Whether you’re crossing the Atlantic, cruising the Caribbean or simply living on board, one thing’s for sure—something has to give. We’re lucky in St Lucia having more than our fair share of local craftsmen with the facilities and the services to keep you where you belong . . . on the water.
Miller Philip
Quality woodwork (he can make anything)
6 Marie Therese Street, Gros Islet, St Lucia
Tel: 450-8679
A 15 minute walk will take you from Rodney Bay Marina to the fishing village of Gros Islet. Miller’s workshop is almost on the waterfront—look for the orange guest house, who could miss it? Employing half a dozen or so carpenters, he is organized, stocks a large variety of wood, is prompt and gives value for money—no wonder he’s always busy! Usually a day is all you’ll have to wait on smaller items, larger ones by arrangement.
Derek J. Morton Managing Director
International Diesel and Marine Services Ltd
Castries, St Lucia
Tel: 758-453-2287/453-1311
Down by Viji airport at the rear of the now defunct Castries Yacht Club in a couple of large containers is Derek’s workshop. Considered the man on the island for fixing or supplying new diesel injectors, he’s the diesel equivalent of Ronaldinho. He employs a couple of staff and offers an Aladdin’s cave of testing equipment for rectifying faults. If that fails (it seldom does) then he can import the parts that can’t be saved.
Egbert Charles Manager/Technician
Marintek St Lucia
P.O. Box GM550, Castries, St Lucia
Egbert is a wizard with anything electrical. He’s moving from his old premises in Rodney Bay Marina to a little past the boatyard, and has a white metal container; his boast of “customer satisfaction is job #1” is no idle one. He also has a growing reputation for reviving the most tired of electronic refrigeration (we all know how important that is) and air conditioning. He’s accommodating in fault finding and advice is readily available.
Michelle Radmore, Customer Sales
Glass Plus Ltd
Rodney Bay Shopping Centre, Castries, St Lucia
Tel: 758 452 2022
Five minutes away from Rodney Bay Marina and behind Super J’s shopping centre, Glass Plus resembles a glass DIY centre, but it’s not. Michelle is well-known around the yachting faithful for those one-off customised pieces so difficult to get these days. They stock all manner of laminates and glass in various thicknesses and sizes. Service is prompt, good value, and the place is air-conditioned . . . a winner on its own!
Norman Johnson
Johnsons Hardware Ltd
Opposite Rodney Bay Marina, Castries (nearer Gros Islet)
Tel: 758 4520299
“Johnsons Hardware stocks everything but the kitchen sink, and then I’m not sure we don’t have it!” said Johnsons’ MD Norman Johnson. He’s probably correct. Johnsons aren’t a chandlery and they’re not a hardware store . . . they’re both. The 26 employees of the two-story store are a knowledgeable crew. They have to be, stocking everything from water pump impellers to, well, kitchen sinks. Ground floor stocks fishing tackle, a decent semi-chandlery, tools of every description, and all you need to maintain your craft. The first floor has pans, pots, electrical goods, including transformers for US craft and anything that’s either been broken or gone missing from your galley, which of course, includes the kitchen sink!
Ian Cowan
Island Water World
Rodney Bay Marina, Gros Isle
Tel: 758 452-1222
Ian Cowan is the General Manager and St Lucia’s marine oracle. His office is at the rear of the first floor premises and resembles a doctor’s office. True, they’re probably St. Lucia’s most comprehensive chandlery but some of us need advice – we know it’s broken but how it appeared in the bilge is a mystery . . . not to Ian. Arriving here in 1970 on a 65 ft yacht “just for a year,” he described those days to All At Sea as: “Getting things done without the craftsmen, or the money.” The company opens six days a week (half day Saturday) and specialises in masts, wind and solar generators, rigging, sail repair, canopies, biminis and, of course, advice. Get to the surgery early they’re always busy!
Alwin Augustin
Quick and Reliable Mechanical Services
Rodney Bay
Tel: 758 520 5544
VHF Ch16 (Dragon Fly)
Alwin Augustin can be a difficult man to find. “He’s on the boat near the dry dock, the one with the crane pulling out the engine,” is how I was directed to his immediate whereabouts. Knocking on the side of the boat brought him out. He’s a hands-on type whose work includes keeping the huge pleasure catamarans in gainful employment and being able to get into the smallest of compartments whilst still functionally wielding a spanner. If you’ve got the parts and not the knowledge (or the patience,) Alwin is your man. Like any popular restaurant though, booking is essential!
Lawrence Lim-Chee-Yung (Chinaman)
Rodney Bay Boatyard
Tel: 384-0665
“When the customer’s happy so am I,” said the gregarious Lawrence a.k.a. Chinaman. Known as St Lucia’s “Chinaman” since his arrival here 14 years ago, Lawrence has made a name for one-off fabrications. He’s built some pulpits that could grace the Vatican, and can repair booms, masts, water and fuel tanks, make davits, platforms and custom one-offs as well as brackets for anything and likes nothing better to work in stainless steel and aluminium . . . and deal in cash! Born in Guyana, he trained at a private college ran by Canadians and now has around half a dozen staff working at his Boatyard premises. If Chinaman doesn’t have it he’ll get it for you, which, of course, keeps everyone happy . . . the way he likes it!
Take Me to Cuba: Marinas and International Port Contact Information
Jon White
Regis Electronics
Rodney Bay Marina
Tel: 758 452 0205
Jon White has three work principles . . . sales, service and installation. All being equally important to the driving force of Rodney Bay’s Regis Electronics . . . they have to be when you’re the official agents for some household names, make that boat-hold names, such as Raymarine, Garmin, B & G, ICOM, Spectra, Cruisair, and Simrad, to name but a few.
With 17 years experience in marine electronics and a decade of life in St Lucia, Jon knows the business, as do the time-served engineers entrusted with fitting the latest in technology to your loved one. Residing beneath Island Water World he’s easy to find and if you’ve seen it at a boat show then you can find it . . . and then fit it here, with the help of Jon and his staff of course!
How do I contact Egbert in St Lucia to arrange some marine service to repair a Yanmar diesel engine in a yacht?
Engine is Yanmar 4JH3E Cont.Rating kW 36.8 / 3650 Max Output kW rating 41.2 / 3800 Engine No. E27159
Sail drive 40 (MFG 06503- hard to read but this is probably irrelevant).
I believe we need:
4 new injectors
4 brass fuel return (?) lines with 5mm outer diameter The rubber hose fuel return bridle that connects these little brass hoses to the fuel pump The fittings to secure the injectors in the cylinders