A Boat Too Far

In 2005 we bought a 46' catamaran in Thailand as a wreck. We removed the cabin, bridgedeck, main crossbeam and all the bulkheads then completely redisigned and rebuilt her in Phuket over the course of 5 years. It seemed like a good idea at the time..

27 May 2016 | Bahia Asuncion
13 May 2016
30 March 2016 | Santa Rosalia
05 March 2016
12 February 2016
17 January 2016
08 December 2015 | Cabo San Lucas
27 November 2015 | Turtle Bay
16 November 2015 | Ensenada, Mexico
29 October 2013 | Santa Barbara
05 October 2013
03 October 2013
27 September 2013
24 September 2013
22 September 2013
19 September 2013
15 September 2013

South Island

13 December 2023
Mike
We had a bit of time before having to button up the boat and returning home to work so we decided to take a trip to the South Island, leaving the boat in Gulf Harbor marina near Auckland. We flew into Queenstown and rented a car for 10 days which we used to visit Milford Sound, the Southern Alps and the West Coast.
We spent the first few days at a "Holiday Camp" south of Te Anau. It was started by a couple of Californians in the early seventies and had a solid hippy vibe with lots of cool custom carpentry and old derelict hippy busses scattered around the property.
After the obligatory visit to Milford Sound and some spectacular hikes in the area we headed up to Wanaka where we discovered a mountain bike park. We rented bikes and set out, not knowing what to expect as we had never been to a bike park. Turns out it's like Disneyland for mountain bikers. The sculped trails, berms and jumps made it feel more like skiing than biking and we couldn't keep the goofy grins off our faces as we swooped down the mountain. As fun as the biking was the views were the best part of the ride. From the top we looked out over Lake Wanaka and Mt. Aspiring National Park, catching glimpses of the mountain at 10,000' when the clouds parted.
We then headed out to the West Coast to see the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. It rained most of the time so we spent most of our time feeding the blackflies on rainforest hikes and visiting the Wildlife center where we got to see Kiwis and Tuataras. We did get a glimpse of the Fox glacier one evening just as the sun went down so were weren't totally skunked.
We passed through Wanaka on our way back and did another spin in the bike park before flying back to Auckland.

Making friends with the locals

17 November 2023
Annette/Mike
Since our arrival in New Zealand we've been exploring the numerous islands and coves along the Northland coast. We sailed as far north as Ranganau Bay, about 30 miles south of the Northern tip of the country, before returning to the Bay of Islands. We usually stay at each spot long enough to explore our surroundings, go ashore for a hike, kayak along the shore or just rest for a day, then off to the next spot.

So it was when we pulled into Wotuarohia (aka Robertson) Island. We hadn't been anchored long when we were startled by a "blow" right off the side of the boat. A large bottlenose dolphin! What a surprise since we had not seen many dolphins since leaving Chile. It's approach seemed with intention as it neared and circled next to the boat while we waved from the deck. It lingered around, checking us out then would take off into the distance returning a few minutes later to linger some more. We stood on the deck welcoming its return until finally it didn't come back. We enjoyed our nice little visit.

The next morning, while getting ready to move on to our next anchorage, our dolphin buddy came back for another visit, just like the previous day. When we thought it was done with us, we pulled anchor, set the jib and slowly sailed on toward Urupukapuka Island, 4 miles away. We soon realized that the dolphin had followed us out of the anchorage and was slowly drifting between the bows like an escort as we sailed. We were moving too slow for bow riding but It entertained itself by scratching it's back on the bottom of the bows, rolling over and scratching it's belly when the boat would slow between gusts. It would then move off in front of us with a tail slap before returning for more. Out of sight it springs out of the water and bellyflops on our starboard side, then disappears, and reappears on the portside and we realize that we were being treated to an exclusive and outstanding solo dolphin performance.

Our dolphin escorted and entertained us all the way into our anchorage. As we set the anchor he circled alongside and blew bubbles in what we could only assume was an invitation. Mike and I couldn't get into our wetsuits fast enough and as soon as we were in the water It swam directly over to us eager to play. Swimming from one to the other of us, our buddy would come spiraling around us, bobbing it's head and circling, just out of reach, while talking to us in excited whistles. Then it would dart off and return again from a different direction, playing "hide and seek" in the murky water. It was exhilarating, all three of us laughing and having a blast playing in the water. I don't know how long we were playing but dolphins have fish to catch and places to be and suddenly it was gone. We didn't get a chance to say "goodby" but nevertheless felt that we had been treated to something special on a day that we will never forget.

Opua to Whangaroa Bay

07 November 2023
Annette
Luck was with us once again as we sailed into the last slip available in Opua Marina just as ExtraTropical Cyclone Lola hit the North Coast of New Zealand. But while the wind was howling and the rain was pouring we had a blast! We got to meet and hang out with several other cruising couples who had also just arrived from the various parts of the South Pacific. All of us were grateful to be in the marina, happy the passage was over and looking forward to exploring New Zealand. After 5 days of non-stop socializing and having fun, the storm passed and we all gave up our comfy slips and went our separate ways.
Our first night was spent anchored off the the Whangerei Treaty Grounds, where the treaty between Maori chiefs and the British was first signed, setting in motion the creation of the country of New Zealand. We are now in Whangaroa Bay after stops in the Cavalli Islands and the town of Russel in the Bay of Islands.
Before arriving in NZ we made tentative arrangements with a boatyard to haul out on November 15, but once we arrived and called to confirm we were informed the only day left to haul out was December 19, take it or leave it. We'll take it, now we have all kinds of time to Explore the Northland Coast of New Zealand.
Spring is in the air down here, birds are twittering, trees and flowers are blooming, the sun is warm, the rains are not freezing and the summer tourist season has not yet begun, lucky for us. The Northland region is where New Zealanders come to vacation in the summer, so we've been told. This area is a cruiser's paradise. One can sail along remote white sandy beaches, or gentle green pastures, cruise under rugged cliff outcroppings hidden deep up a channel flanked by rainforest ending in a quiet little anchorage, or sail from one quaint little township to another, all of which can be done in a few hours and at most in a daysail (no overnighters). We still have yet to see a piece of trash alonside the road or on a beach. When we need a break from sailing they've got hiking trails to the next town, up to the nearest peak, along the stream up to the waterfall and over to the beer pub, just to mention a few we've done. The hiking trail network here is amazing. We've also heard of some fantastic mountain bike parks in the Northland area as well as in the Auckland area that we will definitely check out, as I write this Mike is researching what mountain bikes we will buy while we are here to replace the ancient and slowly disintegrating bikes that we have been using for the past 15 years.
Our plan is to head up towards the North Cape, as weather permits, then back down, stopping at the places we missed, as weather permits, and for now, the hardest part of our day is deciding what to do and where to go next.

Arrival in New Zealand

28 October 2023 | Opua, New Zealand
Mike
We got our first glimpse of New Zealand just before sunset on the 26th. Soon after, we heard another boat calling the powers that be to inform them that they were approaching Opua but that they had a fuel blockage and might need some assistance getting to the quarantine dock. We could see on AIS that we would be arriving just behind them so we called and offered to follow them in in case they needed fuel or a tow. As we entered the Bay of Islands the wind and seas calmed and we ghosted in under a nearly full moon with the smell of cut grass coming in on the breeze. As we neared the marina our companion boat, "Chantey", who were just returning to their home port after completing a 9 year circumnavigation, called and said that they could use some fuel after all. The breeze had just picked up a bit and, as they drifted slowly towards some moored boats, we gingerly came aside and Annette passed them a jerry jug of diesel. They were quickly underway and we both tied up at the Q dock around 1:00 am.
Check in was easy next morning. As Customs was searching the boat they noticed the brewery in the port hull and became more interested in talking about beer than finishing their inspection. We knew immediately that we would like this place.
We got a slip in the marina as the cyclone in Vanuatu was due to hit here in a couple of days. As soon as we stepped ashore we felt like Dorothy in the land of Oz. Even in this small town there is every kind of marine store imaginable with prices similar to back home. Chandleries, cafes, bakery, hot showers, laundry all at the end of the dock. What's not to like. One thing that struck us immediately is that, for the first time in years, we are able to understand much of what the locals say to us.
Biosecurity made off with pretty much all of our fresh provisions so we made a trip to the supermarket in nearby Paihia yesterday. Paihia is about a 2 mile drive, or a 4 mile walk along the beach so, having no car but a couple of feet apiece, we walked the beautiful trail with our other new friends from Freya. After stocking up at the store we had dinner at a brewpub recommended by Customs that did not disappoint, then took a cab back to the marina.
Today, the remains of the hurricane, now an extra-tropical cyclone, have arrived and we are hunkered down in the rain with the heater going. The wind outside the bay is predicted to be 50 knots, gusting to 65, so we reckon we will stay another day or so

A little break

25 October 2023
Mike
We got a bit of a rest today as a high moved in over us and the seas flattened out as the wind veered to the north and died down. This is the first day we have not felt like we were sailing in a paint shaker and it feels good to not have our brains rattled around in our skulls. We have been motoring with both motors today, trying to beat the next low to New Zealand and it looks like we might make it, arriving in Opua early Friday morning just before the front hits. It turns out this was a good weather window in more than one way as tropical cyclone Lola, a catagory 5 hurricane with 120 knot winds has just formed over Vanuatu. It is headed to New Caledonia and then towards New Zealand, but we should be in Opua before it gets there. Just a reminder that it is high time we were out of the tropics for the season. The water is down to 64 degrees and we are wearing socks and sweaters at night. Feels good to be able to move without sweating.

Skinny Sailing

23 October 2023
Annette
Day 6, half way there, 600 miles to go.

So far I would agree with the woman who said this passage from Fiji to NZ was not her favorite. As I write this we are on our 4th night and so far it has been a lumpy, bumpy  slow ride with confused seas and tempramental winds, but nothing horrible. Except for the one night on my watch, of course. On the second day we had steady winds enough to fill our spinnaker from sunrise to sunset. Shortly after Mike went down to sleep the clouds blew over, darkening the sky and messing up the wind. First a drizzle, then a steady rain and then the sky opened up and the rain came down in sheets. Becasue the wind was coming straight from behind, slight wind changes were causing the main to jibe. The first two times this occured I went out and trimmed  the sails to maintain a steady speed. I became soaked to the bone as the water poured out of the mainsail stack pack like Niagra Falls dumpimg on my head, my foul weather gear worthless. After two sail changes the main and jib were still fl
ogging.
Frustrated and tired, I decided to furl up the jib, sheet in and center the main and turn on the motor. But I just got dried off and put on fresh warm cloths and that would required me to go back out in the torrential rain. Screw it, I took off all my clothes, put on my safety harness and did all the sail handling in the buff. Skinny Sailing. We motored into a headwind for the next 2 days. Day 6 we are sailing again with wind on the beam.

As we climb in latitude from 17 degrees to 26 we welcome the need to put on long sleeves and pants.
Vessel Name: Rum Doxy
Vessel Make/Model: 46' Custom Catamaran
Hailing Port: Santa Barbara, California
Crew: Mike Reed, Annette Reed
Extra: A "rum doxy" is 18th century pirate-speak for a woman of remarkable character and ambiguous virtue
Rum Doxy 's Photos - Main
As new grandparents we think we can be forgiven for posting a gallery featuring our granddaughter.
15 Photos
Created 28 October 2023
We spent about a month in Fiji, landing in Savu Savu and making our way to the Mantucas via the Yasawa group. There we were joined by our daughter Sabine, son-in-law Alan and brand new, 4 month old granddaughter Linnea.
16 Photos
Created 28 October 2023
33 Photos
Created 28 May 2023
In early May, 2022 we reluctantly left Chile and headed for French Polynesia with a stop at Robinson Crusoe Island on the way. We here not allowed ashore on RC Island as Covid restrictions were still in effect. Nevertheless, we spent 5 days there waiting out some weather and were able to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of the Island from afar. We then carried on to the Gambiers, taking another month due to light air. The Gambiers were beautiful with the best snorkeling we have had to date, but winter was catching up and we made our way north to the Marquesas where we enjoyed warmer water and swimming with manta rays. By mid-September it was time to head home for work and we left Rum Doxy on the hard in Hiva Oa where she awaits our return in after hurricane season.
53 Photos
Created 1 January 2023
After storing the boat for the Austral winter in Valdivia, we headed south in early October, arriving in Puerto Williams in early December.
83 Photos
Created 16 December 2019
We arrived in Puerto Montt in mid-February and spent a hectic week repairing broken stuff, re-provisioning and adjusting to the cold. We then headed south with the goal of visiting the Laguna San Rafael and it's tidewater glacier before making our way back to Valdivia to fix more broken stuff and store the boat for the winter.
79 Photos
Created 15 March 2019
We didn't know what to expect at Easter Island. There is no real anchorage or harbor and we heard and read accounts of boats getting chased around the island by the changing weather and the crew never making it ashore before being run off by the weather. Some cruising guides mention that if you do make it ashore, you must leave at least one crew member aboard to move the boat if the weather changes. Even the Sailing Directions published by the US government say "The weather is never good for more than a few days at a time at Isla de Pascua. Ships anchoring off the island should be ready to sail on short notice. There are abrupt and violent wind changes....". So we were a little surprised to find gentle trade winds blowing offshore and a relatively calm anchorage off of the (only) town of Hanga Roa. When we arrived the port was closed due to swell and it was 2 days before we were checked in and able to go ashore, but after that we were able to relax, take care of repairs and do some exploring ashore. We rented a car one day and a quad on another and did a lot of walking as well. The island is roughly 12 x 6 miles with a population of about 6,000 so it doesn't take long to cover it.
45 Photos
Created 27 January 2019
After the 8 day bash down from Costa Rica we arrived in Ecuador and got a slip at the Puerto Lucia Yacht Club. After a few days to regoup, we flew to Cuenca to meet Sabine and Alan, who had been roaming around Ecuador for the past week or so. We spent several days in Cuenca, looking at buildings and taking a trip up to Las Cajas National Park. S and A then left for the Galapagos Islands while we headed north to Otavalo where we hiked the Las Mojandas lakes and visited the market downtown.
63 Photos
Created 17 December 2018
It seems that our time in Costa Rica has been mostly about the wildlife. We visited the cloud forest, several national parks and some private ones. Here is a rogues gallery of the critters we saw.
27 Photos
Created 25 November 2018
11 Photos
Created 21 March 2018
We spent almost a month in the La Paz area and Isla Espiritu Santos, discovering new little anchorages and enjoying the comforts of old stomping grounds. On February 13, we finally cut the ties with the Sea of Cortz and set off for new adventures, beginning with Isla Isabela.
18 Photos
Created 24 February 2018
Over time we have become insufferable beer snobs. As such we found that we could no longer abide the marginal brews we find when abroad and were compelled to take matters into our own hands. We brought a brew kit and grains back to the boat with us after a Christmas visit home (see the blog post for 1/21/18), tied to a mooring in Puerto Escondido and got busy.
11 Photos
Created 21 January 2018
We left the boat on the hard in Puerto Penasco for the summer while we returned home to Ventura to work. We returned to the boat in early November and, after 2 weeks of work on the boat in the yard, we launched and headed straight for Isla Angel de la Guardia, where we took up where we left off in the spring.
27 Photos
Created 7 December 2017
We got a late start heading south this year, our mainsail warranty replacement having taken much longer than anticipated. Our plan, as we headed south, was to get to Ecuador this season so that we would be poised to head to Patagonia in the fall. Somewhere along the way, though, we realized that this would mean traveling every day; more of a delivery than a cruise, so we decided to spend another season in the Sea of Cortez, store the boat in Puerto Penasco or Guaymas for the summer hurricane season, and head to Ecuador next year.
24 Photos
Created 4 March 2017
39 Photos
Created 30 March 2016
After a quick haul-out in La Paz we headed out to the local area to do some exploring. We spent most of January and february sailing up and down the coast enjoying the Islands of Espiritu Santo, San Francisco and San Jose as well as some of the anchorages on the mainland.
34 Photos
Created 13 February 2016
We left our slip in Channel Islands on November 7th, bound for Mexico with stops at Santa Barbara Island, Catalina Island and San Diego. We arrived in Cabo one month later having harbor-hopped down the coast of Baja.
23 Photos
Created 8 December 2015
30 Photos
Created 19 September 2013
We made an unplanned detour to Alaska when the wind sent us there. Rather than spend time in the Salish Sea as we had planned we have been sailing from Kodiak to Prince William Sound and down to the Inside Passage with stops at icy Bay and Yakutat.
97 Photos
Created 1 September 2013
After leaving Yokohama we headed southeast to get below a series of lows coming off of Japan. This worked to some extent as the wind was always behind us, even if a bit strong at times. As we approached the Pacific High the winds lightened and we were pushed northward which gave us the idea to head for Alaska instead of Canada, a move we have not regretted. The great majority of the trip was spent under cloudy skies, rain or fog so there are regretably not many photos. On the other hand, Kodiak is having their best summer in 75 years with daily temperatures in the 80's.
17 Photos
Created 25 July 2013
43 Photos
Created 13 June 2013
We made our way from Luzon to Okinawa with a detour to Taiwan due to weather. from Okinawa we sailed directly to Shimuzu where we based ourselves for a week while we did maintenance and land travel.
36 Photos
Created 5 June 2013
19 Photos
Created 20 April 2013
We made our way from Miri, Sarawak to Kudat, Sabah where we hauled out for a bottom job and a few odds and ends. Then we headed north up the west coast of Palawan, spending some time in the El Nido area, where we met our friends from Miri, Roger and Jane on "Wings and Strings". We have been buddy-boating with them for the past week as we make our way through the beautifull Busuanga group. We are really enjoyin g the Philippines as the people are very friendly, the beaches clan and the water clear. The scenery is spectacular as is the snorkling.
60 Photos
Created 30 March 2013
Nearby Mulu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for it's caves. It sports the world's largest cave system, largest cave passage and largest chamber (100m x 400m x600m!). The BBC series "Planet Earth" filmed it's "Caves" segment here (think mountain of guano seething with cockroaches). We took a couple of days off from boat work and flew out to have a look.
39 Photos
Created 8 September 2012
We had an uneventfull passage from Singapore to Borneo, though a bit tiring as we had to hand steer for 3 days and 2 nights. We arrived in Borneo just after dark on the 3rd day, anchored and awoke to a scene from a Tarzan novel. Over the next week we made our way to Miri, just short of Brunei, traveling during the day and achoring at night as we didn't want to run afoul of the many floating logs in this area. Typically we would sail all day then drop a couple miles off the coast to (mostly) avoid the bugs. We were lucky with the weather and apart from the hydraulic steering exploding as I tried to avoid a log, we had a good trip.
19 Photos
Created 30 August 2012
After 2 years of working on the boat and migrating back and forth between Phuket and Langkawi, we finally moved. The trip down the Straights of Malacca was uneventfull but at times difficult due to the opposing wind and current. We did not travel at night for fear of fishing nets and buoys and so had long days between anchorages. The sky was a uniform dismal brown due to forest fires in Sumatra and the shoreline was mostly mangrove flats so not much to see.
26 Photos
Created 27 August 2012
With the dinghy done we set sail for Langkawi, leaving Thailand for the last time. We lingered a few days in the Butang group to take advantage of the clear water, then made our way to Langkawi, where we have been working non-stop on the boat ever since.
27 Photos
Created 25 July 2012
We've been knocking around for a couple of years now without a dinghy so we took the time to build one this trip. We got a spot on the "work dock", picked up some plywood in town and got busy. The rowing/sailing boat is from plans but heavily modified. It took 2 weeks all in. It might have been less, but when the wind wasn't blowing a gale, it was raining. Some people do this inside garages or sheds, but they don't know what they're missing.
24 Photos
Created 3 June 2012
After launch we did a "circumnavigation" of Langkawi to put the boat through it's paces and see if all our work was for naught. As it turned out, the leaks are all a thing of the past and the boat now makes a pleasant "squish" instead of "bang" when beating into a sea. After our spin around the archipelago we picked up Annette's parents, Gordon and Grete, in Langkawi and made our way up to Phuket where we met Sabine and her boyfriend Josh. Another spin through Phangnga Bay and it was time to button up the boat and head back to Santa Barbara for another 4 month work stint.
60 Photos
Created 22 January 2012
Annette's plastic cardboard fix allowed us to continue work despite the rain and we were able to launch after 2 months and 3 weeks. It's great to be out of the boatyard but we will miss all of our friends who we left behind, hoping we will see them on the water.
24 Photos
Created 29 December 2011
We discovered on our last trip that the boat pounds quite a bit when going to windward due to the flat bottoms on the hulls. The boat has a unique contruction in that the hull and deck both come from the same mold. The deck is just flipped uside down over the hull and they are joined down the middle. A clever idea, but it turns our what makes a good deck does not necesarily make a good hull. We also found that the Thai workers had sanded the hulls a bit too thin in some areas which allowed water into the core when the boat was working. Ungood. Our solution was to see if we couldn't improve things by adding a bit of "vee" to the forward sections of the hulls to help with the pounding and encase the whole mess in a layer of glass with a proper barrier coat of epoxy for the leaks. A side benefit is that we get a "minikeel" encased in the vee so that we can beach the boat if need be. It also would provide a crash compartment along the length of the bottom. We hauled out in the village of Chebilang outside of Satun in southern Thailand and dug in. The yard is on the rustic side and is used by the local fishing boats and ferry companies, but it is endlessly fascinating and the staff are very accomodating. We will also be doing work to the interior, adding bunks and a head, making spare rudders, working on the mast and fixing up the forward cockpit.
57 Photos
Created 18 September 2011
We came back from Thailand to meet our shipment coming ocean freight from Long Beach. 2 pallets of wire, rope, tools, materials and toys. Once we picked it up I was able to install the 12 volt electrical system which freed us from shore power. Now we are able to work on the boat at anchor and have been taking advantage by exploring the Langkawi Archipelago as we put the boat together.
24 Photos
Created 15 March 2011
A quick root canal and we headed back to Phangnga bay to pick up where we left off.
50 Photos
Created 26 January 2011
Between dentist appointments we took a spin up into Phangnga Bay for a couple of days. We were surprised to find a lot of solitude here as it is high season and a popular destination. There were a lot of tour boats but from 4pm to 10am we had even the most popular anchorages to ourselves.
24 Photos
Created 26 January 2011
As the major construction on the boat progressed, it occurred to me that I could move things along a bit by building some of the smaller bits at home and shipping them to Thailand. Even with shipping costs this saved a lot of time and money. We had rented a small cottage in Carpinteria that had an attached deck. Sabine lived in a tent on the deck and I set up a work area under some tarps supported by bamboo next to the tent. It worked out really well and I was able to build the dagger boards, rudders and rudder drums, hatch bases, stanchion supports, trampoline supports, nav station, galley and steps down into the hulls. After we launched in March, 2010 we had to return to SB to work for 7 months. We were living on our Catalina 30 in SB Harbor to save money but I was able to build a refrigerator/freezer, settee, lavanette, cabin beams, battery box and other small bits right there on the dock. I was not popular with the next door neighbor but again, it worked out well.
45 Photos
Created 9 January 2011
Just after the New Year we went back to phuket to get some dental work done and see Phang Nga Bay, which we had to skip the first time around. We had great sailing, taking 3 days to do the 160 miles to Yacht Haven Marina at the north end of Phuket. We had broad reaching conditions the whole way and got to put the boat through her paces.
11 Photos
Created 7 January 2011
Once launched we had to take the boat out of the country as the visa had expired. We took a week to leisurely sail down to Langkawi, the first stop in Malaysia. The boat was nowhere near ready to sail but you do what you have to do. There was no electrical system, plumbing or furniture. I had pre-fabbed the nav station and galley in SB and shipped it to Thailand, but it was still in the crates. The boat did motor well, though and we got to sail a bit, at one time doing 9.4 knots in about 16 knots of wind. Once in Langkawi we had to haul out again after only 2 weeks as there were some leaks around the daggerboard cases. We were now out of money so we had to return to SB where we got our old jobs back and worked for seven months.
44 Photos
Created 24 December 2010
After over 4 years in the boatyard, countless setbacks, redoes and hand wringing we quit our jobs and flew to Phuket New Years day, 2010 for the final push to get the boat in the water. The date was not arbitrary. The boat's visa ran out March 27, so we had less than 3 months to get the boat in the water and out of Thailand or customs would impound it. The worklist included fabricating and installing fuel tanks, installing the engines and controls, installing the hydraulic steering, glassing in the rudder drums, building a mast step, painting, rigging and stepping the mast, building and hanging doors, making and installing windows and hatches, installing the trampolines and all the deck hardware, scuppers, and prepping and painting the boat. This is just a partial list but gives an idea of what we set ourselves up for. We rented an apartment in the marina and got to work. In the end we were able to slip out of Thailand 2 on March 29, two days late, but who's counting.
37 Photos
Created 24 December 2010
From August 2006 to December 2009 the boat was on the hardstand at The Boat Lagoon in Phuket Thailand for a complete refit. As we had to stay home and work to pay for it we had contractors do the work under the supervision of a Marine Surveyor. I would send plans and money and visit the boat for a week or 2 every 4-6 months.
50 Photos
Created 16 December 2010
We bought this boat "as is" in January 2005. The idea was to replaces some bulkheads, do some hull repairs and sail it back to California to finish. After over 30 years around boats I knew better but what can you do? These are the "before" pictures. As you view the photos try to imagine the sweet tang of mildew and cockroach scat and the delicate sound of millions of tiny termite jaws feasting on the bulkheads.
13 Photos
Created 4 December 2010