For those bluewater sailors out there, where have you found the cheapest countries to refit and main your vessel are? Everyone knows the American Economy is on the fritz, maybe you've had some good luck in other places.
Things I am looking for:
Haul Out
Storage
Engine rebuilding
Sail Repair and Replacement
Paint
Wood
Mechanical Equipment (think head, galley, bilge, etc.)
Lines
Anything else you can think of
If you are in a foreign country, you WILL find that it be near impossible to get parts on a scheduled timeframe. Also, additional tariffs will apply for bringing the parts into the other country (do some research on Pardy for example).
So the equation begins with the reverse engineering of expectations of you.
Then calculating the over-run you will allow.
States-wise you have UPS, Fed-Ex etc... but just because they are global - doesn't mean what we take for granted in the states applies elsewhere - and in MOST cases NOT.
Food for thought, every yard the world over charges lay-over days for the privvy of you having your boat on the hard or moored up to their docks (regardless if actively working on it or not). If it takes 4 weeks to get parts... then that is 4 weeks of lay days you have to pay.
Then consider the inevitable - wrong part sent or switched somewhere along the line. More delays.
Then you have to consider just getting to a place. Saving on labor is only relevant if you are in the right place at the wrong time. One thing world over - if they sense budget minded, they know all they have to do is lure you in. Your best bet is to stay in the states for a full refit. If it was just a bottom job or something then maybe other countries offer an advantage in savings of labor - but in the real world, you get what you pay for - especially if you do not know what is actually being done.
You got some cool advice on here - I'd save your blowhard comments for later when you are dealing on getting your boat out of the yard...But that is just me...