Work Continues
We are nearly ready to Splash
18 April 2022 – Captain’s Log
The final shipments of parts will land today or tomorrow, including the elusive cutlass bearings. This will bring the total to four cutlass bearings, after many setbacks and delivery delays. Who needs four cutlass bearings? Well, nobody, but circumstances forced us to go to Plan B, which became Plan C etc etc…
The first order was placed and paid for but just a couple of days later, we were informed the item was out of stock. So we requested a refund and the search began all over again. The second order, this time from a different supplier, was placed and paid, and 12 days later we were informed they had no stock. Would we accept a different brand, and receive a couple extra thrown in as an apology for the delay? Sure, but please treat this as a priority and send out as soon as possible? Sure… So the priority order was quickly dispatched, and then sat for 10 days at the courier sorting destination. Frustrated by the delay, we found another supplier, placed the order, and watched the amazing cutlass race begin.
By day 2, order #1 (from here on referred to as A) realised there was competition so finally left Sydney, on route to Malaysia. Order #2 (from here on referred to as B) left Ireland on the same day. A implemented a more direct approach strategy and flew straight into Malaysia, taking a healthy lead, while B decided on a more sight-seeing route, and travelled through France, India, China, eventually landing in Malaysia. For whatever reason, A then squandered his lead by flying back out of Malaysia and into Singapore, before flying back in again the next day. At this stage, battery charger entered the race, followed closely by cabin lights. Cabin lights ran an amazing race, finishing well before the others and battery charger caught up with everyone in Penang, Malaysia. Somehow, A then managed to steal second place while B and battery charger were sent to another sorting location, so close, that if you climbed the mast, you could probably spot them. But no movement, so they are currently awaiting delivery instructions. Nobody knows their next destination, but we remain positive.
Māia has been out of the water now for two months, which is not a problem as we want to ensure things are fixed and completed properly. Shaft seal has been replaced and the shaft has been straightened. Cutlass bearing (believe it or not) has been replaced. The gearbox has been serviced and flexible couplings have been added to the drive system. Engine mounts have been replaced and the alignment has been checked and adjusted. Batteries have been replaced and once the charger arrives, will be installed and connected for shore power. We did have some engine issues just before haul out, but this has also been taken care of.
Her bottom was sanded down to her gel coat. The entire hull was given a few layers of resin and primer, and now the guys are waiting for the splash date so they can arrange the anti-fouling.
If everything goes to plan, she should be back in the water by the time we arrive in early May.
Full video of how we bought her is now available on YouTube and reasons (as well as Pros and Cons) of buying a boat unseen will be in our next post, coming soon.
3 Comments on “Work Continues”
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Hi Nichol and ?? , Good on you for living the dream.
You have bought a great boat. I have not yet met a P38 owner current or past, that does not think that they are brilliant offshore boats. Some past owners that now have much bigger boats, lament that they ever sold their P38.
For some time I have been thinking about getting a loose network of Pacific 38 owners started without getting anything too organised or dependant on any one person. I thought the first step might be to send an email to all of the owners that I know so that everyone has each-others email addresses. My hope would be that each owner might add the email address of any P38 owners that they know of and hence build up an email address network that we can all share. However, to respect every one’s privacy I thought it best to first ask my contacts if they would like to participate. So, would you mind if I share your email address with the few P38 owners that I know of? Actually, I got the details of your website from Sven van Dulm, a reasonably recent owner.
I have had my Pacific 38 (Pau Hana) for about 10 years. I have been offshore in her a few times (NZ – Tonga and Fiji) and have a voyage, possibly to Vanuatu, planned for next year. Pau Hana has done at least 20 voyages offshore that I know of and probably a whole lot more that I don’t, so is well proven.
I do not wish to alarm you, but have you checked the chain plates. Particularly the lower shroud chainplates? I know of 3 possibly 4, P38s that have lost their masts due to chainplate failure. This is caused by crevice corrosion which may be hard to detect visually. I have now replaced all of the side-stay chain plates upper and lower on my boat. The port uppers and lowers are easy to replace although may require a bit of carpentry to some of the interior cabinets. The starboard lower chain plate configuration is particularly vulnerable at the weld where the tang that goes through the deck is welded to an H beam under the deck. (Yours may not be like this.) This is a bit trickier to replace. I added a new beam constructed with the part that goes through the deck in one piece i.e. not welded. If you wish, I can send you the drawings that I used to have this fabricated.
As I said, I do not wish to alarm you but if there is the slightest sign of water having run down the chainplate, I would suggest that you have a close look. Hopefully previous owner replaced them already. Contact me if you wish to discuss further and if you want to your email address.
For some time I have been thinking about getting a loose network of Pacific 38 owners started without getting anything too organised or dependant on any one person. I thought the first step might be to send an email to all of the owners that I know so that everyone has each-others email addresses. My hope would be that each owner might add the email address of any P38 owners that they know of and hence build up an email address network that we can all share. However, to respect every one’s privacy I thought it best to first ask my contacts if they would like to participate. So, would you mind if I share your email address with the few P38 owners that I know of? Actually, I got the details of your website from Sven van Dulm, a reasonably recent owner.
I have had my Pacific 38 (Pau Hana) for about 10 years. I have been offshore in her a few times (NZ – Tonga and Fiji) and have a voyage, possibly to Vanuatu, planned for next year. Pau Hana has done at least 20 voyages offshore that I know of and probably a whole lot more that I don’t, so is well proven.
I do not wish to alarm you, but have you checked the chain plates. Particularly the lower shroud chainplates? I know of 3 possibly 4, P38s that have lost their masts due to chainplate failure. This is caused by crevice corrosion which may be hard to detect visually. I have now replaced all of the side-stay chain plates upper and lower on my boat. The port uppers and lowers are easy to replace although may require a bit of carpentry to some of the interior cabinets. The starboard lower chain plate configuration is particularly vulnerable at the weld where the tang that goes through the deck is welded to an H beam under the deck. (Yours may not be like this.) This is a bit trickier to replace. I added a new beam constructed with the part that goes through the deck in one piece i.e. not welded. If you wish, I can send you the drawings that I used to have this fabricated.
As I said, I do not wish to alarm you but if there is the slightest sign of water having run down the chainplate, I would suggest that you have a close look. Hopefully previous owner replaced them already. Contact me if you wish to discuss further and if you want to your email address.
Hi Rob, thanks for your amazing input and comments. Please can you confirm if you have received my email?