The Caribbean Travels of Bob and Donna

September 2010
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Archive for the Category "Boat Work"

Raising the Mast Author: Bob and Donna Mar 16

After nearly 2 weeks of waiting we heard from the yard manager that he was going to attempt to raise the mast.

He stopped by the boat about 8:30am and said we should get ready because he would be back around 9:00am.

We quickly removed the tarp and readied the boat…… And then we waited and we watched and we waited and we watched as other things were attended to, but not our mast.

At 3:00pm we gave up hope and resigned ourselves to the fact we weren’t going to get the mast up today - hopefully tomorrow!

As the temperature on the boat was now over 38C/100F we were considering putting the tarp up when there was knock on the boat hull – the yard manager was ready to raise the mast.

mast1 mast2

In.other years there were always 1 or 2 yard guys to help. This year there were none! We were on our own and the first order of business was to kick Gilligan off the boat – so that just left The Admiral to try and man handle and manoeuvre the mast.

After a sling was attached to the mast the delicate work of moving the mast sideways and forward at the same time while trying to avoid ripping the solar panel off our boat or impaling the mast in the boats parked to the front or side of us began.

As the mast dangled and danced in the sling The Admiral had to try to guide it over the edge of the boat, forwards, and sideways all at the same time. If you look at the photo on the right below you can see how close The Admiral came to the edge of the boat before almost being pulled over the side. He was trying to prevent the mast from impaling itself in the side of SV Passat! ! but finally he had to just let go and hope for the best.

It was by sheer good fortune and dumb luck that we got the mast far enough off the boat without impaling it in SV Passat!

mast3

mast4

Once the mast was clear of Bergy – dangling over the edge – it was then lifted up vertically hopefully this time not impaling it in the side of Bergy.

With the Admiral once again guiding the mast it was put in place.

When the mast was in place a fellow from another boat (not Gilligan grrrrrrrrrrrr…) was allowed on deck to help attach the shrouds and forestays (these are the cables on the front, back and sides of a boat that hold the mast in place).

Once the shrouds and forestays were attached the Admiral then had to climb the mast to remove the sling! !

mast5 mast6

4:05pm - the mast was up and we were in business
- well sort of.

Next time, our Splashdown

The Admiral and Gilligan
With a mast up - Aboard SV Bergy Bit
Bobby’s Marina Boat Yard Simpson Bay Sint Maarten

Category: Boat Work | Leave a Comment

A Mast Raising Lament… Author: Bob and Donna Mar 15

After nearly two weeks of waiting, we were reaching the end of our rope…. but miracles of miracles happened and they raised our mast.

Here is our song of celebration set to the tune of ‘On Top of Old Smokey’…..

A MAST RAISING LAMENT

We sat here on Bergy in Bobby’s Boat Yard
Where life’s not a picnic living on the hard

Our mast was still laying upon the fore deck
With hopes that the yard crew it soon would erect.

The dogs barked and scurried and rolled in the dust
Planes landed and took off creating a fuss.

So we sat and watched airplanes take off and land
Hoping that sometime they would give us a hand

For time was a wasting for all of the meek
As this coming Friday they close the yard for 6 weeks.

If we don’t get our mast up in the next seven days
There won’t be any sailing in Caribbean waves! !

We’d been here for 12 days and time it has passed
But today was a miracle for they raised our mast.

They did it with expertise, skill and dumb luck
For our mast impaled in another boat, really would have sucked.

Bergy’s mast is now standing and there’s lot’s to do
For the Admiral and Gilligan - a crew of only two

We will keep you all posted and up to date
If we make it too the water before it’s too late ….

The Admiral and Gilligan
Celebrating
Living Aboard SV Bergy Bit - Bobby’s Marina Boatyard - Simpson Bay St. Maarten

Category: Boat Work, Boat Yard Living | Leave a Comment

Living on the Hard Author: Bob and Donna Mar 12

boatyard-view A Boatyard View from Aboard Bergy Bit

Our move aboard this year was one of the smoothest unfortunately getting the boat ready came with many many frustrations.

When we arrived, Bergy had been moved from the spot where Larry and Brenda found her, by the office, to the end of the boat yard. This spot had its advantages as it was close to the washrooms, but we were parked over a huge steel I-Beam which limited access to the boat as well there was no power or water access. Not ideal for sure!

When we inquired about having the I-Beam moved we were told this spot was only temporary and before we officially moved aboard, Bergy was moved to the concrete pad along the waterfront behind a large power boat.

There was however a slight problem, they had parked us so close to the powerboat that as our mast (which was on the deck) touched the powerboat’s stern. This was very helpful when The Admiral was working on the top of the mast as he could acces it easily from the powerboat. However, it made things damn difficult when it came time to putting up the mast.

Living on the hard always proves challenging and this year was no different. Being on the concrete meant we had access to a water hose so we didn’t have to haul the 50 gallon water jugs up the ladder but we still had to haul all our grey water and of course the ‘P’ bucket down the ladder with the added challenge of always having to duck under the mast when coming out of the companion way. We also had access to power which meant we could run our two little fans - without those we would not have survived - as many days by 4:00pm it was over 35C in the boat…

Besides the unseasonably hot weather that made working inside and out on the boat unbearable (even for Gilligan), one of the biggest frustrations this year was getting the mast put up.

Most of the work we needed to do was on the deck and until the mast was up (and off the deck) we couldn’t do the work. To add to the frustration we were under a very tight schedule as March 19th the boatyard was to close for six weeks while the yard manager went on holidays and everyday the mast stayed on the deck was one day less we had to work on the boat.

I will save the raising of the mast until next time.

The Admiral and Gilligan
Enduring the HEAT
Living Aboard SV Bergy Bit - Bobby’s Marina Boatyard - Simpson Bay St. Maarten

p.s. For those who don’t know Bobby’s Boatyard is located across the road from the airport!

Category: Boat Work, Boat Yard Living | Leave a Comment

The Admiral’s List Author: Bob and Donna Apr 03

I have referred to The Admiral’s List in previous blog’s..

Besides Fixing the Rudder here are a few photos of some of the other things on the Admiral’s List!

(* f.n.s. = for non sailors)

1. Step the Mast

2. Sand the Bright Work (f.n.s. - the wooden bits….)

3. Cetol the Bright Work (Cetoling is a type of ‘varnish)

4. Anti foul the Hull (f.n.s. - this is a barrier coat of paint applied to the Hull to prevent the growth of sealife). In this Photo the Admiral is applying the Primer.

5. Clean the Dinghy

6. Launch the Dinghy

7. Fix the Steaming Light (f.n.s. - a light mid way up the mast) which required climbing the mast part way. A Steaming Light is a must if we want to sail at night! That’s the Admiral up the mast ! !.

8. Attach a new Halyard (f.n.s.- rope) and Block (f.n.s. - the pulley the rope fits through) outside the mast which required climbing the mast to the top.

Just a note - we waited for a calm evening for our friend Jan to climb the mast and attach the new halyard and block. Of course as soon as he was three quarters of the way up the wind picked up. Luckily it didn’t last too long and Jan was able to get the new halyard and block in place. According to Jan the view is spectacular from the top. Thanks Jan…..

Next Time

We are off to St. Barth’s

The Admiral and Gilligan

Aboard SV Bergy Bit