Saturday, 16 February 2013

Preparations for the cruising year ahead

Spectacular colours of Hout Bay
Passage planning to continue chasing sunsets. purchasing charts, cruising guides and pilots. Perusing Google earth, noonsite and wikipedia on destinations.

Work on the boat.
Maintenance on the boat - a lot of money was poured into the hole in the water which Sadiqi currently occupies. The strong Aussie dollar and the weaker South African Rand has helped considerably with upgrades or replacement of equipment on the boat. This has included a new anchor and chain. The divorce from the old SQR anchor called B-Anchor, frequently referring to a female dog was a relief! However, it would appear the separation was painful, as I was unable even to give the bloody thing away. Roxy the new Rocna anchor looks and behaves more like she is up the for task of keeping the boat attached to the seabed. 


Being on a marina in Hout Bay has helped considerably with getting boat jobs done. This is the first time that Sadiqi has been in a marina for longer than a week since leaving Australia in 2010. The generosity, advice and help given by people at the Hout Bay marina has been exceptional. A special thanks go to Anna, Penny, Saskia, John, Loki, Peter and Alan to name a few.

Marine suppliers and services around Cape Town:
Listed below are some of the supplies visited while in Cape Town. Ask for a discount and sometimes it's given. If claiming 14% VAT back from SARS, ensure you have your home address and boat name printed on the invoice.

Seaport Supply
Yacht Chandlery
40 Paarden Eiland Road, Paarden Eiland
web: www.seaport.co.za
email: info@seaport.co.za
phone: +27 (21) 510-6262

SMD Communications
C-Map charts, Standard Horizon Radio, etc
53 Paarden Eiland Rd, Paarden Eiland
web: www.smd-comnav.com/
phone: +27 (0)21 511 0556

Topfast
Bolts and fastening etc.
75 Carlilse Street, Paarden Eiland 7405
web: www.topfast.co.za
email: sales@topfast.co.za
phone: 021 5114477

Southern Ropes
48 Section Street, Paarden Eiland
web www.southernropes.com
phone: +27 21-5107335

Jotan Paints
Antifoul paint etc.
5 Wessex St, Paarden Eiland
web: www.jotun.com
phone: +27 021 151 04921

Communica
Electronics
108 Albert Road, Woodstock
web: www.communica.co.za
email: salesct@communica.co.za
phone: +27 021 447 0949

Central Boating
Yacht chandlery
85 Bree Street, Cape Town
web: www.centralboating.com
email: sales@centralboating.co.za
phone: 021 424 8026

Southern Power Products
Volvo penta
web: www.southernpower.co.za
phone: 021 511 0653

Chart World
25a Coxregate Square
1 Harbour Road, Foreshore
phone: 021 419 8814

Listed below are some of the jobs that were done on the boat while in South Africa. This is more for the skippers benefit in years to come to remember what was done. A lesson learned about procrastination. Finding a task that is arduous enough that all other tasks will be completed before it. In the skippers case this task was driving the sewing machine, or more to the point doing the preparation work before driving the sewing machine. The sewing machine sat brooding on the saloon table taunting the skipper for weeks prior to the skipper finally having the courage to use it again. In the interim many other jobs on the boat were completed as the following list will attest.

Electronics wiring for TackTick, VHF/AIS, Radar and Chartplotter
Check Medical box.
Check/replace Flares.
Whale flipper pump for the galley.
Fairleads for stern cleats.
Pad eye flush deck x 4.
Courtesy flags for countries to be visited.

Repair mainsheet Harken block
Replacing luff tape on both mainsails (1 spare).
Replace boom topping lift.
Replace bolts and larger washers fore and aft mooring cleats - reinforce.
Reposition Navigation Stern Light.
Anchor Windlass  wash oil & reseal.
Main sheet traveller beef up with stainless steel brackets.
Drinking water bladders remove and wash.
New larger eclectic Bilge Pump.
Fwd port windows reseal.
Forehatch repair and reseal.
Winches clean & service.

Replace Comar AIS with Standard Horizon GX2150 VHF/AIS/DSC.
Fit cockpit external speaker  for VHF.
NMEA USB adapter.
New NMEA junction box connection.
C-map Max Electronic Charts  SA-M504  S America S Caribbean.
Paper charts for Atlantic, Central America and Pacific.
Spare VHF Antenna.

Engine Alignment.
Volvo Penta spares: seals, head gasket, fuel pump, water pump.
Replace Fuel breather hose.
Replace Exhaust hose 38mm.
Replace Fuel hose 1200 x 38mm.
Replace engine cooling hose 20mm.
Replace Hose claps   38mm hose.
Outboard Mercury service and clean.
Generator Honda service.

Anchor chain  8mm  30 metres.
New Rocna 15Kg anchor.
Regalvanise Admiralty anchor.
New Anchor warp for Admiralty Anchor.
Splicing multi plat nylon rope to chain.

Sewing jobs:
Fix windbreaks
Dodger resew with UV resistant thread.
Leather chafe guard.
Repair cockpit weather sheets.
Leather chafe for dodger.
Various other jobs.