Frustration with the Boatyard

Eclipse needed some work. That was clear to see.  Her decks, once fabulously new teak was getting tired and the cost of caulking to plug up the leaks wasn’t viable in the long term. 

The teak had been drilled and bolted to the deck and so any little leak turned into a drip.  With so many planks, the deck was more colander than a roof and so I decided to have the deck replaced with a synthetic version. Cooler, less maintenance and most importantly, leak-free (almost).

As Eclipse needed to come out of the water anyway, I thought a coat of paint would also be in order. And if you are spending that much time ‘out on the hard’ then let’s have the old BMC 1.5 engine out and replace it with something that would be more reliable and reparable when I am overseas. 

So with an extant quote and a few days to get alternatives in and prices for the paint and engine, the decision was made. 

Eclipse would be going to Cardiff Marine Services in March 2018 and the work would take about 4 months! Great news…That would give me 9 months to complete the interior and make a comfortable and ship-shaped yet for my sailing adventure. 

So March came and nearly went with the first delay. The shed that was going to be Eclipse’s home for 4 months wasn’t ready.  But it was close, so we agreed Eclipse would move to the Cardiff marine from her friendly berth in Penarth and be out as soon as the shed was completed.

Weeks passed and she remained alongside in the water.  Eventually, in May she was out, but not in her place in the new shed, but in the yard.

No actual progress just a relocation and the mast down.

Then the deck started to be removed…Still outside and I subsequently found out, not covered.  So the work that had been done inside was now ruined and I had taken a step back.

Eventually, we got into the shed, deck off and the resealing and fairing of the top sides began.  You would think that with good grade mahogany below decks, that there would be some covers to stop the bolts that had been cut off and the compounds used wouldn’t damage the inside.  You would think so but to quote Lord Melchett…’Au contraire Blackadder’.  

I was told that the inside would be cleaned and the whole boat detailed before it was finished…(Yes I’m still waiting).

So we progressed.  In short, the list of works completed was:

Transom timbers replaced – Excellent job done by the chippy, thank you.

Gunwhale varnished – varnish great, marking 4/10 for effort.

Removal of teak – It was removed but the mess! I’m still finding half bolts in nooks an crannies.

Replacement of teak with Dek-King – Patterning great, although some of the material has flaws in it, and you would think those flaws would have been placed further from eyeshot…not in the companionway to annoy the owner. And you think that the spilled drops of compound would have been cleaned up. Insert Melchett quote again!!!  Perhaps that will happen in the detailing (that still hasn’t happened). 

Addendum – I have started to see areas where the bonding hasn’t fully taken and the deck has ‘blisters’.  Still awaiting comment back from the yard on that one…But it has only been a week…Dek-King has been helpful and tell me the yard has a good reputation.

Engine – This will be a rant on its own. The engine came in through a hole cut in the deck. It is a tight squeeze lengthwise and so bulkheads have been cut to gain access to elements…The hole remains! there was a random piece of fibreglass panel that looked like it might be fitted in the future…But in the interim, the hole remains.

Deck fittings – all replaced and some new ones look great…But the anchor windless was broken during the unfitting and was not replaced.  I can only assume that replacing the full complement of boat parts isn’t covered in a refit (perhaps it’s not called a refit!).  Interestingly I wasn’t advised of the damage to the windless…So this has gone on the list of faults to be rectified by someone.

Rigging – refitted and with some changes that work well.  Although I was surprised to find that the gooseneck bolt was just hanging free. Potentially very dangerous.  Fortunately, I spotted it…It was fairly obvious.  Fortunately, the helpful chaps at Team Marine in Penarth helped me craft a new stainless rod with threads to replace the half-arsed attempt at a  bolt left hanging in the gooseneck.

So after 13 months I am still waiting for the detailing to be completed, the final walkthrough to be done and any sort of formal handover.

I have conducted my own sea trials and found some further problems and I am sat in another port talking to the Betamarine agent and suppliers myself as the yard seem not to want to contact me.

And breathe.

So in summary, a 4-month project took 13 months and is still not finished.  Some elements have been extremely well done…others including the project management and communication has not.

Thank you to the one or two nameless craftsmen who have done an outstanding job.

Let’s see how the rest of the team handle my ongoing issues.

Rant partially over…