Trinidad boatyard recommendations

[Ashman]

Its a long way off but we are planning a visit to the UK in April 2015 and think it would be a good time to have the boat out of the water for maintenance. We expect to cruise north to Tobago later this year and as Trinidad is attractively close and outside the hurricane belt we will head there in March for a 3 or 4 month period on the hard.

Can anybody recommend a secure boatyard in the Chaguaramas where we could stay on the boat and do the work ourselves.....although the thought of employing somebody else for change is becoming more appealing every season. I've read promotional articles articles about Peaks and Power Boats, are they good or are there better yards?

Any information or your advice appreciated.

 

[Sea Devil]

They are all much of a muchness - very good.

Powerboats or Peak Yacht services are the biggest but I have hauled in most of the yards there and had a good experience every time. They are all secure although I think it was Peaks that had a compound with a security fence round it that let a pack of hungry dogs out at night but that was for folks leaving their boats for extended periods of time and not wanting to liveaboard or work on them. There was also large area for normal haul outs. I think the best thing is to anchor in Chaguaramas bay then dingy ashore and have a look yourself.

Clearly in the hurricane season the yards tend to fill up but last time I was there it was always possible to find a place.

Michael

 

[TQA]

If you are committed to flying out on a date between the End of May and November book your haulout well in advance both yards have been known to fill up.

Peakes have a secure compound within their yard but both yards are reasonably secure with night security guards on duty. Both yards allow DIY or did when I was there. I used Powerboats and had Alan Dowden of Yacht Maintenance Services in Power Boats Commercial Compound , Chaguaramas
Tel:634 1165, 680 5520
ymsad@tstt.net.tt
Spray painting, fibre glass repairs and osmosis work
organize things for me. This is worth doing if you have several jobs with different contractors on the go. He will keep things moving.

I may well be hauling there myself this year as I want to pull my shaft and generally check things out in the drive train.

 

[Ashman]

Thanks Paw Paw and TQA, I'll contact Powerboats for their rates and maybe we'll see you there TQA