Repairs on a boat have an uncanny tendency to multiply and drag on. You touch one thing, and another whatchyamaccallit pops up or some unforeseen delay happens to spoil your day. Every day on the hard costs you money and it is a real skill to chase tradies and get things completed, without getting them off side. Fortunately Wade does that nicely.
We have managed to get everything done and are back in the water after just over two weeks at the Boat Works. So what have we been up to?
The nets
We completed the installation of our new nets! What a hard job that was: we were at it for nearly three days in full sun and 38 degree heat, precarious too with the height off the ground! Our nets are made of polyester mesh, threaded through fibreglass battens and are laced to an aluminium frame with dyneema cord. We bought a large 5m x 4m length of polyester netting to do the job and used our hot gun to cut each tramp to size.
Once you take the old net off, you have to thread the battens through each edge of the new net (three straight sides, one curved), use copious amounts of cable ties to temporarily hold the net in place, stretch the net as you go so it does not sag, and emit lots of old people’s noises for good measure. Then it is time to lace the edges with the dyneema cord, a painfully slow process. Let’s hope we don’t have to do this again in a hurry!
The escape hatch
Our shipwright at 143 Boat Building completed the repair to the moulding around our escape hatch. It is back into place, properly affixed to the hull, and repainted. The other escape hatch was thoroughly checked, but it was all good – if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! However, having heard horror stories about catamarans sinking after an escape hatch failure, we have asked our shipwright to make us an emergency kit to patch the hole and make us watertight should one of the hatches give way.
Spray painting
We had scratched the inside of one hull with the dinghy outboard propeller, and it really irked us. And then some stink boat who had anchored too close to us put a ding on the outside of the hull at Paradise Point – that was it: can’t have Anui looking battered; all scratches had to go! Thanks to gun painter Geoff who normally works on luxury yachts for being even more fastidious than we are! We were referred to him by our shipwright. He did a superb job: we can’t see where he has been. Wish we had used him on previous touch ups! We know who to go to in future.
The sail drive
A phone call from the mechanic in Brisbane – Matt at CMA Marine – put a smile on our faces: he had completed the repair to the sail drive and it was delivered back to Marine Mechanical Solutions at The Boat Works on Thursday for installation! Reconnecting the engine to the sail drive and finishing the rest of the work on the engines took longer than hoped, but that’s the way it goes! No more hole in the port hull and no more freaking out when we can’t engage the reverse gear as we approach something hard! We now have two functioning sail drives even if this cost us a small fortune. We have been told to be firm with the gear changes… none of this gentle easing into forward or reverse which apparently wears out the dog clutch – same thing with a cone clutch. Engage the gear like you mean it! It is counter intuitive, but there you go!
Rubbing strips
Choice Stainless Steel installed the rubbing strips on the sugar scoops and the top of the dagger boards. The compound curve on the outside edge of the boat is a difficult precision job, which took longer than hoped, but each side is now well protected. Although the guys needed a lot of chasing, they did an excellent job!
Repaired boom bag
Our boom bag is repaired, reinforced and has been tested on animals. Bengie approves!
Rigging
The crucial job of replacing the lower tangs on the rigging was done on Monday morning by Scott Keogh of SK Yacht Rigging. It was a bit close to the deadline, but we got there! Scott also changed the set up of our prodder so we can easily fold it up if we go into a marina, and checked the whole rig, declaring it sound. Now we have the green light to push Anui a bit more… “You should easily do 20 knots boat speed” said the rigger and marine surveyor. This seems a little scary to us, but we expect to beat our current speed record of 13.5!
The big shampoo
Anui was very grubby after two weeks in the boat yard: lots of anti-foul dust from all the boats being sanded in the yard, ash from the fires… It was a right mess. So we scrubbed and scrubbed on our hands and knees, got rid of rust stains, polished the stainless steel fittings and the white shiny top sides and sprayed her clean. It was an excuse for cooling off in the heat! And the dinghy got a scrub too.
Finally back in the water
We were originally scheduled to get back in the water on Monday afternoon but needed an extra day for all the work to be completed so splash back happened Tuesday 19th November.
Both engines and sail drives were checked by the mechanic as soon as we were in the water, to ensure all was as it should be! No leaks, and what a difference with the gears!
So that’s it for this year’s maintenance. Wade has a medical procedure today, I leave the country for France on Friday to be with my Dad and on Sunday or Monday Wade will start heading south to Melbourne with Greg while the northerlies are still blowing! Wish us all luck… We will try to keep you posted on what is happening at both ends of the world, but no promise!
Sv-Anui 
Have a safe trip to France, I hope Wade is OK. Anui looks so beautiful all shined up, wow!! ❤️😎
Thanks John – Anui is in the best condition possible for a 20 year old lady. We are very pleased.
At 20, a young lady is in her prime 😉
And it seems that Anui at that age is looking wonderful too!
I like that, Murray!
Enjoyed reading about all the jobs and particularly liked the labels on the picture of the netting installation
Thanks for making it easy to see how you did it.
Hi Robert – glad it helped. We had a few people needing to redo their nets visit us to check out what we did.
Enjoy your time in France–I know that I am–although you are coming here for very different reasons. Stay safe.
Thanks Mike. I am going with a more positive frame of mind as my Dad is a little better and looking forward to my arrival.
Awesome work you guys. I’m sure the whole exercise was expensive, but well worth it to give you peace of mind. Keep the brilliant blogs coming.
Thanks Craig – yes the bank account took a beating but Anui is our home and you know we are a bit besotted!
I am amazed that all this work took only 2 weeks. Anui looks great, what a beautiful old lady she is. I hope all is going well for you today Wade. stay safe on your trips to Melbourne and France. I will be thinking of you both
Thanks Susie. Yes considering the maintenance list 15 days in the boat yard went smoothly and we strengthened our relationships with tradies which always helps. We met up with yachty friends too so had company every night for dinner at the BBQ facilities which helped break away from the work!
Hooray. Your home is back where it’s supposed to be!
Hi Ann – yes it is good to be back in the water. Even Bengie is happy about it! She was nervous when the boat got lifted up and put back in the water but settled in the cockpit pretty quickly as did we!
Anui looks beautiful! And now is going to “kickass” because she is going to fly on water!
Have a safe trip to see your Dad, I also wish a safe trip to Melbourne. Take care, my friend. 🙂
Thanks HJ – you make us laugh! The pressure is on Wade to smash records, I can tell you!
I enjoyed this repair story.
Wade is very good at working with people.
My friend Paton tells the story of working with Wade’s dad Phil, and hearing the way he would follow up over the phone the late payers. Always friendly, encouraging clients to pay something. And Craig tells me it usually worked!
Glad to see that Wade taking this to new heights.
Thanks Murray – Wade has most definitely taken after your Dad, so much more patient than I am! Good to hear you like the two posts on Anui’s maintenance. We thought it might be a bit boring for the non yachties but it turns out differently!
‘Really glad the annual ‘exercise’ went well and you got back in the water cleanly…we have unfortunately been delayed. Best wishes, love and hugs to you all until we catch up again. xx Trish
Thanks Trish – it was nice to have our buddies at the Boat Works. Hope the spare parts arrive soon and that you too can get away.
Parts arrive tomorrow morning hopefully. We are aiming at a 1500 splash in the afternoon. I was however hoping to see you again before you left but that is probably not going to happen now. 😦
We will stay anchored at Paradise Point and I leave from there just after 4 pm Friday, so may be?
Chris ‘n Wade, our best wishes to both of you re your coming trials and travels.While you’re in France, If you feel like hopping across the channel for a change of tartan scenery Chris, you’ll be most welcome!
Hi Elgar, thanks for the good wishes. I suspect I won’t … I will be focused on moving my dad from Normandy to Toulouse where my sister lives and getting him settled in a medically assisted facility, then back to Oz. Wade will be on the boat in Melbourne and we hope I can fly back there some time in January.
Interesting post. I enjoy the technical ones as much as the lifetsyle posts. Anui is looking spectacular, and her profile is so attractive. It’s a pity modern design trends have become so boxy and multi-storied! All the best for your (respective) trips, and dont worry about us … we’ll be here when you get back.
Thanks Pete & Deb. Yes we agree the slick and rounded lines are nicer. But as you well know we are a bit besotted with Anui…
By the time our trips are over, you will have launched Selah! Can’t wait to hear about this huge milestone and meet up with you on the water! Look after yourselves.
She’s looking wonderful. I’ve been watching and your story helps to motivate me. Thanks for sharing.
Glad the stories keep you going, Dean!