We made our run down the east side of imposing Tarutao, one of Thailand’s largest islands and the country’s first national marine park. Once a penal colony, it was the perfect place to cast away undesirables. With its unforgiving tropical rainforest, strong tidal currents and fierce salt-water crocodiles escape would have been impossible.
Groundhog Day: Back to PSS Ship yard for repairs Read Post »
As you can imagine, when we dropped the hook in Bass Harbour, Langkawi, 25 miles away from PSS Shipyard, we did absolutely nothing for a whole week. It was bliss.
Esper – Post Refit First Look Read Post »
Finally, after one year and one month in the yard, Esper launches!
Esper Refit 53-55 – Esper Launches! Read Post »
Would you believe it? More to the point, would we have believed it? One year in the boatyard calls for a party. Plus there’s some much-requested boat updates in the video clip, which also covers a rather strange phenomenon in the yard.
Esper Refit 50-52 – one year in the yard! Portabote improvements; interior carpentry Read Post »
2015 and we’re close to hitting a year in the yard. For those of you asking why we don’t just leave and finish the jobs at anchor, Liz has her answer in this week’s video clip.
Esper Refit 47-49 – festivities; rudder design; more carpentry Read Post »
As Christmas approaches we are inundated with rain, rain and more rain. It’s just like being back in the UK! We still had fun, attending a Burmese wedding and rehousing some little animals.
Esper Refit 46 – Christmas Special Read Post »
Yes, you read that title right. Esper has finally been revealed to the outside world and we witness the first ray of sunshine on that beautiful shiny hull, and we even got the masts up, though not without a headache or two.
Esper Refit 45 – tent down, masts up, davits on Read Post »
We said goodbye to s/y Totem this week but not before Behan pulls off an amazing fund-raiser for the workers kids. We also visit the workers’ homes next to the boatyard.
Esper Refit 43-44 – Totem’s fund raiser; bow roller installed Read Post »
This week’s video clip is a cracking one. The younger crew from s/y Totem spend a week project managing Esper’s refit, discuss life in the boatyard and adopt, albeit temporarily, three lost kittens.
Esper Refit 41-42 – welding rodents; bow roller; Millie in hospital Read Post »
It’s been a busy week both in the boatyard and in Satun town. We’ve finally extended our pushpit, and we were invited to the Loi Kathrong full-moon lantern festival and the ordination of a young monk.
Esper Refit 40 – pushpit extension; buat ordination; loi kathrong Read Post »
This week’s video clip is a cracking one. The younger crew from s/y Totem spend a week project managing Esper’s refit, discuss life in the boatyard and adopt, albeit temporarily, three lost kittens.
Esper Refit 39 – Totem crew take over; life in the boatyard Read Post »
The swimming platform is pushed through the transom and into custom-made brackets, counterpoising it. We clean up the Aquadrive and coupling system and take a look at the veneer that’s been varnished with polyurethane.
Esper Refit 38 – swim platform brackets; installing the rudder Read Post »
In this week’s refit video we show you how we bedded down our genoa track with butyl tape. No Sikaflex, no 3M, no polyurethane adhesive, just tape. Also I get to hang out with the locals, now that I’m fully entrenched in my new abode.
Esper Refit 37 – how to bed a genoa track with butyl tape; rudder doesn’t fit Read Post »
It’s a short one this week since it was Eid and our workers took most of the week off. All except Nut, that is. He’s made real progress with the mains/charging circuit.
Dang the varnisher’s back, as are the electricians. The sparkies have finally installed the LED dimmer switch and it looks good. Dang is preparing the boat for its last coat of varnishing whilst I remove the old stuffing box in preparation for the new PSS Dripless Seal.
Esper Refit 35 – PSS Dripless Seal; LED Dimmer Read Post »
