It only takes one hurricane in our vicinity to wreak havoc with our lives. Sustained winds at a hundred knots, mountainous seas, six inches of rain in an hour with an eight-foot storm-surge—combine these with flying debris and you have a terrifying scene. For those of us who play roulette with our yachts by keeping…
Curaçao Marine has taken delivery of their new 60 ton Roodberg trailer. The towed trailer will work alongside the existing 40 ton trailer enabling the yard to service large monohulls as well as multihulls. In a press release, Curaçao Marine said the new trailer is capable of handling boats of 80ft LOA, 7ft draft, and…
Hauling your boat onto terra firma can push stress levels off the scale. Here are a few tips to help you cope the next time your boat ‘takes to the air’. As with many things nautical, preparation is the key. Before making a commitment… Take a good look at the haulout facility, its environment and…
Boatyard! This unpopular word in the cruisers’ vocabulary evokes thoughts of hard work, uncomfortable living conditions, busy, long days and short, mosquito-rich, nights. It is a reminder of sweaty work-outs and being sore and dirty. It promises extra trips to the chandlery, because – better admit it – you will have forgotten to buy something…
Jason Fletcher has always loved the sea. No wonder it’s become the lifeblood of his livelihood as founder and managing director of Grenada Marine. Born and raised on Grenada, Fletcher’s interest in and love of boating started when, as a young boy, he participated in sailing programs run by the Grenada Yacht Club. “I remember…
Most boaters know Hinckley as a builder of classically styled, seriously seaworthy, custom motor and sailing yachts. And they aren’t wrong. The 85 year-old Maine company redefined what a jet boat could be with its iconic Picnic Boat, for which it retains a spirited following, and its sailboats, which are among the most beautiful recreational…
I was dressed in classic boatyard attire: Tyvek white jumpsuit tastefully splattered with blue, gray and red, muddy work boots, an old baseball cap to hold back my hair, goggles and a respirator. When George hesitantly approached me, I recognized his surprise, “Terry, why are you sanding the boat. Where’s Clint?” “Not here,” I responded….
Bocas del Toro, Panama, which many sailors consider the Undiscovered Caribbean, is about to become even more alluring, and I’m not referring to the streamlining of their clearing-in process and their affordable, full-year cruising permit. What has many sailors so excited is a new boatyard, which will soon open after years of bureaucratic delays. The…
You’ve started a search for a well-located shipyard, one with an experienced team capable of delivering a superlative paint job for a yacht of your size. What will it take for both captain and owner to leave the yard satisfied? Clear, continuous communication from day one is critical, according to people who oversee world-class paint…
Aruba’s marine expansion carries on apace thanks to Varadero Marina who recently hauled its first boat using a hydraulic Roodberg slipway trailer.
The St. Maarten marine service industry took a large step forward in July with the arrival of a new 75 ton KMI Sea-Lift. The lift is said to be the only one of its kind in the Caribbean.
Boatyards throughout the Caribbean offer everything from routine maintenance to extensive haul-out facilities and services for sail and power boaters. Here’s a sample of ‘What’s New’ in yards on a number of islands.
There comes a time when either routine maintenance or repairs are required on your yacht. Make a list of what you need and start asking the right questions.
Owners can now store their yachts or boats indefinitely in Curacao now that Curacao Marine has achieved Free Zone Status. No more hassles obtaining permits and extensions.
With St. Maarten Shipyard’s anticipated arrival of their new 75 ton KMI Sea-Lift, coupled with the Cole Bay branch of Bobby’s Marina -Bobby’s Megayard— with a 150-Ton Marine Travelift, capacity on St. Maarten for Ca
You might not immediately realize that this is a place with a past. After all, last summer’s addition of a brand new 1000-ton drydock put St. Thomas on the map for having the largest and most modern drydock facility of its kind.