31 July 06 - 3 Aug 06 - Heated discussion and major leak
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31 July
I had quite a big discussion with Panos about the project. It was close to a complete breakdown and we were ready to depart without having the rebuilding done, why I had ordered for a truck to refuel Dimitris. I had at this time banned all access to the ship for the workers, and sent my crew for getting all the proviant we needed for 8 days on sea.
After some hours of heated discussions we did come to an understanding, and our differences was sorted out. It was agreed that Friday would be our departure time and we shook hands on that.
1. Aug
As Nikolai has been working on large vessels for a year as a deckhand, he knows everything about cleaning a boat. So he was set in charge of figuring out what equipment was needed to buy to clean it up (actually he appointed himself). Off we went to a marine store in Pireus to get that and some other stuff.
He found a Shurehold set, which is seemingly the best, but also extremely expensive. Euro 60 for just the handle! I was very reluctant to get it, but on the other hand, the other cheap models would break when he used them he said.... so I hadnt much choise than to cough up the cash. I hope Nikolai will make good use of the stuff ;)
More things we bought included:
- a safety throw line, named Ariete. Its a bag with a 40m long line and a floating belt that can be strapped around the chest
- some gelcoat cleaner/polisher stuff from 3M
- a floating light buyo to be wired to our other throw rescue U (dont know its name in English... its to early in the morning). We had one onboard, but I didnt trust it was working properly.
- a replacement shower handle as the one Esmeralda, Katharina and I use in the aft cabin broke
Our Tecma marine toilet was installed and connected, and we was told to do big things in it for a day to check that it operated as expected. We did our best, including throwing up in it (We had a very wet night between tuesday and wednesday drinking Ouzu and playing cards), and it worked perfectly.
2 Aug
Windex fixed. Some wiring problems. Sorted by Panos.
Autopilot fixed. Some wiring problems. Sorted by Panos.
As one of our stationairy VHF radios was broken (no sound from amplifier), we got a replacement.
The bed was now reinstalled in the master cabin after having been varnished and polished inside too. It looks good.
The main overhead window has been reinstalled and sealed.
Our aircondition is now in working order again. Before we had the problem with 36-40C in the cabins, now the problem is that we get blue noses in there.
Need to get it adjusted when we can reach the thermostat panels, which is when the saloon has been cleaned up and put in order.
Soeren, Esmeralda, Katharina and I went to Athens to do some souvenier shopping. Its amazing how many 'good deals' one can make here. Sale prices are about 3 times the price that we have to pay for stuff, and then we are probably still paying too much.
3 Aug.
Generator fixed and adjusted. Sorted by Panos.
The ceiling in the bathroom has been put up. Its based on strips of 22mm formica covered plywood screwed into the roof. It looks very good.
The 24V electrical lines was redone as Panos found that the 24 cables shouldnt be in the same tube as the 220V ones, which seems right. A burn in one of the wires could easily electrify and fry all our equipment with 220V and be very dangerous. So some hours was spend doing that.
We discovered a potentially major problem today. Our freshwater system leaked badly into the bilge. Our biggest scare was ofcourse that it was the new freshwater tanks that somehow had broken. Fortunately it only turned out to be a bad tension belt around a main water pipe that had broken. A bit weird as it was brand new, but nonetheless. It was replaced and the water pipe was put in place and the leak was gone.
Had it been the water tanks, it would have been a major work, as all installed furniture and flooring in the master cabin would have had to be pulled out again. We all, and not the least Panos, was having quite a high stresslevel until it was solved... and then we all could smile again :)
All workers have been working until quite late onboard the boat the latest days. Kudos to them. Friday as a departure date seems to be holding, although it wont be in the morning, but rather the afternoon. We may choose to go directly to Korinth, doing seatrials on the way having Panos on board and then set him of at Korinth. I will have to ask him if he accepts, but it seems like a good idea doing so.