UNDERWAY30
R
ecently I decided to put granite
counter tops in my kitchen. I went on
angieslist.com and saw a list of compa-
nies that do that work. I then looked at what
their customers had to say about the service
they received; the comments were most reveal-
ing and helped me quickly cull the list. Within
an hour, I was sending emails to three prospec-
tive installers with my questions, and a week
later the job was done.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been as easy to fi nd
marine services. Obtaining repairs on my
Catalina 34 has always been hit or miss, since
there’s no reliable way to vet the repair compa-
nies or speak with their customers.
But the developers behind a new app called
Mariner Exchange hope to change that.Apple iOS device users can download the free
mobile app from the app store (Android version
coming soon). Mariner Exchange connects boat
owners directly with nearby marine services in
an easy-to-use format. When considering a ser-
vice, you can review ratings and contact the
contractor that’s best for you, receive an esti-
mate, and even use the online payment system
where applicable.
“My original concept was to create a boat-
supply and commerce website,” says founder
Alex Nicholson, “but when I started interview-
ing boat owners, I kept hearing the same story
over and over again: Their problem was that
they couldn’t fi nd reliable service people. So I
went back to the drawing board and put this
whole thing together.”
To date, Mariner Exchange has obtained more
than 1,000 registered users and 100 providers, all
of whom carry liability insurance and are vetted
by Nicholson. The app is currently focused on
the Chesapeake region, where Nicholson would
like to make sure everyone is having a positive
experience and leaving reviews before expanding
to other markets. — Robert Beringernovember/december 2016cruisingworld.comI
f you charter this winter with
The Moorings, no longer does
Puerto Rico have to be a mere
waypoint to your final Caribbean
destination. Starting in January 2017,
Puerto Rico and its nearby islands,
also known as the Passage or Spanish
Virgin Islands, are the destination.
Passports aren’t required of U.S. cit-
izens, and direct fl ights from many
cities are available.
Departing from Puerto del Rey
Marina, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico,
trip options range from all-inclusive
crewed charters to bareboat power-
cat charters aboard the Moorings 514
PC. Bareboat sailing charters depart
from either the British Virgin Islands,
where The Moorings’ fl agship head-
quarters is located, or for a fee, from
Fajardo. For details, contact the com-
pany (moorings.com).
For the best advice on sailing
this destination, look no further
than the region’s longtime expert
and advocate, Donald M. Street.
His Cruising Guide to the Eastern
Caribbean: Puerto Rico, the Passage
Islands, the U.S. and the British Virgin
Islands is the go-to source.
— Elaine LemboCOURTESY OF THE MOORINGS (TOP); COURTESY OF ITUNESNEXT ON THE
SAILING-VACATION
ITINERARY: PUERTO
RICO’S PASSAGE
ISLANDS
Crewed, power and bareboat
sailing charters are available
from The Moorings at its new
base in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.COOL APP:
MARINER
EXCHANGE
The new Mariner
Exchange app features a
clean design and easy-to-
use interface.