Weeks of agonising work trying to understand our steering system failure, we finally managed to drop the rudder in readiness for repairs and replacement parts
How To Repair A Steering System Far From Home Read Post »
While Jamie was down below, dealing with the most challenging sailboat repair he’d ever faced, Liz heard an enormous bang-clatter-wallop through the hull…
The Most Challenging Sailboat Repair Of All Time? Part 2 Read Post »
We spent most of week three whacking the fitting to budge the rudder. It turned out to be the most challenging sailboat repair since we bought our boat!
The Most Challenging Sailboat Repair Of All Time? Part 1 Read Post »
Sourcing boat parts in remote places. Anchored off a remote island and your engine fails, what do you do? How do you source an engine part? Or fuel? Maybe you need water…
Sourcing Boat Parts in Remote Places Read Post »
What to do while you wait for… engine parts? the wind to change? your visas to arrive? the storm to blow over? Has anyone done a study on the amount of time cruisers spend waiting? What do you do while
What to do while you wait Read Post »
What is the worst job on a sailboat? There are as many worst jobs as there are sailors, but one job stands head and shoulders above the rest.
10 Worst Jobs on a Sailboat Read Post »
The engine had been knocking for around 1000nm and had played havoc with Jamie’s anxiety. Now we had the chance to identify that problem.
Why Is The Engine Knocking? Read Post »
Every sailor will tell you that when you are preparing to cast off the lines, there is never enough time. So with mostly technical and marine systems to service before we leave, it was a pleasant contrast to watch our galley and head renovation come together.
Renovation and Repair Read Post »
“I believe you are the bravest, most courageous cruisers… Any advice on how I can get braver?” Susan King, FTBMate
How to repair a dinghy leak? Are you sure you are using the best glue? Is your method correct? And we wonder if it’s better to be in the USA right now.
How to repair a dinghy leak Read Post »
…there were just a few jobs to finish before we could start applying the anti-foul. The idea was to get the shaft and whole drive system back in place, but the exercise was proving more difficult that we had anticipated…
Is your shaft bent? Read Post »
We need to time our arrival at Miri Marina perfectly. There is a sand bar a mile wide in front of the entrance, which is treacherous to sail in any kind of swell…
After an eventful crossing, we arrive in Borneo! Read Post »
We undertook a complete refit of SY Esper in 2014. We were told it would take three months, BUT we knew it would probably be six months. Pretty soon nine months seemed optimistic, then as we kept adding new jobs we reached a year! In February 2015 we left PSS Shipyard with what was almost a brand new boat. Here’s the whole refit squished down to a couple of minutes.
Boat Refit: One year in two minutes Read Post »
Apart from the deep joy of discovering that our engine has seized, it feels like some kind of nautical episode of ‘Back to the Future’ here on SY Esper
Our regular Sailing Log Diary on YouTube–which out of necessity runs a few months behind real time–shows Jamie sailing alone in Thailand with Liz back in the UK looking after her ailing mum. And yet, right now, Liz has just returned from her >second visit home to tend to Dottie while Jamie has been solo-sailing in Thailand.
In the words of Shirley Bassey and the Propellerheads , “…it’s all just a little bit of history repeating…”
Engine seized! Sailing in paradise… Read Post »
Liz was doing the payroll the other week and as she went through the carpenters’ names, Pong, Ton and Tui, she giggled to herself. Isn’t that a cartoon dog that does kung fu? Here’s our video dedication to our hard-working family of wood-workers…
Esper Refit 6 – removing a dorade vent; white vine veneer Read Post »
