Blog

In the old days, the part of the boat where the propeller shaft exited the hull was sealed with a system known as a “Stuffing Box”. 🧰 The name came from the method used: greased packing rope was stuffed into a metal housing to reduce the amount of seawater entering the boat while allowing the […]

Maintaining a boat in the Caribbean comes with unique challenges, and one of the most common — yet preventable — issues is moisture buildup, leading to mold, mildew, and unpleasant odors. Fortunately, there’s a simple and highly effective solution: solar-powered ventilation. 🌞 Why Choose Solar Vents? Solar vents are a cost-effective and energy-efficient way to […]

Most mooring and anchor line is three strand nylon and there is nothing wrong with it. But we all know that it can capture salt and stiffen and when that happens it can stiffen and be reluctant to go around cleats and allow itself to be coiled. This downside can be avoided if you replace […]

In the past few decades it has been a pleasure to see innovative effective anchor designs come to market that provided the user with a much higher success rate in  setting and holding. Availability and pricing of really effective anchors is highly connected with the patents connected with those anchors. However those patents run our […]

Whilst Budget Marine has a high regard for stainless steel materials, our experience has shown that stainless steel underwater in the Caribbean is very risky. Electrolysis of course the reason for the risk and it is highly unpredictable. Hence we have stopped selling stainless anchors and where we have stainless steel chain it is the […]

There were 41 youth sailors from Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin, St. Maarten and St Barth who competed in the St. Maarten Budget Marine Optimist Championship hosted by St Maarten Yacht Club 24 and 25 November 2023, making this a truly international event that is showing great growth. At the opening ceremony on […]

Fourteen-year-old Antiguan Carrack Jones has broken the record for the longest distance sailed in an Optimist sailboat. He sailed from the Antigua Yacht Club in Falmouth Harbour to Philipsburg in St Maarten, a distance of 100 nautical miles. Carrack originally planned to depart on Tuesday, November 21 but with a lack of wind his trip […]

by Niels Lund Launching your boat is a greatly anticipated event that is often approached with trepidation. During more than 20 years owning and sailing a boat in the Caribbean I worked in marine services and yard management, so offer these pointers to mitigate any issues that might arise. Launch Date When making your boatyard […]

For optimum performance, good quality brushes and rollers are an investment, but it makes sense to use a low-tech, less expensive tool if adequate for the job. Choosing the right product all depends on your project. Antifoul application Rollers – Many bottom paint manufacturers recommend using a 3/8″ nap roller that will apply a thick coat with orange peel-type […]