Monday 7 May: Warning: Today’s blog will be technical!
Alarm for 6.45 then after breakfast we walk to Caraibe Refrigeration in search of Patrice to confirm the appointment. We find him at 07.45am, and no surprise he doesn’t seem to remember the plan to insert a new cold plate into our dead fridge.
But true to his word he is at the boat 20 minutes later. Very quickly the saloon and galley areas are turned into a mess, with tools everywhere.
He clearly knows what he is doing, but has a chaotic work method. He is also on the phone all the time and seems to be in a huge rush, which makes us very nervous.
We’ve had enough slap-dash contractors in the past, so we watch him like a hawk. First bodge – as he drills the new hole through the fridge he drills right though the thermostat and light cable! So now we will also have a cable running inside the fridge from the new hole to the thermostat control.
Once it’s all in place, there is some cursing then 20 minutes later Oxy-Acetylene bottles turn up, hauled on deck, and they start brazing a bad joint. Ooph we can see the whole boat going up in flames as he randomly points the torch this way and that. We are not sure who was sweating most, Patrice doing the work or Glen watching.
Finally, 5 hours later it’s all in place with the fridge cooling. Fingers crossed. We feel totally exhausted by the time they leave with all their gear.
In the meantime we had taken the vang off and walked it to the riggers workshop for servicing. So after lunch, which we eat in the air conditioned saloon, we go and pick it up plus take the dive tanks for refill.
But back on Cloudy Bay we find the vang is not right. With full gas pressure it should be fully extended and normally we would need to raise the boom to fit it back on. Bugger! Another slap-dash contractor.
The services in La Marin may be excellent, but all the companies seem to have more work than they can coupe with, and this is reflected in quality. So frustrating.
Next stop at the Caraibe Marine chandlers to complain about the Jabsco electric conversion kit we just installed on the bow toilet. After only 2 weeks it’s already leaking; it circulates the black water back into the flush cycle (disgusting to see poo flushing back into the bowl!) and, it makes so much noise that everyone in the marina knows you are using the toilet!
The chandlers say they will have to consult Jabsco, but they are on holiday all week this week! Hmmm, May in Europe, just too many public holidays. So, that project is on hold too!
In the late afternoon we decide we’ve had too much frustration for one day, so we take a stroll along the pontoons. One pontoon seems to be full of Amel yachts. We count 25! Mostly older Super Maramu, but also some of the newer design which we had fallen in love with at 2016 Düsseldorf Boat Show. Looking at them now, we are super glad we decided on Hallberg Rassy.
We take our showers in the marina before they close at 7:30pm. Why do they always seem to need to close them so early we wonder.
Glen vows work is over for the day now that he is clean, but within 15 mins he is in the engine room cleaning rusting engine mounts!
We had some raw water leaks over a year ago in the port side of the engine and had contracted a mechanic in Almerimar to completely strip it and replace all seals. Well, he was a complete numpty, and guess what, the leaks have continued.
While cleaning the rust we discover that the main 30mm nuts securing the engine on its port side mounts are not even finger tight. OMG, there has been nothing holding down that side of the engine!! What else is out there about to bite us on the arse?!
All in all, a busy and pressurized day. Oh why oh why do yachts need sooo much maintenance?!
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