Fiji Boat Yards
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Thinking ahead to
next year and making some plans. Can anyone recommend a good
boatyard in the Fiji area? I would also appreciate thoughts on
whether to get work done there or other alternatives westward
(New Caledonia, New Zealand, Australia etc.) Thanks!
With best regards,
Mark
Skipper Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff - SM2K - #275 Currently cruising - Tahiti, French Polynesia
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Bruno COTTE
For me in this area best boatyards are in New Zealand . I love OPUA where you can find all services at reasonable price .
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Envoyé de mon iPhone Le 29 déc. 2022 à 03:54, Mark Erdos <mcerdos@...> a écrit :
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Hi Mark,
There are boat yards in Fiji...Vuda Point and Denarau...but neither of these places is first class....Ok if absolutely necessary....but one needs to be very careful and watchful - all the time. There is a good boat yard in New Caledonia - Nouville Plaisance, but like everytrhing in New Caledonia, IT IS EXPENSIVE -VERY ! The best boat yards are in New Zealand - Opua, Whangarei, Gulf Harbour, and Orams in Auckland. All have almost everything evailable, skilled and knowledgeable people in all marine trades at reasonable prices - and they are starting to get to know Amels! Noonsite is a good source of current information. All the best Alan Elyse SM437 |
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Danny and Yvonne SIMMS
Mark I cruised Fiji extensively over several years. I found good services and excellent skills at Vuda Point marina. New Zealand my home has all you could need. Auckland, Whangarei, Opua and Tauranga. Opua has excellent boat painters. Chad Holmes of Opua boat painters has great skill.in colour matching.
Danny
SM 299
Ocean Pearl
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Germain Jean-Pierre
Mark,
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In my experience, the comments from Danny, Mark and Bruno are fully on point. Best reasonably priced services can be found in NZ with Opua being very well rated. Kind regards, Jean-Pierre Germain, ex Eleuthera SM007. On 29 Dec 2022, at 03:27, Danny and Yvonne SIMMS <simms@...> wrote:
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François LHOTE
Hi Mark, I have a pleasant stay in Buda Marina in Fiji, very friendly and helpfull but for boat works ??? We have try to make repare our main sail Sunbrella protection, the cost was similar to our place in New Caledonia. Our place is a very good place with marina and good food BUT near to be the expensivest place in the world. To do some works go to New Zealand : good works, good price but poor food. If you make a stop in Nouméa tell me I will be please to show you our island . Francois Lhote Kanumera , Sharki 21 Nouméa New Caledonia Le jeu. 29 déc. 2022 à 13:54, Mark Erdos <mcerdos@...> a écrit :
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Mark
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I’d differ just a bit. I’d do a Haulout and bottom work in Fiji. Likely that’s on the list. I found the Fijian bottom work superior to the Opua bottom work. Both Denarau and Vuda quite reasonable haul prices. The main guy Chase Smith at Baobab Marine had his shop burn to the ground sadly. He’s out. The second pick is a very close second,Ravi at Revmarine. +679 932 2019 One can definitely negotiate a good deal. The fijian ablative bottom paint is very good, far better experience in Fiji with that. But in terms of availability of parts and good work for many other items Opua. That said, I found lots of good deals in Fiji. New windshields, re did the windlass, etc. the parts they have are good. And not too much of an ordeal to ship up from NZ or AU. Best of luck. I’m jealous! Best too to Cindy Porter A54-152 Ibis On Dec 28, 2022, at 9:54 PM, Mark Erdos <mcerdos@...> wrote:
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Scott SV Tengah
I spent over a month at Vuda waiting for things to get done. Based on my experience during non-covid times, I would give it a wide berth. Those who came during Covid seem to have experienced abundant labor clamoring for work. I found the opposite.
Baobab is focusing on superyachts now, so no luck there. I was enticed by the cheap labor rates and scheduled two companies to come polish the geloat on deck. Both cancelled at the last minute. I ended up hiring laborers and doing much of it myself because I'm stubborn. The longtime rigger there has to be one of the shadiest guys I've met in a long time. When I asked for a quote, he wrote me a drunken angry email in response. With the only swaging machine in Fiji, he charged 400fjd per swage for labor where it should be in the range of 50fjd per. But I had no choice and he knew it. I had my cockpit tables repainted and after taking 3x as long as promised, both started bubbling within 1 month. I am having it redone in NZ. The only good experience I had there was with Revmarine. But his rates aren't much cheaper than NZ. The boat is in Whangarei now. Good rates and crucially, they will be honest if they can't get something done in time. Do your research though, boatyard rates vary wildly and as often the case, some are closed shops with respect to trades they have in-house and even worse, some don't allow you to work on your own boat. Don't miss Fulanga (a bit upwind, but no big deal) while you're in Fiji and try to stop by Minerva on the way down. Never seen so many lobsters in my life. -- Scott 2007 A54 #69 SV Tengah http://www.svtengah.com |
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