Even after all this time, it’s amazing how many of the details we both retain about the refit. In part three we cover the whole of the interior work, including all carpentry, re-wiring and electronics.
Total sailboat refit revisited: Part 3 (of 4) Read Post »
There’s a lot of grinding and faring to be finished before we can apply the paint. But what do you do when the head painter gambles the money away and goes AWOL?
Total sailboat refit revisited: Part 2 (of 4) 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 Pt 3: HULL & MACHINE SHOP 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 Pt 1: INTERIOR Read Post »
The first in a series of articles on Esper’s complete refit in Thailand, originally written for Sailing Today magazine. We are reproducing the original articles on FTB complete with new photographs… Remaining on a pontoon in India for two years, despite basic servicing and upkeep, had led to some general deterioration of our boat. But for SY Esper to stand a chance of completing a passage to South Africa, she needed to be in the best possible shape. So we spent a full season planning, servicing and preparing.
SAILBOAT REFIT: INTRODUCTION 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 »
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 »
