Category Archives: Repairs

Beautification and Maintence

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As sugar shack is a boat, there is always something to do, maintence or repairs or modifications to make her more home. These last few months in St Lucia were no different. The difference between us and full time cruisers is we go back to work and let someone else take care of the chores. And trust that they get done correctly. Rodney Bay marina is run by Edwin, who used to run the yard, and always took great care of us and have definitely earned our trust. The new yard manager is Frederic and he is no different. They are always available to answer emails and questions and to make sure things get done on time/budget/schedule. Thats not to say its always ahead of time, but its is island time after all.

This trip, they hauled the shack out of the water and put a fresh coat of Island 44 bottom paint on her so she should be good to go for a while. This time Christine wanted red so the bottom of the boat changed from blue to red, course most is underwater so you will only see it when swimming at anchor.

While she was out of water they also washed/waxed and polished her, so we should just have to rinse her off a bit and be underway after getting some provisions and gasoline for the dingy.

We also had some wood work rejuvenated, the teak on the sugar scoops should be updated and the few places that were varnished revarnished. We were going to have the cockpit table redone as well, but waited a little too long to start that project and it wouldn’t be done in time for us leave the island. We shall see how that work turned out, we got photos of the polish and bottom job along the way, but never asked for or received the wood work photos.

We also had a cap tube filter installed on the freezer. We had a dickens of time tracking down the right guy to do that work. Finally when I was there in February, I made contact with Prudent, the expert, as I was just about to leave for the airport. We had the boat put back in the water 3 weeks ago, so that the freezer work could be done, Prudent is a super nice guy and eventually got the work done, yesterday morning. So much for leaving it running and testing it out as our original plan was, but hopefully the educated guess of what was up with the keel cooler and capillary tube will go well. The boat has to be in the water to use the freezer and refrigerator as they use the ocean water to cool off the compressed gas that makes the freezer cool.

A little more than an hour till touch down, its along way down, but the water is blue and the bahamas water sure is beautiful.

More boat chores accomplished

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Another sweet day in Saint Lucia or lucifer according to some folks who can’t remember the correct name.

Got up early and went walking around the docks and boat yard. Found out that Magnificat was still in the yard and there is lots of room for more boats. Hopefully they’ll put the shack over there sooner than later as the marina is growing some good stuff at the waterline.

Twas a Sunday so most every thing is closed. Shawn went for a run I changed out the fuel filters and cleaned the bowls. Made a good mess in the port side so the majority of the time was cleaning up some spilled diesel. The starboard side was a piece of cake with a little help from Shawn turning on and off the fuel at the tanks.

That left a lot of day light and a search for some thing else to tinker with. I had brought a remote for the windless a few trips ago and it is now installed and operational. We can now use a remote control out on the bow to raise and lower the anchor.

Sent Regis an update on the freezer as it finally pulled its thing. Frost was gone and compressor running.

Started putting some stuff away for the enevitable return home to Austin. Decided to go over to Mikes for a cold beer. We used the pulley bridges even tho Mikes was closed so it was back to the Boardwalk bar at the marina.

Wanted to try something a bit different for dinner than the Marina complex so we wandered out and to the left. Up the hill by the Shell station there is a place called El Rey that turned out lovely and had a nice jam session of drummers showing their skills. Dinner was really good and more like local prices. We will have to go back there in April.

Stopped at the boardwalk on the way home and watched the Kaos. A English bunch had obviously been there a while and the loud ones. Quite entertaining tho.

Slept on the trampoline till I was rudely awakend by a short drizzle.

Departure day and every thing is open

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Up earlyish Shawn had already left for a run. I was too early for the marina, Regis, and island water world. They didnt open up till 8:30.

Found Shawn retuning for his run and wandered about a bit till the stores started opening up. Island water world to restock the fuel filers and 2 cycle oil and a nice big thing of corrosionX. In April when return it’ll be a Saturday and then everything is closed on Sunday so figured it was now or have to wait till Monday to get stuff.

Found John at Regis, he had replied to my email and wanted to know if the compressor was running. So I went. Ack to check on it after stopping by the marina to see the main man who hadnt shown up yet.

Finally Regis hooked me up with Prudent the local refrigerator guys contact information. First call went in answered but was able to make contact when we only had about an hour before the taxi was to show up. We need to coordinate with him but he knows the issue well with the system and said if we had called on Saturday we would be fixed by now but since the boat will be hauls out and he wants to leave it running for a while after the evac and recharge will do so when we get put back in the water. Finally a light at the end of the freezer tunnel.

Also hooked up with Edwin and he said they’d get a move on things later this week or next.

Different Taxi guy showed up and another sailor needed a rude to the airport as well so we shared our cab with her. They are using the fiberglass man that gave us the quote for some work on their monohull as they had heard good things too.

The teak guy came back with the quote was a bit higher than Grenada so probably gonna pass for now.

Off to the airport. Little over 2hrs to get from Rodney Bay Marina and all checked in through customs and the trek home begins with a stop in Miami and Houston before the drive back to central Texas.

The lady at customs said I looked sad. I told her it was because I was leaving but she shouldn’t worry as there are lots st Lucia stamps in my passport and would be back soon.