From configuring solar panels, installing watermakers to advice on the best apps for cruising, we share how-tos, tips and advice on boat maintenance and boating knowledge, covering both canal and sail boats.
In the conclusion to our series of articles about SY Esper’s complete refit in Thailand for Sailing Today, we set out the costs for the whole project. Was it worth it? When we limped into Malaysia, SY Esper was in pretty bad shape. Equipment needed replacing and she leaked like a sieve. We had three options…
Sailboat Refit Part 5: Conclusion and Costs Read Post »
Do you use Sikaflex or 3M 5200 adhesives for sealing fittings around your sailboat deck? Find out why Jamie believes butyl is best…
How to use butyl tape to seal deck fittings on a boat Read Post »
Preparations for the passage east to Alaska continue in the yard. This blogging and video channel malarkey is a real two-way street… we took your advice to retro-fit that rain-catcher onto the dodger roof. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us, you are an amazing bunch of supporters!
Fitting a rain catcher and dodger – update Read Post »
The refit of SY Esper in Satun, Thailand, was extensive but perhaps the most complex aspect was the rewiring, which included the installation of a new navigation system, new lighting and additional circuits.
Sailboat Refit Part 4: Electrics and Electronics Read Post »
One of the reasons for our visit to PSS boatyard in Satun, Thailand, was to determine what course of action we needed to take to tackle osmosis in our Oyster 435. We had dealt with the biggest blisters in the Maldives, but knew there was more work to do…
Sailboat Refit Part 3: Hull and Machine Shop Read Post »
While waiting two months for a place in the boatyard, we began to question whether we were making the right decision to replace the wooden deck. No-one we met regretted getting rid of their teak, and the marinas were full of gleaming teak-less yachts. We watched owners make short work of scrubbing their decks without worrying about damaging the grain.
Sailboat Refit Part 2: Deck Read Post »
This is the second in our series of articles about SY Esper’s complete refit in Thailand for Sailing Today magazine. The interior of SY Esper, our Oyster 435, took a beating when the saloon hatch broke open during a storm in the Indian Ocean, but the veneer had been steadily deteriorating for some time before that.
Sailboat Refit Part 1: Interior Read Post »
What will you do with the bird shit? Who cares what you call it, why not a “Boaty Brolly?” We answer your questions…
What does a job like this cost in Thailand? And how long did it take? Where do you put your removable dodger? Will we have windows, and if so where should they go? Why is the helmsman still not under cover?
“What about the bird poo?” Dodger Q&A Part 2 Read Post »
Should we raise the boom to get more space in the cockpit? Will we add hand rails? How about lighting? How removable is our removable dodger? And where is Liz going to put the glitter ball…
Building a hard dodger for a sailboat – Q&A Part 1 Read Post »
BUILDING A HARD DODGER FROM SCRATCH Pt 2: All was going well until ‘Big Boss’ decided the design looked skewiff. So off with the forward struts and back to the drawing board. It’s going to be a long process!
Building a hard dodger Part 2 Read Post »
Building a hard dodger from scratch is no easy task, but finally crunch day arrived and we had to get started on our mini boat refit. So, after a few false starts, we began working on a template with our carpenters.
Building a hard dodger Part 1 Read Post »
We will be heading into a colder climate, so this means making some big purchases and implementing some structural changes aboard Esper. The additional work and new gear is going to cost thousands of dollars, so you are probably wondering how we are going to afford to do all this…
How to prepare your boat for an ocean passage Read Post »
Does living on a boat get old? What’s it like as a western woman travelling in Muslim countries?
Does Living On A Boat Get Old And Travel Advice For Women Read Post »
The first in a series of articles on Esper’s complete refit in Thailand, originally written for Sailing Today magazine.
Sailboat Refit – Introduction Read Post »
A new word for an age-old problem: people who anchor right next to you in a bay three miles wide. No excuse for it, it comes down to lack of etiquette and politeness.
Don’t Be A Wanchor – Anchoring Etiquette And Seamanship Read Post »
