Mexican shipyards

Discussion in 'Boatbuilding' started by Leonwaves, Jul 27, 2020.

  1. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
    Likes: 3, Points: 3
    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    Hi there, I'm new to this forums and to anything related to boat building but I'm really interested in getting into it in the next year. I'm trying to decide where I'm gonna start this project and I was initially interested in doing in places in southeast asia like malaysia or Indonesia. After researching a bit I kind of got a few concerns about the sources of wood and the language and religious limitations that this places have given the fact that I'm only and english and spanish speaker. Now I'm wondering if maybe the gulf of mexico is a good place but I'm struggling to.find any information or shipyards that work with wooden boats. Initially my idea was to build boats from scratch cause I have a friend that is a wood boat builder. Now I'm thinking that probably what I want to do is to upcycle a boat that is in bad condition and refurbish it. My questions are a few. First. Is there traditional sailing boats shipyards in mexico? Secondly, is mexico a good place to do this in financial terms? Whether it would be too expensive to rent shipyards and to buy the wood i need to fix a boat, and third, is it easy to find wrecked sailing boats there? I hope someone can help to clear these questions. Thank you
     
  2. hoytedow
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    Location: Control Group

    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Welcome. Are they to be built for you to keep or sell?
     
  3. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    Location: Milwaukee, WI

    gonzo Senior Member

    If you want a cheap boat to fix, the USA is the best place in the world to find one. However, old wooden boats are usually more expensive to restore than building a new one. Can you narrow down what you want to do? For example, is it a restoration of a classic or a boat that will be serviceable and cheap to own.
     
  4. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
    Likes: 3, Points: 3
    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    I think initially for myself although I been thinking potentially on selling them tol
     
  5. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
    Likes: 3, Points: 3
    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    Im thinking on a big sailing boat. I have a friend that is specialized in wooden boat building. I didn't know that making them from scratch will be cheaper so i thought maybe upcycling them will reduce the costs and the labor time.
     
  6. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
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    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    I want to make a wood sailing boat similar to a schooner between 25 to 35 meter
     
  7. hoytedow
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    Location: Control Group

    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    That is a huge first step. Maybe build a rowboat first and see how that goes.
     
  8. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
    Likes: 3, Points: 3
    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    I got a friend that studied four years boat building and has been involved in several projects so I'm basically kickstarting this project with the intention of sailing around first. Any recommendations you can give me related to places round the Caribbean where this project could come together with less expenses?
     
  9. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
    Likes: 3, Points: 3
    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    Im also looking for people and shipyards round mexico or the Caribbean that could potentially hold space and help with this project
     
  10. Yobarnacle
    Joined: Nov 2011
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    Location: Mexico, Florida

    Yobarnacle Senior Member holding true course

    How good is your Spanish? I see you are located in Mexico. If you are Mexican, you should find Mexico the cheapest place to build or repair. If you are NOT Mexican, you may find government officials resistant and permits costly. Xenophobia exists among some Mexican officials. Try around Dos Bocas. Small coastal villages in the Gulf, in Bay of Campeche, west of and distant from Ciudad Del Carmen and south of Vera Cruz.. Farther away from big cities, the cheaper there.
     
  11. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    Location: Barbados

    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    Thee folk are building Ceiba, a new wooden 35 metre (length on deck) timber schooner in the jungle in Costa Rica -
    Vessel — SAILCARGO INC. https://www.sailcargo.org/vessel

    Leon, you mention that you want to build a schooner between 25 - 35 metres - even if you build it in Central America it is still going to cost you millions.
    What is the realistic budget that you have available for this project?

    Ceiba sail plan.jpg
     
  12. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
    Likes: 3, Points: 3
    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    Thank you for the info. Spanish is my first language indeed so i dont think that will be a problem. Im looking for a place i can start up this project so ill start looking in the places you mentioned. Im going to mexico in november to scope for locations suitable and still cheap for wood and renting of yards. I would appreciate any information you can provide in this respect
    Thank.you so much
     
  13. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
    Likes: 3, Points: 3
    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    I've seen that central american shipyards and wood are very expensive indeed thats why im trying to focus my project in mexico cause i think itll be cheaper to kickstart there. Im being slightly optimistic about expenses for now. Maybe im being too optimistic about how much it will cost but i definitively dont have millions. I think its kind of crazy tonthink about.making a boat of this proportions probably but i also feel like thats my wish so ill try to keep.my expectations high for now. I had a look to the ceiba project and it seems like a serious project. Have you been in ckntact with them? Im still looking for an appropriate location to do this and i keep getting the impression that mexico is the right place at.least in this part of the world. I thought about Malaysia or Indonesia for some time cause i think itll be way cheaper there but also there is the language barrier and the long distance traveling for the crew working there. What are your thoughts about a 24 meter schooner?
    Thank you
     
  14. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
    Likes: 3, Points: 3
    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    Also, do you know of any builders or ship yards round this area or people that have done this kind of projects round veracruz. Thank you
     

  15. Leonwaves
    Joined: Jul 2020
    Posts: 26
    Likes: 3, Points: 3
    Location: Mexico

    Leonwaves Junior Member

    I thought that depending the place it could cost.me between 250 300 thousands dollars if i make it in southeast asia but maybe im being too optimistic if i wanna do it in mexico. This is for a 24 meter one
     
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