Electric Anchor Winch

Two days ago "Thomo" from SeaPower visited the boat and installed the new gear box and motor for the anchor windlass. Initially I thought that we would have to do a complete replacement but Bruce identified the Australian manufacturer and source a gear box rated at 2000 lbs to replace the broken 1200 lb gear box. This had the advantages of halving my replacement cost and utilizing the same footprint for an easier installation. There was one minor change. Because the electric motor is bigger Thomo had to rotate the unit 90 degrees below deck meaning that the fiberglass panel that hides the assembly will no longer fit. I hope to one day hide the assembly with a small set of shelves made of plywood.

The accompanying photos show the windless replacement work. I have also included a photo of some of the boating services in this precinct. Cater Marine is the boat shop. SeaPower is doing our mechanical and electrical work. The Marina Shop is looking into our blue water insurance. Titan is doing our canvas work. Spars and Rigging Ltd is doing our rigging work. Not represented is New Zealand Stainless which as done some work for us. Also in this precinct is a sign write, marine painter, several electrical, stainless steel, and mechanical services. Pachuca is strategically berthed near the centre, within 500 meters of every service.

Works Progress

Yesterday I visited Ian at Titan sails and We presented him with our starboard rail dodger for replacement of a stainless steel grommet that had been ripped out in the Tasman Sea. An hour later Brenda and I visited him to present him with the specifications of the lee cloth for Arnold's bunk and he handed me the repaired spray dodger. I expressed amazement at his speed and his reply was "It's winter." The board at Arnold's bunk in the port quarter berth is too low to make him secure when the boat heels so we are going to install a lee cloth similar to those in the main cabin.

We took delivery of two more LED "globes" for our lights, making a total of three at $41 NZD each. However, we judge them to be a good investment. Using one quarter of an amp they are much brighter that the 1.5 amp globes that they replace.

We also took delivery of the 406 MHz EPIRB which we will put in the boat's "grab bag".

We also received four cartridges for our inflatable life vests: one to replace the one on my vest which discharged accidentally at about the time we reached NZ, and one spare for each of the three vests on board. That may seem like a lot of spares at $23 per cartridge but we cannot risk having less than our full inventory of life vests in working order.

We also got a visit from the riggers who shortened the two top rails. Today we plan to fasten all of the rails with 4mm cord that I got at the boat shop yesterday, re-install the rail netting near the bow as well as the spray dodgers near the cockpit.

Bruce has done a lot of work in the last two days in fitting the new alternator arrangement to the engine. We spoke with him about our desire to do a 5-day car tour of the North island, but only if it did not impact on his work. It turns out that our absence could work out very well. Before Friday he will visit the boat to discuss the layout of the new batteries and cable paths. We will the leave for five days which will give him a clear run to take the boat apart without us getting in his way.

We hope to depart on Sunday and return on Friday. This will put us close to our planned departure time of 8 September, so we may have to add a few days to our stay in NZ, particularly if there is a delay in receiving our replacement wind charger from UK or our new cooling system diaphragms from Norway.

Small World

During our visit to Russell Radio (see August 24 blog entry) I learned from Stuart, the station manager, that he knew not only where Kingston, Washington is located on the planet, but where Point No Point is located.

Point No Point is located at the end of Hansville Road in Kitsap Peninsula, about 5 miles from my home in Kingston. On the Point is an abandoned complex (Ford's Landing?) that has a nice beach, a boat lift, a large fish-packing area, a large restaurant that overlooks the water, several workshops, and several cabins. I often ride my Suzuki to the facility to enjoy the beach and a coffee in the local general store, but I knew nothing of its history and often wondered why the owner closed the facility, located in such a prime location, instead of developing it in some way. Stuart knew because he worked there twenty years ago and was known as the crazy New Zealander who wore shorts during winters, even in snow.

Stuart's explanation was simple – the owner was an alcoholic that let the place deteriorate and was incapable of even selling it. Stuart lost his job when the facility closed.

So, half way around the world I met a bloke who knew more about some of my part of the world than I did. Like many others, I'm starting to think of Planet Earth as one big neighborhood – I think sailing does that to people.

Hatch Installed

We have completed the replacement of the Lewmar hatch with a new Maxwell "Offshore" hatch. The new hatch was slightly bigger than the old one so we used a rough paint-remover disc on an angle grinder to take 8mm off each axis. The new hatch has four handles and can be latched and unlatched from the deck unless the handles are in the "lock" position. Note that we took the opportunity to reverse the hatch, partly for the obvious reason of minimizing the risk of spray and more serious water entering the boat, and partly to avoid an opening problem presented by the chain plate just aft of the hatch that supported the baby stay that was removed to accommodate the radar. (Edgar said that the angle between the baby stay and the mast was so sharp that the effectiveness of the stay was questionable. We rely on the inner forestay to steady the mast.)

Today we installed a second midships bollard on each side of the boat. These bollards are slightly bigger than the existing ones and are backed by thick stainless steel plating. The idea is to have one bollard for the forward springer line and one for the aft springer. ... When I purchased Pachuca she had no midships bollards.

Boat for Sale

These are photographs of a special boat at Doug's Boat Yard, a short walk from the marina. I have been told that it is identical to the legendary solo sailor Montessier's boat, built at the same boat yard. It was sailed solo to NZ about twenty years ago by an Austrian named Karl who has decided that it is time to sell her even though he is still a youthful 70 years old.

Brenda has had the pleasure of speaking with Karl in the laundry and if I get a chance I will learn from him more about the boat and his experience with her.

As you can see, she is a double-ender ketch. Her steel hull is fair but I could not call it carvel because it appears that the sheets overlap clinker style. Note the perspex observation bubble on the port side near the cockpit that is characteristic of Montessier's boat.

I have been told that Montessier based his design on Joshua Slocum's "Spray".

... The garden gnome in the hill above the boat in one of the photographs is Arnold.

Russell Radio

Two days ago Brenda, Arnold, and I visited the historic town of Russell, just across the water not far from Opua, which we crossed by car ferry.

During our walk along the very pleasant waterfront we encountered the (to me) legendary Russell Radio, which provides weather and other marine information throughout this part of the Pacific. It is staffed by volunteers.

While we stood in front of the window taking photographs Stuart, the manager of the station, came out and we had a great yarn. The attached photographs are of Stuart and Russell Radio, with Brenda and Arnold.

Wind Charger Replaced

Marlec in UK has agreed to replace our Rutland 913 wind charger with a brand new unit. There was one snag. Rod had no new 913's in stock and a pallet of 913's containing our replacement unit would not arrive for about six weeks. I was given a choice: wait six weeks (maybe more) or Rod would put together a replacement unit from components that he had in hand here in NZ.

I discussed it with the crew and we agreed that we could not wait six weeks for the replacement if we were have any chance of making it to Seattle by December. We also agreed that even though we do not question Rod's competence and ability to provide us with a good replacement there is no substitute for a brand new unit direct from the factory.

We asked Rod to ask Theresa at Marlec if she would consider air freighting the replacement unit to us if we paid for the freight. Theresa said OK and yesterday we got the freight quotation which we accepted. We hope to receive the unit in about one week.

I know that we had a rough time with the Rutland 913. However, beyond that it has been all good. Rod has been extremely thorough in his investigation of our faulty unit and Theresa representing Marlec was very prompt in agreeing to a replacement, then agreeing to air freight it.

Marlec has the serial number of our faulty unit and I expect them to undertake an internal investigation to learn the history of this unit before it was sold to us. The result is of course their business because we are satisfied with the replacement.