Bimini Materials - Buy Now in NJ or In Caribbean?

[zstine]

I'm leaving in 3 weeks to St. Martin then Grenada. I'm currently in NJ. Long story short, I don't have someone to make me a Bimini (2-bow & connector to dodger) before I leave. My question is: Should I buy the materials, cloth, zippers, etc. so I can have a fellow cruiser make the bimini when I get to Grenada in July (maybe just borrow a machine) or should I just wait until I get to Grenada and get materials and service there? Here I could order 60" wide sunbrella for $23/yd and less costly stuff for $15/yd and a 6ft zipper for $12.



Are the materials readily available and cost comparable in Grenada or will I have to deal with shipping in at extra cost and time?



thanks!

[alansmith]

I can't speak for Grenada...but in San Carlos they can make a decent Bimini for less than half the cost of what it would be in San Francisco. They use Sunbrella also...but the labor is so much less once you get out of USA