Service· Cebu· Philippines

Port Carmen Boatyards (Zeke's and Pepe's)

10° 33.9′ N · 124° 1.5′ E

Two cruiser yards in the southern arm of Port Carmen - Zeke's (Pinoy Boat Services) and Pepe's (Republic Drydock area) - where boats lie stern-to in a narrow ditch beside WWII-era Japanese graving docks while local craftsmen do woodwork, paint and fibreglass at low cost.

Practical

Position is the entrance to Pinoy Boat Services ('Zeke's') logged by Hawkeye (2014): 10°33.95'N 124°01.51'E, marked by a two-storey clubhouse with a widow's walk. Boats are Med-moored to heavy jetties on both sides of the ditch; passing other boats to get further in is tricky. No travel-lift or hardstand: both yards have ramps and cradles or careening on the tide (Pepe once built a shallow-draft careening grid); Pepe hauled a boat in an emergency in 2021. Work is billed as materials plus daily labour with weekly bills - no fixed quotes. Reviews are mixed: many cruisers praise the craftsmen and value, others reported disputed paint jobs and warranty refusals (2013) - supervise work closely. Older rates: 250 PHP/day moorage including water and power at Zeke's (2011) - verify locally. Zeke's has WiFi and a bar/restaurant (Vivienne's); Pepe has an on-call diesel mechanic. Bring parts and materials with you: only one chandlery in Cebu and imports attract up to 40% duty; basic timber, paint and fibreglass can be had in Carmen and Danao. LPG: EC Gas tanks can be swapped and delivered from Mandaue (945 PHP delivered in 2021); Petronas Gas in Danao (corner Rizal and Mabini Sts) has filled Australian and US bottles. Laundry: local women wash 8 kg for about 250-300 PHP (verify locally).

Best for

Refits, varnish and fibreglass work at Asian prices

Practical

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