Florida

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USA

**IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is NOT intended to be complete, but rather is selective, opinionated, and reflects our own particular experience at the time.**

Vendors We Like

Here are some American (mainly Florida) vendors that we have used and can recommend wholeheartedly.

Please note that we accept no advertising or fees for these recommendations. They are based solely on our own experience.

Type	Name	Location	Contact	Notes:
Canvas (dodger, bimini, covers)	Andy's Canvas	501 SW 21 Terr. B-2, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312	Andy Krimmer, 954-581-3929	Excellent designs & workmanship. He's a real artist.
Car rental	Able Car Rental	2929 S. Federal Hwy, Ft. Lauderrdale, FL	Jim Blair, 800-761-9033; 954-761-8844	Cheap.
Chartplotter Cards	C-Map USA	133 Falmouth Rd Mashpee, MA 02649-9910 USA	Amy; (508) 477-8010; (800) 424-2627	Join Club C-Map to exchange cards as you go along; excellent customer service
Compass swing	Capt. Marvin Schenker	Ft. Lauderdale, FL	305-531-5195
Electronics Sales & Installation	Concord Marine Electronics	2233 S. Federal Hwy, Ft. Lauderdale	Michael Robilio, 954-779-1100; fax 954-779-7090; navigation@ earthlink.com	Superb post-sales service.
Equipment & Supplies	Sailorman	350 E. State Rd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316	800-523-0772; 954-522-6716; fax 954-760-7686	New, used, consignment; great bargains
Equipment & Supplies	West Marine	Ft. Lauderdale & catalog		Not a recommendation of Port Supply.* (see below)
Flags	Christine Davis Flags	923 SE 20 Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL	Bob or Christine Davis, 954-527-1605, davisflg@bellsouth.net
Insurance	Alliance Marine Risk Managers, Inc.	1400 Old Country Road Suite 307 Westbury, NY 11590	Pat Pizzo, (516) 333-7000, (800) 976-2676; fax (516) 333-9529	Lloyd's underwriting. Will insure doublehanders worldwide. Pat has saved us a LOT of money.
Liferaft	Viking	1625 N. Miami Ave., Miami, FL 33136	305-374-5115; fax 305-374-1535
Marina (Fort Lauderdale)	Desperado Apts. & Marina	216-222 Hendricks Isle, Ft. Lauderdale	Charlie Copley, 954-7823; fax 763-6623	Excellent value and good company.
Sails	Hood Sailmakers	23 Johnnycake Hill, RI 02842	401-849-9400; fax 401-849-9700	Vectran holding up very well. Excellent warranty service.
Surveyor	Slakoff, Cramer & Assoc.	Ft. Lauderdale	Jerry Cramer, 954-525-7930; fax 525-7947
Terminal Node Controller (TNC) sales	Farallon Electronics	California (mail order)	415-331-1924	A TNC is necessary to use "Sailmail" radio email at sea. Very knowledgeable.
Tupperware	D'Ann Sales, Inc.	Catalog sales, Dallas	Debbie Gillespie, 972-335-7894
Varnishing	Sea-Tails Marine Service	1230 SW 29th, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315	Richard Whitehurst, 954-763-6965; cell 261-5315	Expensive but excellent.
Water Heater	Seaward Products		562-699-7997; ron@seawardproducts.com	Superb customer service.
Watermaker	Village Marine Tec	802 SE 17th, Ft. Lauderdale		Ask about their re-builds with full warranty.

* We just note for the record that cruisers dealing with Port Supply (West Marine's wholesale mail-order discount alter ego) should check their orders very carefully upon receipt. We received so many wrong and damaged items from them that we felt it ate up in time and energy far more than we saved in money.