We've heard repeatedly that there are craftsmen in these countries who work
for what to us here in the 'real world' is not even peanuts.

Are there any recent experiences here to tell of such craftsmen in the
fields of electricity, plumbing, electronics, joinery, paint, fiberglass
fabrication or other marine niceties?

If so, what did you have done, and what was the end cost, if you're
comfortable sharing that experience? Were you happy with the outcome,
regardless of the cost? Had/have you priced comparable work in other
locales to be able to say whether it was a bargain, or of particular
craftsmanship, or both?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip and Lydia, preparing to buy the boat, but expecting to need upgrades
and improvements to current states

We talked to a lot of people while we were looking for Fintry. Even
considered building new in a low wage place.

There are places where you can get perfectly satisfactory work at wage rates
that are much less than USA -- Spain, Turkey, Brazil, and Poland come to
mind. There are yards in all four that build commercial vessels and some
yachts. They do have the problem that English is not their first language
but their work can be first rate -- if not the equal of
Swan/Hinckley/Campers, at least as good as the next tier. You can find them
in magazines such as Work Boat, Professional Mariner, Maritime Journal, and
International Tugs and Salvage.

Then there are places that do speak English and are cheaper than the USA.
Wage rates in New Zealand dollars are nominally a little less than in USA
dollars, and the Kiwi dollars is at $0.63 US. Canada is also a lower wage
place. We're having a lot of work done in England, where the net is around
2/3 of USA rates.

I would not pick Venezuela right now as a place to have work done -- the
political situation is difficult. Trinidad, I don't know. The key, of
course, is the people you'll actually be dealing with -- know your vendor,
get references, and so forth. Remember, too, that if you get in a dispute
with the yard, you'll be the foreigner in a local court, paying a local
lawyer. A boat is difficult to remove from the scene if things don't go
well....

Also, budget for a substantial weakening in the USA dollar against many
currencies. I'm not a currency specialist, but I watch currency rates
(especially the pound right now) and I wouldn't be shocked if the dollar
weakened 25% against the world. This will, of course, help our exporters,
but it makes work done abroad more expensive.


--
Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com


..
..
"Skip Gundlach"
.due.to.spam wrote in
message ink.net...
We've heard repeatedly that there are craftsmen in these countries who
work
for what to us here in the 'real world' is not even peanuts.

Are there any recent experiences here to tell of such craftsmen in the
fields of electricity, plumbing, electronics, joinery, paint, fiberglass
fabrication or other marine niceties?

If so, what did you have done, and what was the end cost, if you're
comfortable sharing that experience? Were you happy with the outcome,
regardless of the cost? Had/have you priced comparable work in other
locales to be able to say whether it was a bargain, or of particular
craftsmanship, or both?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip and Lydia, preparing to buy the boat, but expecting to need upgrades
and improvements to current states

We talked to a lot of people while we were looking for Fintry. Even
considered building new in a low wage place.

There are places where you can get perfectly satisfactory work at wage rates
that are much less than USA -- Spain, Turkey, Brazil, and Poland come to
mind. There are yards in all four that build commercial vessels and some
yachts. They do have the problem that English is not their first language
but their work can be first rate -- if not the equal of
Swan/Hinckley/Campers, at least as good as the next tier. You can find them
in magazines such as Work Boat, Professional Mariner, Maritime Journal, and
International Tugs and Salvage.

Then there are places that do speak English and are cheaper than the USA.
Wage rates in New Zealand dollars are nominally a little less than in USA
dollars, and the Kiwi dollars is at $0.63 US. Canada is also a lower wage
place. We're having a lot of work done in England, where the net is around
2/3 of USA rates.

I would not pick Venezuela right now as a place to have work done -- the
political situation is difficult. Trinidad, I don't know. The key, of
course, is the people you'll actually be dealing with -- know your vendor,
get references, and so forth. Remember, too, that if you get in a dispute
with the yard, you'll be the foreigner in a local court, paying a local
lawyer. A boat is difficult to remove from the scene if things don't go
well....

Also, budget for a substantial weakening in the USA dollar against many
currencies. I'm not a currency specialist, but I watch currency rates
(especially the pound right now) and I wouldn't be shocked if the dollar
weakened 25% against the world. This will, of course, help our exporters,
but it makes work done abroad more expensive.


--
Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com


..
..
"Skip Gundlach"
.due.to.spam wrote in
message ink.net...
We've heard repeatedly that there are craftsmen in these countries who
work
for what to us here in the 'real world' is not even peanuts.

Are there any recent experiences here to tell of such craftsmen in the
fields of electricity, plumbing, electronics, joinery, paint, fiberglass
fabrication or other marine niceties?

If so, what did you have done, and what was the end cost, if you're
comfortable sharing that experience? Were you happy with the outcome,
regardless of the cost? Had/have you priced comparable work in other
locales to be able to say whether it was a bargain, or of particular
craftsmanship, or both?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip and Lydia, preparing to buy the boat, but expecting to need upgrades
and improvements to current states

I had BlueJacket AwlGripped in Grenada at the Spice Island marina and
couldn't have been happier with the work. BlueJacket is 40' and the
cost was about $6K. They did a super job. The owner, Junior, kept us
well informed on the progress and kept the job on schedule. English is
spoken there. Here's a photo of the job:

http://www.geoffschultz.org/200
_Sailing/VE_Los_Roques/imagepages/image2.htm

I've also had a fair amount of work done in Fronteras, Guatemala which
is on the Rio Dulce. There are 2 American's (Chris and Pat) there who
run a business named "The Shop" ( http://www.riodulce.org ) who do just
about anything at very reasonable prices and their work is very good.
When they do the work, it's $25/hr, but when the locals who work for
them do the work, it's $3/hr. The locals tend to do lots of the
painting and varnishing work and do a very good job. I can strongly
recommend them. They send regular progress reports and attach digital
photos of their progress.

The biggest problem in having work done in these places is getting parts
and supplies into them. Things just aren't readibly available. Plus
when you bring things into Guatemala you pay a 30% duty tax. If you
know what you're going to need, you can bring it with you, but if you
forgot something...The closest real place to buy supplies is in
Guatemala City, which is 4+ hours away. The Shop does have someone who
buys things for them there and places them on a bus.

For this exact reason I moved BlueJacket to Ft. Lauderdale this past
spring to do major work on the boat. I was installing a new generator,
wind generator, different davits, solar panels, a hard dodger,
electronics, etc, etc and I knew that trying to get this done down there
would be next to impossible. Plus I was doing a lot of the work myself.
As it was the car could almost drive itself to the marine stores and
Home Depot.

As is almost always the case, there are plusses and minuses to
everything. If you're going to have work done in far away places, then
you have to absorb the transportation costs too. Best of luck making
your decisions!

-- Geoff

I had BlueJacket AwlGripped in Grenada at the Spice Island marina and
couldn't have been happier with the work. BlueJacket is 40' and the
cost was about $6K. They did a super job. The owner, Junior, kept us
well informed on the progress and kept the job on schedule. English is
spoken there. Here's a photo of the job:

http://www.geoffschultz.org/200
_Sailing/VE_Los_Roques/imagepages/image2.htm

I've also had a fair amount of work done in Fronteras, Guatemala which
is on the Rio Dulce. There are 2 American's (Chris and Pat) there who
run a business named "The Shop" ( http://www.riodulce.org ) who do just
about anything at very reasonable prices and their work is very good.
When they do the work, it's $25/hr, but when the locals who work for
them do the work, it's $3/hr. The locals tend to do lots of the
painting and varnishing work and do a very good job. I can strongly
recommend them. They send regular progress reports and attach digital
photos of their progress.

The biggest problem in having work done in these places is getting parts
and supplies into them. Things just aren't readibly available. Plus
when you bring things into Guatemala you pay a 30% duty tax. If you
know what you're going to need, you can bring it with you, but if you
forgot something...The closest real place to buy supplies is in
Guatemala City, which is 4+ hours away. The Shop does have someone who
buys things for them there and places them on a bus.

For this exact reason I moved BlueJacket to Ft. Lauderdale this past
spring to do major work on the boat. I was installing a new generator,
wind generator, different davits, solar panels, a hard dodger,
electronics, etc, etc and I knew that trying to get this done down there
would be next to impossible. Plus I was doing a lot of the work myself.
As it was the car could almost drive itself to the marine stores and
Home Depot.

As is almost always the case, there are plusses and minuses to
everything. If you're going to have work done in far away places, then
you have to absorb the transportation costs too. Best of luck making
your decisions!

-- Geoff

I will point out that I had great success using Stem to Stern Yacht Care in
Ft. Lauderdale. Erik Schneider, who runs the business, is the son of a
fellow cruiser. Erik is a certified marine mechanic and electrician and I
got a solid hours work for about 2/3rds of the going price. He did great
work and everyone that I know who's used his services since then feels the
same. He showed up when he said that he would, and would even call if he
was running late! WOW! Erik's number is 954-465-5780.

Note that I have absolutely no involvement with Erik other than being a
satisfied customer and would like to see him succeed. I'm a firm believer
in supporting firms that do a good job and bashing those who don't.

-- Geoff

I will point out that I had great success using Stem to Stern Yacht Care in
Ft. Lauderdale. Erik Schneider, who runs the business, is the son of a
fellow cruiser. Erik is a certified marine mechanic and electrician and I
got a solid hours work for about 2/3rds of the going price. He did great
work and everyone that I know who's used his services since then feels the
same. He showed up when he said that he would, and would even call if he
was running late! WOW! Erik's number is 954-465-5780.

Note that I have absolutely no involvement with Erik other than being a
satisfied customer and would like to see him succeed. I'm a firm believer
in supporting firms that do a good job and bashing those who don't.

-- Geoff

Geoff,
Do you have an idea what that $6k paint job would have cost in Ft.
Lauderdale?

Regards, Ron

Geoff,
Do you have an idea what that $6k paint job would have cost in Ft.
Lauderdale?

Regards, Ron

Easily double that. I believe that I had been quoted $14K in New England.

-- Geoff

(Ron Thornton) wrote in news:849-3FBA36C9-228@storefull-
2176.public.lawson.webtv.net:

Geoff,
Do you have an idea what that $6k paint job would have cost in Ft.
Lauderdale?

Regards, Ron