Palma Shipyard Report 2
We have now been in Palma for 1 month. The yacht is in many pieces with repairs being undertaken all around the boat. The crew have been busy cleaning all the fittings for the mast so that they are all ready to go back on when the masts and rigging are put back together. They have also been cleaning the inside of all the saltwater pipes in the engine room, treating the corrosion, priming them and getting ready to apply antifoul paint to them to prevent barnacles from growing and blocking them. We have had the ABS ( American Bureau of Shipping) surveyor on doing a 2.5 year survey. One of the things he is checking is the through hull fittings and all the valves for these. We have had to remove all of these valves and clean them before they are tested to ensure they seal. If not, they have to be replaced.
Through hull valves
The engine room is in pieces with the port generator out for service and the variable pitch prop (VPP) control box and gearbox are also out being serviced.
The engine room without the port generator.
The main salon has turned into a storage area with space being a premium as so many areas have been emptied to make room for works.
Mrs G’s cabin is in pieces to gain access to the stern thruster which needed bearings replaced.
This is the stern thruster from the outside where it has been lowered to remove the motor for servicing.
We have contractors doing paint repairs to the swim platform. This is a slow process where they have to grind out any corrosion in the aluminium then coat it with primer. Then they have to fill and fair it back to a smooth surface and prime the filler. Then they sand it again before painting a top coat.
This shows some of the areas which are now at the filler stage.
On the right is the hole where the passerelle normally lives. It is out for a full service of all the hydraulic rams and to be painted.
Swim platform door having paint repairs.
The painters also have built another tent over the masts and are busy working on repairing any small dings in them before painting starts.
This tent is 55m x 8m (180’ x 26’) to fit 2 masts, 2 booms, spreaders, Sat domes and radar cages.
Penny’s galley is also getting some attention after 12 years of use. It is getting re-varnished.
All the doors and draws have been removed to be sprayed in a spray booth. They are now covering all the surfaces they don’t want to spray varnish on. It will need a lot of degreasing and a light sand before they can start varnishing.
We have another 6 weeks in Palma before we have to leave for the Caribbean. As you can see we have a lot on and a very big jigsaw to put back together.
