Is it less costly to have boat work done in France?

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NPMR

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Considering adding some kit/hardware to our Jeanneau.

Wondering whether it's cheaper to get a French yard (West coast France) to do the work, or West County UK.

Pre/post Brexit may change things but what's the situation now? Anybody know?

We have Euros in a French Bank account so exchange rate not an issue.
 
No, it's not. I've had work done at Arzal and La Trinite and it was more costly than UK quotes. Maybe Solentshire is more expensive but West Country would be my choice. IME, a trip to N Spain is worthwhile, both for the scenery and the shipwrights.
 
The mooring fees, boat hoist, hard standing, etc were much cheaper in Lorient than the UK, plus free electricity all winter (no quibbles about living on board either..)

Stainless welding and fabrication of some brackets was about 1/3 UK price, (and TIG'd by a highly skilled and very fetching friendly mademoiselle, Lorinox I think the firm is called)

Glass fibre and carbon fibre would certainly have been cheaper had I wanted it done, lots of competing experts, out of season especially, Lorient being a big yacht racing base with hi tech services, (as well as everything needed by the ferries, cargo ships, deepwater trawlers and the navy/marines..)

Nice hardwood was not so easy to find, and I couldn't actually find a wood shipwright so did it myself.

So my experience is, yes W.France is cheaper. Helps a lot if you parley-voo enough to say what you need doing I admit.

No idea about the brexit aspect, I don't think much will change tbh..
 
Last edited:
Ladybirdgaffcutter said:
The mooring fees, boat hoist, hard standing, etc were much cheaper in Lorient than the UK, plus free electricity all winter (no quibbles about living on board either..)

Stainless welding and fabrication of some brackets was about 1/3 UK price, (and TIG'd by a highly skilled and very fetching friendly mademoiselle, Lorinox I think the firm is called)

Glass fibre and carbon fibre would certainly have been cheaper had I wanted it done, lots of competing experts, out of season especially, Lorient being a big yacht racing base with hi tech services, (as well as everything needed by the ferries, cargo ships, deepwater trawlers and the navy/marines..)

Nice hardwood was not so easy to find, and I couldn't actually find a wood shipwright so did it myself.

So my experience is, yes W.France is cheaper. Helps a lot if you parley-voo enough to say what you need doing I admit.

No idea about the brexit aspect, I don't think much will change tbh..
Click to expand...

Well there you go, experiences differ. I kept my boat in Brittany for 5 years and never found any marine trade cheaper though I agree marina prices are. My insurers, understandably, laughed out loud when I submitted a French quote to correct a rigging defect from a repair carried out in the UK. It would have been cheaper to have transported the boat overland to the Hamble and have the work carried out there.
 
Would you hire a French or British footballer? ;)

Practically speaking, over the past fifteen years I have purchased cruising boats, racing boats and a couple of small mobos in France and would say that if you can find best of breed suppliers, the work is second to none and very well priced compared to similar in the UK (Solent prices).

But here's the thing; I damaged a forestay some years ago on the way to L'Aber Wrac'h, asked a friend in Cbg where to get it replaced and was given the name of a rigger in Brest on the proviso that Philippe, or Elisia would do it, failing that...

As for the work quality; having replaced the forestay, Elisia noticed the new Dynema boom vang I had carefully spliced in, commended the workmanship, then snipped it off and redid in a jiffy :ambivalence:

In short, I would say reputation and/or personal recommendation is paramount.
 
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