Puerto Rico is Great

[ron6785]

Still in Puerto Rico having spent the last month touring the Island looking at Marinas. What a incredibly diverse island Tropical Rain Forrests, Mountains, Ranches, beautiful beaches and Marinas.

There are world class marinas and great anchorages and everything in between so it looks like sometime in the near future Bout Time will be heading for PR.

 

[magnawake]

Hey Ron,
What about the pictures? Whats the diesel prices? Marina prices? food good? Thats a long haul down there isnt it? Are yall coming back soon?

 

[ron6785]

Hey Ron,
What about the pictures? Whats the diesel prices? Marina prices? food good? Thats a long haul down there isnt it? Are yall coming back soon?

Hey Pate, fuel prices are about the same as here , in fact deisel might be a little less right now. Marina prices are also about the same. For a decent marina your looking at about $ 9.00/ 14.00 per ft per month. The marinas on the east coast around the Fajardo area are the most expensive, the ones on the south coast are less and the water there is calmer and warmer. While Puerto Rico is a spanish island the food is remarkably like the US. The island has most of the major US chain type stores like Walmart , Home Depot, McDonalds , Burger King Etc.

Cost of living there appears to be similar to US. We could find rental properties that were less than the US.

Don't think we will bring Bout Time as far North as NC this summer. We plan to put the boat on the hard in Ft. Pierce and head to Michigan and Canada for the hot part of the summer.

 

[Passages]

Hey Capt Ron,

I've spent a lot of time in PR. Yes it's a great island. Friendly people, and a lot to do.
I lived at Palmas Del Mar for a bit. The marina is nice but the water is a bit choppy around there.

Fajardo was awesome when I was there about 10 years ago. A short run to Vieques and Culebra for some of the best anchoring imaginable. Everyone should put a visit to Phosphorent Bay on their bucket list.

How would you get the boat from FL to PR? That's a really Looooooong run on it's own bottom. You'd need to keep a close eye on weather and fuel use. Prob not an issure if you have and LRC, but I'd be concerned with anything else.

 

[Full Moon]

I have lived in PR for the last 9 years and had my 41 Conv. for almost 7 years now. I am at Puerto Del Rey now just South of Fajardo. This is probably the best marina on the island, a little expensive at $15.50/ft. but you get what you pay for. Service and facilities are outstanding. Diesel, last time I checked was $3.99. Good jumping off spot for several small islands with quiet, beautiful beaches within 30 minutes of the marina and then Culebra and Vieques within 15 to 20 miles. Then there is St. Thomas and the US and British Virgin Islands about 60 miles away. I had a neighbor in the marina that was MIA for about 2 months. He came back one Sunday afternoon and he had just been bumming around the Virgin Islands for two whole months. Severe jealosy.

The East end of PR, like someone said is a little choppy and rough sometimes but I've been on the West coast several times without my boat and the water is great there, just not as many little islands to explore. Plenty of little bays and nice beaches though.

PR is totally Spanish and crime is high because of gangs and being one of the most active drug routes to the states. I came from Houston and it may not be any worse than there or any big city. You just have to pay attention to your surroundings. Language is not normally that big of a problem so with my limited Spanish and thier limited English I can usually get what I need. Most people are friendly and ready to help. The food is good but different and you need to "go native" to enjoy it. Lots of sea food, Dorado (Mahi Mahi), Chillo (Red Snapper) and local lobsters. Good and not terribly expensive.

 

[Kim Beatley]

Just saw your post. Headed to PR in two weeks to start new project, rebuilding the Coast Guard base in San Juan. New wharf, piers, travel lift, wave screen. Do not know if I will bring boat down as job will only last one year and I do not know how much continuious time I will actually spend there. Maybe you can provide me a few pointers as I have never been there. Looking fowrard to assignment.

 

[Passages]

Don't think bringing the boat to PR is a good option for someone working a temp assignment. Better strategy would be to charter to satisfy the need for a "boat fix".

 

[ron6785]

Hey Capt Ron,

I've spent a lot of time in PR. Yes it's a great island. Friendly people, and a lot to do.
I lived at Palmas Del Mar for a bit. The marina is nice but the water is a bit choppy around there.

Fajardo was awesome when I was there about 10 years ago. A short run to Vieques and Culebra for some of the best anchoring imaginable. Everyone should put a visit to Phosphorent Bay on their bucket list.

How would you get the boat from FL to PR? That's a really Looooooong run on it's own bottom. You'd need to keep a close eye on weather and fuel use. Prob not an issure if you have and LRC, but I'd be concerned with anything else.

I would probably take the normal route thru the Bahamas, T & C's , Dominican Republic and cross the Mona to PR.
I thought Palmas Del Mar was nice but pretty exposed at least when I was there. There was alot of surge in the Harbor. It's pretty straight forward don't think fuel would be that big a problem, outside of cost, in getting there.

Loved Vieques however didn't stay overnight to visit the Bay.

 

[ron6785]

I have lived in PR for the last 9 years and had my 41 Conv. for almost 7 years now. I am at Puerto Del Rey now just South of Fajardo. This is probably the best marina on the island, a little expensive at $15.50/ft. but you get what you pay for. Service and facilities are outstanding. Diesel, last time I checked was $3.99. Good jumping off spot for several small islands with quiet, beautiful beaches within 30 minutes of the marina and then Culebra and Vieques within 15 to 20 miles. Then there is St. Thomas and the US and British Virgin Islands about 60 miles away. I had a neighbor in the marina that was MIA for about 2 months. He came back one Sunday afternoon and he had just been bumming around the Virgin Islands for two whole months. Severe jealosy.

The East end of PR, like someone said is a little choppy and rough sometimes but I've been on the West coast several times without my boat and the water is great there, just not as many little islands to explore. Plenty of little bays and nice beaches though.

PR is totally Spanish and crime is high because of gangs and being one of the most active drug routes to the states. I came from Houston and it may not be any worse than there or any big city. You just have to pay attention to your surroundings. Language is not normally that big of a problem so with my limited Spanish and thier limited English I can usually get what I need. Most people are friendly and ready to help. The food is good but different and you need to "go native" to enjoy it. Lots of sea food, Dorado (Mahi Mahi), Chillo (Red Snapper) and local lobsters. Good and not terribly expensive.

I was somewhat suprised by the lack of affordable fish in the PR. We normally eat at the wagons/huts on the side of the road, but with the exception of the West coast didn't see fish regularily. Granted fine dining in San Juan has anything you want but at high prices , I thought.

Crime is high in just about any large US City. I never felt like we were in any danger however we didn't spend alot of time in San Juan or really any large city as that didn't interest us. Just loved the people who were friendly and I can cob together enough spanish to get by and generally everyone spoke some english so didn't see language as a barrier.