Best place to get hull scraped and repainted?

[nuru05]

If you had the choice between Granada or the Chessapeak to get your hull scraped and repainted where would you do it? I know I'll get cheaper labor in Granada but will I get a better job done in the US? Is it worth the price difference?

[SailingHarmonie]

Let's rephrase the question just a bit... Is it worth sailing 2000 miles to save a couple hundred bucks? If your bottom is foul, you might just end up burning that much extra fuel.

You will find good yards in the Chesapeake, and mediocre ones. You can find good yards in Grenada, and mediocre ones. Having just run through quotes all up and down the east coast from Annapolis to Florida the quoted price for the same job varied by about 15% from the lowest to the highest--after we threw out a few that lowballed the price by not quoting what we actually asked for.

If you want a job done right, even at the best of yards, you have to be there to supervise. Bottom paint is not rocket science, but the surface prep has to be done right, and the recoat timings and time to splash can matter. If you are not watching, you don't know that the manufacturer's directions were actually followed. When we request a quote, we request in writing that the product's directions for application be followed exactly.

Having had work done in both places, I would do it where ever I was when it was needed and was convenient.

[nuru05]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

Let's rephrase the question just a bit... Is it worth sailing 2000 miles to save a couple hundred bucks? If your bottom is foul, you might just end up burning that much extra fuel.

You will find good yards in the Chesapeake, and mediocre ones. You can find good yards in Grenada, and mediocre ones. Having just run through quotes all up and down the east coast from Annapolis to Florida the quoted price for the same job varied by about 15% from the lowest to the highest--after we threw out a few that lowballed the price by not quoting what we actually asked for.

If you want a job done right, even at the best of yards, you have to be there to supervise. Bottom paint is not rocket science, but the surface prep has to be done right, and the recoat timings and time to splash can matter. If you are not watching, you don't know that the manufacturer's directions were actually followed. When we request a quote, we request in writing that the product's directions for application be followed exactly.

Having had work done in both places, I would do it where ever I was when it was needed and was convenient.

The reason I'm asking is because we are spending the winter in the Bahamas and have the option to go north or south for hurricane season, I would kind of prefer to go to Granada because we have to go home and work for 3 months but then we could head down to south America and explore a bit instead of being stuck on the Chesapeake until hurricane season is done. I'm just not knowledgeable enough to know what the quality of work I will get done to Granada

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

Let's rephrase the question just a bit... Is it worth sailing 2000 miles to save a couple hundred bucks? ...
... I would do it [myself] where ever I was when it was needed and was convenient.

Indeed.

[Kettlewell]

If you're in Grenada and you need a bottom job now, do it there. It would be a slow painful sail to go all the way to the Chesapeake with a foul bottom. OTOH, I have always painted my own bottoms and therefore I know the job is done right at the best price. My boatyard is now requiring us to purchase the paint from them, and I am wondering if that is legal to do?

[Kd9truck]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

If you want a job done right, even at the best of yards, you have to be there to supervise. Bottom paint is not rocket science, but the surface prep has to be done right, and the recoat timings and time to splash can matter. If you are not watching, you don't know that the manufacturer's directions were actually followed.

So true.