FABRICATION OF BOAT PARTS IN MEXICO

There is no doubt in our mind after spending the past year here in Mexico that one thing that makes life difficult on a boat here is the fact that parts coming from the U.S. or other countries are extremely difficult and expensive to get here in Mexico. Import fees here are extremely high and it is normal for items to get caught in customs when shipping for weeks or even months. Anyone coming into Mexico on a boat should carry as many spare parts as possible with them that much is clear.
Having said that I will also say that Mexico does a incredible job in the fabrication of parts and the stainless steel work done here in Mazatlan is beautiful and inexpensive.
Below are a few parts that we had fabricated here in Mazatlan. The first is a double belted pulley for our alternator. The pulley was not available in the U.S. or anywhere for that matter since they do not make a double belted pulley for a over-sized alternator that is spaced for the Ford Lehman. We brought in the double belted pulley that was on the boat (although never hooked up as a double belt due to the sizing issue) and a few days later we had a brand new steel double belted pulley for our engine...the cost $45.00 U.S.
The second item we had fabricated was a stainless steel exhaust elbow for our Northern Lights Generator. As you can see by the photos the old cast iron exhaust elbow was in very bad shape. We had gotten pricing for a new elbow in cast iron in the U.S. and the cost was about $350.00. We were so busy getting replacement parts from the lightning strike when we were back in the U.S. that we forgot to order it so when we arrived back in Mazatlan we took the old one off and had a new one fabricated out of stainless steel (which is much better than cast iron). The cost to have a new stainless steel elbow made from scratch here in Mexico $250.00.
We also had to have our stainless steel radar mount customized with a new foot print for our new radome since the new one would not fit the old mount. The cost for this stainless steel fabrication was $40.00.
I challenge anyone to have these jobs done in the U.S. as quickly or as inexpensively as here in Mexico.

Los Osuna......Agave Azul Distillery

We decided to make a trip to the Blue Agave Distillery of Los Osuna with our friends John and Rosie from the mv Serena Ray. Los Osuna is located approx. 30 miles outside of Mazatlan, within the state of Sinaloa. Los Osuna is a family owned operation that has been producing their tequila for over 134 years. The ranch has been in the Osuna family for over 200 years so there is quite a colorful history behind this distillery as you can imagine.

It was really interesting to see how they produce this extremely tasty tequila. They even still use underground brick ovens to roast the agave bulbs. After the tour we had a tasting of Los Osuna Reposado and I have to say that although I have never been a big fan of tequila this was without a doubt the best tequila I have ever tasted. If all tequila was this good I am sure I would be drinking a lot more tequila than I currently do. We did bring a bottle back to Chrokeva and since it seems the only place you can purchase Los Osuna is in Mazatlan (due to export taxes) we may have to pick up another bottle before leaving.

October 2010

Here are a bunch of random photos we took on a recent day trip to the outskirts of Mazatlan. Nothing particularly interesting but the photos are fun nevertheless. If anyone is wondering what type of animal is in the below photo it is a Coati Mundi which is a member of the Raccoon family, it is native to Mexico. The vaquero (cowboy) was actually picking up a six pack of beer at a local tienda and took the horse right inside the store (never even dismounted)...nobody even blinked an eye (except us gringos). I also thought the cactus growing on the roof of the house was a interesting thing...again only to us gringos I am sure :)