Best place in Bahamas for refit? Freeport or Nassau?

[watanaka]

Hi,

Wondering where in the Bahamas you would be able to get things done such as bottom painting, engine overhaul, new sails, solar panels installed etc? Nassau, yes? What about freeport?

If anyone here has had any work done on their boats I'd love to hear how it went.

[skipmac]

Problem with doing this in the Bahamas is paying import duties on everything you will buy for the boat and that could be a LOT.

Now there might be some provision for exemption or rebate if you are not a Bahamian citizen and will be removing the boat but it that is possible I'd bet it would be difficult and at the end of the day might not get the refund anyway.

[AnchorageGuy]

The Bahamas is going to be the most expensive and frustrating place to have any of that work done. Best to cross over to the U.S. and save yourself a lot of money and aggravation. Chuck

[Tingum]

Not a real good idea. Import duty raises the price on everything. Skilled labor for the engine, sails and solar panel is lacking. Bottom jobs and the availability of some paints is cheaper BUT over all you would do much better in South Florida, particularly for the sails and electrical work. Many skilled independent contractors to choose from.

[onestepcsy37]

best place in the bahamas for a refit is fort lauderdale, but also miami, stuart, fort pierce are good alternatives. i did my bahamas refit in titusville.

there are some good yards in the abacos for general work like bottom painting but not really the place for a refit.

[Paul L]

I 2nd Ft Lauderdale. Cheaper, faster and better quality.

[skipmac]

Well, so far that's five for five against the Bahamas for a refit. I think I see a trend developing here.

[Captain Bill]

Doing a refit in the Bahamas has got to be in the category of "Are you out of your mind?" 30% duty on all of your parts, parts sitting in customs for 3 months or more, little skilled labor, and "island time mon". I love the Bahamas, but the idea of getting serious work done there scares me to death.

[watanaka]

Glad I asked! Thanks guys.

So... what about turks and caicos?

Or what is a place that would work? Basically I am in the US, I will be able to buy most supplies before I leave but want to finish my refit somewhere else where I winter, but not too far away.


I.e. cancun or cayman Islands also an option

[Teknav]

Have your boat's work done in Florida; nowhere else! PERIOD!

Mauritz
Simplicity and elegance through engineering.

[Tingum]

Different story if you are doing it all yourself, then location does not matter. If you plan on hiring help you are not going to find anywhere near the quality you would have in the states. The work ethic and skill simply do not exist.

[watanaka]

Okay, you guys are kind of getting through to me

I've read on some cruiser dairies people getting good/cheap work done in i.e. chile.

So I thought maybe if I did all the equipment purchases in the US, maybe I could get decent + cheaper labor done somewhere in the caribbean, i.e. painting. Any ideas? So far doesn't sound like it though. Glad I asked, thanks guys.

[Vasco]

There are a few places that work can be done in the Bahamas. Browns Boat Basin in Nassau does good work. Also there are facilities in Marsh Harbour and Green Turtle. I know cruisers that haul their cat in Marsh Harbour for bottom painting regularly. Paint costs more than in US but labour is cheaper. But if you need extensive work, FL seems your best bet.

[Capt.Alex]

I hear Trinidad has some good yards....

[s/v Moondancer]

Cartagena Columbia has good and very low priced labor about 25-35% of the US.

It's a 1200 miles trip and parts are the most expensive in the Caribbean.

Recommendations: Good Workers in Cartagena — Noonsite