Grenada’s Spice Island Marine Services Celebrates 40 Years
Today, Spice Island Marine has grown to a storage capacity of 250 boats on the yard’s hard with 14 stern-to-berths at the waterfront docks.
In November 1984, the Evans family, led by the vision of Glyn ‘Junior’ Evans, purchased the boatyard at Prickly Bay, south of St. George’s in Grenada, and founded Spice Island Marine Services Limited. In that original yard, where Prickly Bay Marina now operates, the Evans family stored 25 boats on the hard with 10 berths at the dock. This yard had a railway hauling system to pull single boats out of the water. In July 1986, Junior brought in the Southern Caribbean’s first Marine Travelift, making Spice Island Marine the first boatyard in the region to have a marine hoist. The yard hauled its first boat on September 20th, 1986. The Travelift modernized the industry and encouraged cruising boats to return to Grenada and the region. Thus, business grew. In 2003, having outgrown their location, the Evans family relocated its yard nearby to the west at True Blue. Junior passed the leadership torch to his two sons, Justin and Dane Evans, seven years later. Today, Spice Island Marine has grown to a storage capacity of 250 boats on the yard’s hard with 14 stern-to-berths at the waterfront docks.
“We are and have always been family owned and operated, and both our staff and customers are now part of that family,” says Sarah Evans, client engagement manager, company secretary and Dane’s wife. “We offer a one-stop shop, and our full-service team is trained in all boat work and repairs. However, owners can do their own boat work too. Boaters appreciate our convenient location as we’re close to restaurants, shopping, the airport, hotels, etc. The yard is fully secured with 24-hour security, and we have studio apartments, laundry facilities, the One Love Restaurant, Turbulence Sails and Rigging, and Budget Marine chandlery on-site. We realize boat work is one of the more challenging parts of boat ownership and aim to make the yard experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible for our customers so they can get back on the water.”
In the last three years, in addition to a waterfront and dock expansion, Spice Island Marine Services has added more storage lockers for rent, secured indoor dinghy and outboard storage, and upgraded the customer restrooms and the laundry area. The company has also engaged its staff in additional training opportunities beyond their slipway skills, including first aid and fire safety. The second-generation family owners, going strong towards the company’s half-century mark, continue to improve the facilities to refresh and modernize. www.spiceislandmarine.com
Carol Bareuther has written for ALL AT SEA since 2004.
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