We have been fixing a boat. The boat will head to Samoa to be our flagship for the reef and reef education ! First to fix her and get her home to chch for more work then away to the islands in 2023 May.
Patricia M
39-foot Hartley RORC.
It was time to get into a bigger boat. Something beamy, something big with good living space, good dodger, nice open deck. I wanted something that would be able to easily handle 25 to 30 knots, something cheap, one last boat around 42ft to play in before I got to my target ideal size of 50 /60 ft K1 rated boat for some international travel. My hope was to avoid paying 50 -80 k for this ship, spend in total closer to 10 k
I found her. Patricia M. I had seen her on TM in 2019. It had sold. I really kicked myself for not buying her. She sold for 3000.00. I was surprised a year later to see her online for sale again. Turns out the guy that originally won, did not pay, went aboard could not fix her, nicked a bunch of stuff and it was just a nightmare of a situation for the guy to deal with. When I messaged him, he was suspicious. Wondering if I would be a time waster. He told me a number of people would go to see the boat. In the end, well history, she because mine. For less than $6000 she became mine and I thought to myself OH wow I have a deal.
I was assured that she would just need a haul out, a scrape, a small look at the alternator, the scrape off will loose the stuck steering, she is a great boat.
Step 1. Get the boat from Kerikeri where she had been for ten years, down to Opua for a haul out. WHAT A MISSION. Only 10 or so miles but hell no one wanted to do it. To big, to hard, need two two boats, to hard to expensive etc etc. All I could think is what the heck, if I were there I would simply strap on my 100 hp runabout small boat and tow it myself I was not so sure what the big deal was. I have towed many many a boat.
- Having fun rescuing people that have engine breakdowns,
- Towing my own boats around
- Towing my mates boats around
It is tricky, but not hard. Got to find the right place to tie on, generally alongside is good. Anyhow, I found some neat guys SeaPower. They were great. He had the balls to go do the tow mission and took a helper with him. Apparently, it took about 5 hours or 6 at one knot. They finally arrived the marina ready for the haul out and I was not there! Delays! Late. Driving from Christchurch to Opua with a car full of tools and treasure, the aim to resurrect the boat get her fixed and throw her in the water sail her home. Oh little did I know that it would not be such a simple mission at all. That it would turn into the biggest money and time sucker EVER.
2. They tried to haul her out for me. Turns out the mast is moving to much, the deck has rot under the mast boot. Compressed. The mast has come down an inch. The stays are slack. That mast is going to topple down at some stage. Dangerous. I am told they will not put the boat in the yard till I sort out the mast. It was at this point I should have said LETS GET A NEW BOAT. No mast, not engine going…..instead while seeing all the doubt in the eyes of the people at the marina and all the contractors, I thought to myself ….I can sort that. If I were home, piece of piss, why not here. I used framing wood to make up a frame that would hold the mast. Organised a tow around to the public boat wharf down in central Opua. Organised a hi-ab that would pull out mast then lay it down on the deck on the brackets I made.
“Its not going to work””t he brackets wont be strong enough “”blah blah blah”
It worked of course. You lift the mast, disconnect and label wiring. Disconnect the shrouds and stays. Hope the crane does not drop it then BOOM all ready to be towed back for haul out.
3. Haul Out Time.
They stand, stare, open mouthed, wide eyed, looking surprised, disgusted, I can tell they are all wondering who the hell is going to try to do work on that shitty boat. I get the lecture from the marina people. They tell me that many people have had dreams to fix that old boat and get it going, they are all enthusiastic as I am and then they run away never to be seen again leaving an unfinished project behind.
My boat comes out. She is a farm. She is covered hard core in all sorts of sea life.
I am advised by many a concerned passersby that it is a waste of time trying to fix. It is a waste of time trying to make her sail. Best buy another boat. I know, in my mine, a 40 foot boat, going, semi ok but needing work = around 40k Any boat online I had seen in t he previous year, may have length but not the girth lol too thin, this boat, so much better….all I have to do is make her go! To be honest, the job did not seem as complicated as other jobs I have done. My car was full of tools. It would be easy enough to sort out.
While hanging out down there doing the jobs. People were generally unhelpful and mocking. There were a few good ones. Im used to that though. Normally I do projects that people think are just never going to work. Even when I was in social services, people told me the families I was to support were a waste of time. I have always come out right and this project will be no different. If only it were closer to home would be so much easier!
1. The man from customs service. He knew the dream. He had seen some other people locally do the same thing
2. The man two boats down, a K1 inspector, he had heaps of good advice and I followed it all.
3. The boat builder fixing someones boat next door, taught me or rather, told me about scarfing joints. It was good learning.
4. The lady in the office (one of them) was neat.
5. The guys at total engineering, they were good, lent me bits and pieces
6. The guys at Cater Marine were awesome too, knew lots of good old tricks.
The man from Seapower….told me the engine was seized, prop shaft wrecked, gearbox ruined. 20 k to fix. I should sell him the boat for scrap and buy one he had in the yard.
The painting crews based there, they were an odd bunch. Nice enough. One sold me antifoul in the middle of the night.
The south African man, he was interesting, said he would shoot my ropes if he heard them clanging lol
This old lady, I wish I had her blog, she had this very cute, wooden, homemade, hand crafted boat, junk rig, she was awesome.
An eclectic bunch down there.
SO, we got into it.
1. Mast was down.
a. Did running rigging, happy not to loose rope down the inside of the mast. New Main Halyard, topping lift, boom vang, lines for the roller furler, gib and sheets for main and forward sails.
b. Inspected all the attachments to the mast. All good.
c. Inspected the mast head, repaired and replaced lights to LEDs
d. Inspected the turnbuckles, replaced 2, one for the back stay and one for roller furler
e. Repaired one of the spreaders. This mast has four spreaders. Big rig. I removed rot, glassed it up, reinforced it with some steel bar. Strong as anything. Have also made two emergency spreaders and put them below. If I have a spreader break, we will be able to get up the mast in the bosuns chair and replace it temporarily, good enough to get to shore (well good enough to leave on for months)
f. Putting the mast back in, we used some magic tricks with a bucket of water to ensure that she was straight, centred.
g. We will look at running the lines to the cockpit later on for now, will be old fashioned operate from the mast.
h. The stays have all been replaced previously and in good nick. The rear stay is galvanised steel with surface rust making it ugly but still strong. The K1 inspector looked at it said it is ok. I will change it when I get home or at first sign of any fraying. Turnbuckle was replaced.
2. Deck Repair. The deck had rotted out under the mast resulting with the mast sinking an inch and then having slack stays. The risk was it would fall. The repair required that
a. We cut out ALL the rot. The beam there was compromised. The hard wood between the compression post required replacing.
b. We went to the saw mill and got a nice piece of hard wood. This sat on top of the compression post.
c. We use marine ply to build a piece on the beam, scarfing it in.
d. We used marine play to replace the hole in the deck, scarfing the edges. A MISSION O WOW
e. I then put a plate of marine ply over the entire patch
f. Then put a patch of marine ply under the beam to match the size of the plate on the deck.
g. Lots of epoxy, brass screws, fibre glass and bolts right through.
h. This patch is stronger than ever before. It is all sealed. The mast boot bolted right through to the compression post.
i. Wires pushed through the deck for the mast lights
j. Mast put back on.
k. Good job, ugly job, intention to make all the edges look pretty when I get home and make the cabin into some thing nice. The mast sat on the boat in place for one year while I was away (CoVID wrecking my plans to get back earlier) no compression and it still looks good. No leaks either.
3. Rudder Repair
a. The rudder was stuck. I could only just move it. I wanted to just throw it back in BUT the boat people I liked whispered that I should remove it and sort it. Last thing I need is to be off shore with no steering.
b. Removed the bolts holding bottom of rudder on.
c. Removed steering stock
d. Used a pole on top of the rudder shaft and a sledge hammer to bang it out. People concerned that the force would see the back end of the boat smashed off. It took 70 smacks. I tried to get the contractors to do it but no one wanted to have anything to do with it lol
e. Got the rudder out. Cut rot out. Carved some wood to fit using my wonderful sander grinder. Glued, Screwed, Glassed the patch in. Looks great, strong, the right shape.
f. Did not want to put rudder back up through the same rusty rudder tube. Had one fabricated. The old one corroded and bad. Last thing you need is for the tube to fail, leak, sink the boat.
g. The contractor did put the rudder tube in however used a compound to join the metal to the hull (ferro) that leaked. We fixed that ourselves using a two-pot epoxy concrete compound the same as you use when you fix a water tank. Sets underwater that stuff! The leak was a drip. Initial concern was that it could be a crack that may get bigger. Upon inspection the drip was a bubble of water pushing up through the tight fit gap between the tube and the hull. They had pushed the tube right through the hull to sit just above the rudder on the outside of the hull. They had used the compound they found, to seal that gap. That compound did set in the water. What we added has stopped the leak entirely. We bashed and tried to wiggle the tube so see if we could make it worse, nothing happened. I am happy with the join and have stowed more compound on board to use to seal the hole should it ever be an issue while under way. What is good is there is great easy access to this area.
h. The cockpit floor had rotted out. I replaced the floor with marine ply, glassed it in.
i. When the contractors put the tube in they lost the assembly for the steering gear. I had to fabricate new mounts for the bottom bearing. It is good. Does not move, is strong. Made from hard wood bolted through the cockpit floor. Later on I will look at having it made out of plate steel.
j. The steering is great.
k. I have an emergency tiller in case the wheel fails.
l. I have rigged a drogue that I can use for steering should we loose all steering. I have been practicing sailing steering the boat with a drogue (down south on Delight)
4. HULL
a. We scraped it for five days 18 hours scrape scrape scrape. The builders would say keep scraping so we would keep scraping. The hull was smoother than any hull I have ever had. I know every inch of the hull.
b. The keel had lost a bit of concrete. We dug it out. Patched it with the two pot concrete mix after a lime wash and acid wash. It is stuck hard dry and good.
c. The second hole was dug out to clean steel, new steel tied in. Acid washed, lime wash, then the epoxy mix applied.
d. The boat is launched with no leaks aside from the leak fixed by the rudder tube.
5. Lights it is good to see so I got to work lighting her up
a. Two deck wash lights on the spreaders
b. One deck wash from the dodger forward
c. Four spotlights through the cabin to light the entire ship up in case we ever have to fix some thing in the dark
d. One big light to light up the cockpit
e. Then repaired all original lights through the boat, multiple reading lights and working lights
f. All nav lights repaired replaced
g. Masthead light replaced
6. Pumps are good for moving water
a. Installed 4700 gph pump on auto switch in the bilge
b. Two back up 2000 gph pumps
c. Two spare pumps under the bed
d. New pump on the hose from water tank to galley
e. Fixed pump for the sump for the shower
7. Head – it is good to go to the toilet
a. Examined the head to find it goes to a holding tank
b. Holding tank can be emptied via big pump
c. Cleaned all hoses and replaced spent hose clips
d. Toilet goes good
8. Through Hull Fittings my fear was that one would disintegrate and sink the ship
a. Taps and through hull fittings and hoses examined in galley, head, head intake, cockpit drains and exhaust and engine intake and bilge pump through hulls.
b. Bungs carved up for each through hull in case of failure and tied onto the tap
c. Tap at galley replaced. All others fine apart from the exhaust one which is seized open. To be replaced later. Sits above water line, has flap, is fine how it is. Worst case is that the back of boat gets low, water travels up the exhaust to flood engine. Unlikely given the design of the new exhaust
9. POWER need power
a. New starter battery
b. New house bank installed four batteries on charge via new solar panel with controller installed to prevent over charging. This bank also is charged by the engine
c. Old house bank battery replaced and second battery added. Solar panel that charges this replaced. This bank is charged by the engine too
d. Nav gear and lights and emergency lights / deck wash lights all supplied by new battery bank on new circuits I wired in.
e. House lights, stereo and non-essential gear run off the original battery bank.
f. Spare solar panel stowed – a three fold portable job. This in case other panels are washed away. This can run VHF
10. VHF the old one has an ariel at the top of the mast. It goes good. Second one installed with ariel stowed below. In case we loose mast we have a second VHF with arial that has a mount on deck. This can be run off the solar panel and spare battery stowed in top of wardrobe in a dry bag. Call me paranoid but im not getting stuck anywhere without a radio and two epirbs!
11. Life Line – a rule explicit in the boat manual I wrote, states that when ever going forward out of harbour limits, the person will have life jacket with harness and be clipped in. We have installed wire rope down both sides of the boat, secured through the deck with stainless eyelets with big square washers underneath. These are built to hold LOTS of weight to help prevent man over board situation.
12. Store Fuel. We have 200 litres of spare diesel on deck. Through deck eyelets allow us to strap the diesel on the deck. It is very secure.
13. Life Raft: We have a new 4 person life raft with supplies inside stowed on deck. This is attached over kill with 6 strops to through deck fittings. It is not going to get washed overboard without taking the concrete deck with it. A second 30 person life raft is tied to the deck under the mast this will be deployed for fun when we get home. I purchased it within 6 months of its expiry, it is not 18 months past expiry. It is a toy but I want the capsule as will make great deck storage later.
14. THE ENGINE AND STUFF
a. We have a 40 hp perkins. A paragon gear box.
b. Stern gland replaced, thrust bearing replaced. Prop shaft removed and serviced.
c. Gearbox oil changed.
d. Mechanic ran the engine it is good to go. He then had to rebuild the exhaust as it did disintegrate when he tested the engine
e. Fuel filters replaced. Return lines replaced. Injectors replaced. Starter, solenoid, alternator replaced and rewired. Waterpump tested. Spare impellor on board.
f. Original fuel tanks suspect. Rigged engine to draw from a 50 litre new plastic tank running a 5psi pump to feed fuel to the engine.
g. As yet we could not get the engine to start mechanic to busy to come by. In the meantime have sent the injector pump to be serviced, he will install and do timing and make engine go so when we go back to transport her home, the engine will be sweet running.
15. Refrigeration – to keep food stores good, we have a fridge freezer on board. Electric. It runs well off the battery bank and the solar panel does keep up with is. Added power from running the engine will see that it keeps things cold.
16. Cooking – the oven has been cleaned and gas leak detector installed. Stove and oven work well. I am going to bake cakes. But I am on a diet.
17. Windows : paranoid about loosing windows in a storm I have made ply wood covers for all windows stowed under the beds. Plywood panels have also been made to put over the cockpit entrance in case of storm, prep for capsizing. In the event we have retreated inside or there is a lot of water coming into the cockpit, the doors and windows can be made secure. When examining the windows however, they are installed with very good design. At least two inches of wooden frame holding the thick windows in. No rot. All sealed. No leak. Wooden covers have also been made to cover all the holes in deck for ventilation.
18. Securing things : Paranoid about hatches blowing away or getting smashed away I have strengthened all areas where there are hinges and latches. That’s on forward and back hatch and also the covers for engine. If upside down, it must not fly away. Netting is installed on all open storage, no cans hitting me in the head and no cabin full of shit should we get a knock down. Everything is secure including the new battery bank which is well above the water line and well vented.
In my view this boat is pretty ready. Once she is home and we make her pretty inside, she will be a very nice boat. Looking forward to sailing her for trials in the Bay of Islands, then onward to Auckland after checking out the coastline past Whangarei. (unless weather sees us having to go up around the top and down the west coast of the north island and through Cook Straight. On this trip it will be the Straight or East Cape that is to be watched and planned around. I am aiming for weather hopefully 8 – 17 knots. 20-25 is ok but would rather not. 25-35 I have done but would rather not so picking weather and taking our time down the coast will be most important. Ensuring there is enough diesel, food, water is paramount.
Safety Gear
1. Life Raft
2. 2 coastal sets of flares
3. 2 epribs
4. 2 VHF
5. Cell phones
6. Sat Phone
7. 2 Chart plotters
8. Hand held GPS and charts
9. Weather by Windy.com and also have predict wind and predict wind plotting to give me some clues
10. Two hand held vhf
11. Storm sail, three reefs set up in main,
12. Drogue and Sea anchor
13. Spare forward sails
14. Sail repair kit and spare sail cloth
15. Buckets !
16. Four fire extinguishers
17. Life jackets and tethers
18. Wet weather gear
19. Hand bilge pump
20. Full set of mechanical tools
21. Spare engine belts
22. Spare oil
23. Drill, hand saw, saber saw, grinder, impact driver and fibre glass, screws, nails, bolts, spare shackles, pulleys, framing wood x 20 meters and plywood for repairs.
I want Iridium Go which will give us internet and allow live weather updates.
Maybe for later or maybe for this trip.
So the plan is that this boat, will sail from OPUA down the coast to Lyttleton. We will then make her pretty and find anything else to fix. We will then plan a circumnavigation of NZ with drones and make a wonderful video. Visiting bays and harbours anchoring all the way.
Sexy Patricia M
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