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From: Robb Triton (no email)
Date: Tue Jun 12 2007 - 22:00:15 EDT
Hey Folks,
After leaving our catamaran for six months at Aikanes Boatyard in
Chaguaramas, Trinidad last year, we have a lot to say about the yard,
the nearby port, the available services and especially about the
Immigrations and Customs officials of Trinidad. There are lots of
details on our blog, which is at http://tritonsatsea.blogspot.com, (look
for posts from about mid March until early April, 2007) but the summary
is as follows:
Aikanes Boat Yard: Pronounced "eh - caines". A medium sized boat yard
specializing in catamarans, with very good yard security (I would argue
it was the best in the area) and the ability to address pretty much any
boat maintenance issue, refit, or rebuild project ,you might have. We
found the owner/manager Philip, and boatyard staff (Jimmy, Frank, et.
al.) to be excellent; honest, hardworking and quite knowledgeable. We
did have significant problems with the office staff, who were horrible
about returning our calls, providing proper communications, directions
or handling emails or wire funds transfers, but that was the only
negative in dealing with them. Our recommendation would be that if you
have a catamaran, this is the place to bring it in Trinidad. Their rates
were reasonable, the work they did on our boat was superb, and the
advice and help they offered was always forthright, professional and of
the highest quality. Our only reservation is in dealing with their
office - our advice would be to demand Philip's direct cell phone and
bypass his office staff. Also, double check everything that comes out of
the office, and do not count on it ever being right.
Crews Inn Marina: Probably the most upscale place around, very, very
pricey with a host of marine service shops located directly behind the
hotel. While the hotel itself was quite nice (gorgeous pool, great
restaurant, convenient shops), and the marina staff did their best to
make our stay pleasant, I'd advise against staying there if you are
having work done or are awaiting parts from any of the shops associated
with the complex. We experienced ourselves (and observed and were told
by many others as well) of mysterious delays and/or very slow responses
from the any of the vendors located on the back property. Now this might
all just be absolute coincidence, but we heard it enough times that it
bears mentioning. Work that was done by the other yards, or from
independent shops seemed to always be done better, faster and cheaper.
TTSA: Just in between Aikanes and the T&T Coast Guard station, this
small bay contains a yachting center with about a hundred mooring balls
for smaller ships, areas for anchoring (although we found the bottom to
be of poor holding) and limited protection from the ocean swell. It did
get a bit bouncy when the winds picked up in the afternoon. There is a
small pool, restaurant, laundry, bar and other services. The folks were
very friendly and helpful, and if we could have arranged it differently,
would have spent more time there than we did.
Boat Yards in general: We spoke with many, many folks who, in general,
seemed to find the yards satisfactory, the prices reasonable, and the
service adequate, at a minimum. We met lots of folks who thought they
got great work, prices and service there as well, only a few who
complained, but never noticed a trend about any specific yard. Nothing
was fabulously cheap, at least by our S.F. Bay area standards, but it
was usually available somewhere.
Customs and Immigration: Probably the worst Customs Officials I've
experienced, with agents that were discourteous, arbitrary, demanded
"presents" and who seemed to believe that since we appeared to be on an
expensive boat we should therefore not mind being charged unreasonably.
Having equipment shipped in was always an issue, the agents were never
easy to deal with, and any equipment delivery dates should add at least
a day when dealing with them. I hope to never have to visit this country
again, solely because of the despicable behavior of their Customs
officials. While Trinidad is supposed to be the place to go in the
Caribbean for parts and repairs, I would caution you that the red tape
and Byzantine layers of bureaucracy will play a factor in your
experience. Immigrations was only marginally less of a hassle, perhaps
the process has less wiggle room for corruption or incompetence, but it
didn't stop them from randomly detaining my arriving crew, each for
differing reasons, demanding that they didn't have the required
paperwork. In all cases the identical paperwork they provided was
supplied by myself, which required a two hour trip to the airport and
back. If you don't rent a car, expect expensive cab rides if your crew
is meeting you there.
Chaguaramas: Over all the port was relatively easy to enter by sea,
although finding a reasonable anchorage was less than easy. The "free"
area is usually very crowded, quite small, and in about sixty feet of
poorly holding bottom - at least as was described to us by numerous
other cruisers who tried. To get there from the airport allow yourself
anywhere between thirty minutes and two hours, depending on the phase of
the moon and other mystically determined factors.
Trinidad: Hope you like KFC, cause there are more chicken stands than
gas stations. Overall the folks were friendly, but crime was a constant
issue, there were areas described as "no go" sectors, and although the
situation has improved dramatically, it was still not the safest place
to be. Do not leave anything unattended, unlocked or unchained. Everyone
we spoke with brought their dinghy's up on deck and/or locked them with
heavy anchor chain. Apparently this problem only started occurring
within the last decade (many of the old timer cruisers bemoaned the loss
of the good old days) and this issue seems to be related to the problems
coming out of Venezuela, as well. Every day we read the local newspaper
and there were always complaints of armed robbery, or kidnapping for
ransom, or some other such issue from the locals. It isn't clear if this
is a real issue getting worse, or a trend in decline. Time will tell,
but be careful and observant when traveling about there.
Hope this helps.
Robb
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