Yachting
as people launch and enjoy sailing their boats. During the off season we go down to around 80 -100 boats in the yard. “We do our own training in the yard, but I think emphasis should be on a national level of standards. Metal work carpentry are basic skills but we need technicians who are well grounded and competent in the basics first. The company has big plans for the future including new marina berths, rooms rentals and even getting in to actual boat construction/building. Which, according to Fletcher, all translates in to a need for a much greater scope of night life in Grenada. “I think we need to improve our nightlife as a destination if we are to attract boats to stay longer here in Grenada. A lot of the crews are young people and need entertainment. If our local entrepeurners can see this as a potentially lucrative market and choose to invest in this area then we can improve our overall product Grenada,” Fletcher told Business Grenada. And like other marine related companies on the island, these businessmen echo the prediction that Grenada’s yachting sector is poised to expand even more, which augers well for the island economic prosperity – good news in these austere times. “There is a lot of scope for more expansion of the yachting sector in Grenada. More yards and more marinas will definitely attract more boats so I welcome competition and expansion of the sector. More and more people are getting into the sailing lifestyle which bodes well for the industry.”
Where hauling out is a beach
GRENADA MARINE
Full Service Boatyard - Storage, Refits & Maintenance
SPECIALTY Storage! Steel Cradles & Tiedown Anchors Mast Removal & Storage Storage Areas by Boat Type Full Range of Marine Services Fiberglass & Exotic Composite AwlGrip/AwlCraft Painting Marine Electrical & Electronic Marine HVAC Marine Mechanical Rigging Marine Woodwork Metalwork & Fabrication Ca Canvas & Sail Loft Antifoul Application Brightwork & Hull Cleaning
Sales & Service Agents for and many more www.grenadamarine.com . [email protected] Port Louis Location: 473 444-1667 St. David’s Location: 473 443-1667 . Fax: 473 443-1668
yards, offering clients everything from services in woodwork, metal work, fiberglass paint, rigging canvas, electrical mechanical systems, bright-work boat jobs. It’s a ten million EC dollar investment which allowed this boat yard to cope with the needs of some 2500 boats over the years. St David’s Marine currently hold around 250 boats, with 95 full time employees on hand to service every need of boat owners. “A large percentage of our storage is long term especially during the hurricane season. During the off season that number drops significantly
www.businessgrenada.com
153