Day: June 19, 2018

Moving Day

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As the title above suggests this is moving day – when we move the boat to the crane and have the mast removed for our rigger to replace the 13 year old rigging. It passed survey fine but usually rigging is renewed every 7 or so years even when it still looks ok. With the mast removed we motor back to our dock and wait a couple of days before repeating the process in reverse. Yacht being de-rigged

It’s getting hotter by the day but progress is being made. I wanted to have the saloon reupholstered but all the trades are too busy at this time of year so that task will have to wait until we pull the boat out of the water in October to leave it for the winter. Similarly the renewing of the blue canvas dodger and bimini. Besides no one having time to complete this job now, it will be 1/2 price over the winter months so we can live with that for this season.

I had another great morning at the local market and again stocked up on fabulous fruit and vegetables at ridiculously cheap prices and even some fresh fish. The place was buzzing and so colourful and vibrant. I purchased a ‘Nana’ trolley so I can get my goodies home on the tram and it is fantastic. All the women here seem to have one so perhaps now I look more like a local than a tourist.

Over to John ..

We have decided to get some solar panels and combine this with dinghy davits to make it easier for raising and lowering the dinghy.

Dimous, our stainless steel fabricator, has discussed how the new frame which will double as a solar panel support and will have dinghy davits constructed. Seems to have a good handle on engineering concepts gained from life experience and what works. There is only one wall thickness (1.67 mm) available so we are going to have to be clever with the geometry to reduce the “wobblity” factor and deflections.  Stainless steel marine grade is called INOX here in Gr. I think it may be a brand name but it’s what everyone calls it. We will have 2 x 160W panels which should help the power requirements when we get the batteries up to 420 amp hours. Hopefully then we’ll look like a real cruising boat.

The rig is back in now. Just waiting for the new back stay adjuster and the final tune. While the mast was out and on the ground I ran all new electrics with LEDs, VHF antennas,  Raymarine wind instruments and watertight through decks (which leaked last night but the Capt has a solution) as those who know there is nothing more frustrating than that stuff going wrong up the mast. It’s a very long way to go up and fix.

“Cosmetics” continue on GMT (Greek Maybe Time) which is a bit annoying so I just keep adding more work as the time penalty payment. Naturally I end up redoing half the work anyway to get it to a decent (my) standard. Now for the boring handbrake stuff. Bill of sale still not through and then still another 7 working days to get it off the greek register. So you think that is bad, we still have 4 weeks to get it through the Australian registration.To give you some idea we registered a boat from the USA in 2000 and did it in 10 days. Big embarrassment on the Australian system to take so long- don’t think the NBN will fix it! Stay posted we are working on another solution..