June - September 2016 (RCYC Cape Town) PART I

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE YACHT….

Seeing that there has been a very long time between blogs, lots has transpired and to prevent too long a blog, I have split this one into two parts – Part 1 is mainly about Maxscene and work and Part 2 the other side of the coin.

So, what have we been up to – well….  

Up and down like a yoyo, out she came again

We  hauled out, mainly to replace rudder bushes and build in new supports in the rudder compartments.  The first week out was a frustrating waste of time as the contractor doing our work got held up elsewhere.  Nonetheless a major amount of work has been completed :

The rudders were a little loose in the posts and shuddering when turning making a dreadful noise, kind of like CV joints on a car.  We did this exercise once before at Zululand Yacht Club in Richards Bay where we realised that dropping the rudders from a Catamaran is not easy as there is not enough ground clearance under the boat for the rudder posts to come out of the shafts. 

Manhandling rudders back in - Chris
got a couple of slaps in this position

In Richards Bay it was easy enough to dig a trench in the dirt under the rudders but here in RCYC where everything is neat and clean and concrete it required being lifted by the crane to drop and re-install the rudders, just more fun and antics. 

New rudder support

Kevin got new supports built in behind the rudders so that in the case of impact the rudder cannot kick up and punch a hole in the hull, this we had heard of from a number of catamaran owners and decided it was a good improvement to make.

Inlet, outlet & hole for anode

Cleaning through hull fittings

Two toilet inlet through hull fittings were removed and holes closed and the toilets plumbed into the fresh water system – no more smelly water when you flush J  

Moving anodes

Inlet removed, outlet on its own

Inlet & outlet right next to each other - a
messy situation

Leak discovered in front tank

Cutting front tank open

This uncovered two more problems, leaks in the port front and keel water tanks.  The front water tank had to be cut open to gain access, fortunately we have secured the services of a fantastic chap, Alfred, who has all round skills on boats, working for one of the local Yacht manufacturers during the week and for us on weekends.  

Inside front tank

It seems he might have been working for Fortuna Yachts when our boat was built, he could have been part of the crew, creating many laughs when he blames someone else for the problems.  

Messy itchy horrid work grinding
out the tank - poor Alfred

Alfred got stuck into the tank with a grinder and great gusto, fibreglassed the hole closed and epoxy painted the tank out, a professional job well done.  He also helped sort out the finiky hard to reach leak in the keel tank, only accessible via the bilge.

Lid fibreglassed back in place

Old inspection hatch cover replaced
with clear perspex

New inspection hatch installed

Keel tank leak - water pushing up
through support

Keel tank leak repaired

Water pipes were replaced when all was reconnected and valves moved into the passage from cabins.

New deck plates coming

New support for floor

Alfred finishing off flooring

Floor back in place with new deck plates

We had the contractors remove a piece of the passage floor to fix an area and ended up getting them to remove the whole floor in both passages so that we could get at the bilges to paint them out with top coat – a messy and difficult job but worth it, they look great.  There were areas of the bilges that we couldn’t access before so while the deckplates were up we got them to cut some new hatches in.

The worst affected scuppers were on the
front outside of the boat

Graeme drilling holes bigger
to remove wet wood and fix

Scuppers installed under the bridgedeck

On removal of the scuppers on the through hole drains we discovered another issue, none of the holes had ever been sealed and the water has been seeping into the wood between the fiberglass walls causing it to   disintegrate, not a good situation, so the holes needed to be drilled bigger, the wet wood dug out, then the cavities filled with epoxy to seal then re-drill drain holes and all this needed to be done in really small, hard to reach places.

Back into the water looking beautiful

Another 2 coats of anti-foul were applied as one or two areas looked a little suspect and looking beautiful on the outside Maxscene splashed once more.

Old pullpits and seats on trampoline

Deck where pullpits were mounted

We sent the pullpits to be modified and on looking at the state of the sika seals into the deck have decided that next we need to remove all the through deck fittings and clean and re-seal.  

Alfred precariously repairing the deck

The modified pullpits, with their new, slightly bigger seats and brighter energy saving LED Navigation lights, are brilliant.  

New pullpits and seats

New pullpit and seat

Nav lights viewed best at night
green starboard, red port

New seat in making cutting PET foam

Checking PET foam for fit before
fibreglassing

The seats are based on Kevins very successful design and installation of a shelf in the cupboard – PET foam board covered in one layer of fiberglass and painted with topcoat – brilliant, light and strong.

Old stainless structure

No stainless - really looks wierd

The chap who was supposed to do the stainless structure over the cockpit has eventually been replaced, there is only so much waiting and begging one can do.  

We have contracted a new company, Seascape Stainless Steel to do the work, the price was better and the workers willing.  So far the front piece is successfully manufactured and fitted and the back piece only requires a little modification (and time and patience).

Express stainless delivery

It goes here!!

New davit to carry tender boat

Right so now the holes don't line up

Back piece tied on til it can be modified

Kevin patiently tapping threads - his skills
never fail to amaze me

Working in little places requires big patience

Trying to get nuts and washers onto the
bolts to mount the front pieces of the stainless

Front part of frame successfully installed

Freezer in place

Supports have been installed under the floors in both rear cabins and the cracks caused by the lack of support have been filled

Drawers above freezer

Wine cellar under freezer

The freezer has finally been built into its proper place and a wine cellar created underneath, perfect!!!!  Drawers were installed above the freezer to accommodate First Aid and other stuff.  The freezer door had swollen due to moisture and the fridge door sustained damage in the engine replacement exercise, so both have had a facelift.

New fridge door

The cabins, passages, heads and saloon have all now been painted.  The spaces that require painting are often confined and require some form of acrobatics to get to….

A drawer under the shelf in the galley cupboard makes much better use of space in the cupboard 

Did I mention small spaces to work in -
the sliding spice rack was no different

and a sliding spice rack is a winner even 

though it was a real pain in the neck 
(literally I think).

Removing shore power plug from
inside rudder compartment 

The shore power connection was moved, access easier from outside and switches easier to get to from inside.  





Also the instrument panel inside was replaced, instruments installed and finished off.

Curtain rods have been made and installed and new curtains are up at all “windows” and new blinds/nets installed on the hatches.

The new, lighter, not so bright tender boat was delivered, sans name, which has since been rectified, works really well with the little 5hp motor and is so much more manageable.

Mini-me has an identity

 The shower trough in the port bathroom has once again been removed, fixed and re-installed.

More confined spaces

Fitting plumbing & float switch

Keep Donna from stepping
in & breaking again

Beautiful new shower trough

Old carpet pulled up
a tiring but rewarding job

Cutting carpet before edging

Cabin carpets

The awful smelly carpet in the saloon has finally been removed and replaced, also new rubber backed carpeting has been installed in the passages and smaller carpets in the cabins.

Carpet installed

Cutting & fitting rubber

Foam for mattresses

Rear cabin mattress

The mattresses and saloon cushions have also been replaced, the mattresses are amazingly comfortable and the saloon cushions firm and comfy, just great and what a crazy, fun chap Wally turned out to be, he even insisted, much to Kevin’s enjoyment, on replacing the hard foam in the outside cushions with something softer and gentler on the posterior…

Front cabin mattress

Saloon couch

Saloon couch

 A new outboard motor cover for the 15hp was thrown together in no time by Michelle, it looks great and serves its purpose brilliantly.

We have a long way to go, but finally there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.  We would like to thank the many people who played a role in helping us to get where we are, for the support, moral and physical and alcoholic.

Special thanks to

Graeme for coming down to spend a week tirelessly knocking one item after the next off the 7 page long list of things to be done.

Craig and Carol for all their support.

And a huge thanks to Chrissy and Alan who gave moral, physical and emotional support, accommodation when we were homeless and food and wine whenever….

We consider ourselves truly blessed…