply) at Tagus Yacht service seixal , wonderful yard and very helpful and polite owners

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by TravellingKiwis

A good question and one I am interested in the answer to but for UK v France rather than Portugal. This may be a decision many people buying a FRENCH catamaran are interested in .... buy where the launch or buy at home.

Anyone have any thoughts?

You will find the biggest concentration of yachting industry suppliers in the world in the Solent area of the UK. In my opinion, the best place in the world to buy chandlery or especially, to have custom parts or gear made. With the devalued pound sterling it especially makes sense compared to France. Aquafax, which I think is the world's biggest distributor of chandlery and yachting gear, sells directly to the public through their Hamble warehouse, and you have fantastic chandleries like Aladdin's Cave at Deacon's Boatyard, YouBoat in Gosport, etc., etc., etc. It might not be cheaper, but absolutely everything you might need will be in stock. Also a huge pool of skilled labor at reasonable cost, if work is needed. Raymarine, Lewmar, Spinlock, and a million other yachting companies are all right here.

[conachair]

Without digging up any data I would go for France, Portugal ain't cheap for boat bits (Algarve anyway, never been shopping in Lisbon for boat bits. I know Brest has everything you might need so La Rochelle is probably even better. And the food's nice

Shops and services guide to port Les Minimes, La Rochelle —

A lot of stuff will probably be cheaper online as well.

http://www.accastillage-diffusion.com/
http://www.bigship.com/
http://www.uship.fr/