OK we have left the house and the dock!
House sitting gig is over at Nuevo Vallarta, paddle boarding kennel - 2015
End of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Up the mast again to replace Garmin wind vane - 2015
End of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Debbie in full up-the-mast-gear.
Sailing South from La Cruz direct to Tenacatita - 2015
End of December 2015 - Anchored in Barra-Barra-Bahia de Navidad lagoon, Mexico
We left LaCruz anchorage about 2 pm and sailed the afternoon thermal one tack for over three
hours before the wind died. Then we motor sailed. The seas were a bit lumpy until
we got to the light house about 3-5 km out. The seas picked up and were a bit gnarly at about 8-9 pm. We motor sailed with the main reefed and were surfing the
waves at about 7 knots and the Garmin GHC 10 class A under deck autopilot was working hard.
This was our first test of the Garmin autopilot repair we did this last summer.
The Garmin GHC 10 class A under deck autopilot worked great! The wind picked up to over 20 knots and
stayed that way past midnight. We were tired so we left the head sail furled
and surfed the waves motor sailing. In the am then after we passed Ipala the waves
laid down a bit and the wind died. The wind never picked up again all day for
any sailing.
Anchored in La Cruz - Trailer Park Boys, m/v Aussie Made came by - 2015
Middle of December 2015 -Anchored in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay , Mexico
Hugh and Barb on m/v Aussie Made came by on their Grand
Banks 42' trawler and snapped a picture of us and we like-wise.
Anchored In La Cruz anchorage - Magma Flopper stopper repair, zincs - 2015
Beginning of December 2015 - La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay, Mexico
So here we are sitting in LaCruz anchorage now for about 10 days or so since December first, 2015. We have been doing the usual things and
getting the boat ready for our trip south and around Cape Corrientes.
We hauled anchor and finished running our Garmin auto pilot wizards (GHC10 class A under deck auto pilott) and successfully
I might add! We are getting ready to do another sail after fixing our reef lines
the person who re-installed the main for us at the end of the summer messed up.
Some other small things also and were hoping the weather cools off more down
south. It finally broke here but late this year. Started getting hot early and
stayed late!
Debbie put in switches for our two broken Bora 3-speed marine fans - 2015
End of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
More summer fun with electrical 😀
Note:
2018 - these thumb switches have worked out less than we would have liked. They are flimsy and are hard to switch. We did not leave enough chord to reach them easily.
More summer fun with electrical 😀
Note:
2018 - these thumb switches have worked out less than we would have liked. They are flimsy and are hard to switch. We did not leave enough chord to reach them easily.
We have purchased some of these we will try out, they seem easier to turn on\off and are more robust.
Nuevo Vallarta house sit - Debbie the chicken whisperer, hen house - 2015
End of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Debbie has made friends with the hens. Some even have names 😄 They have been treating us good all summer with fresh eggs. As you see, Debbie is holding one. Her favorite is the gray colored one. It is getting close to the time to say good by. We will be moving back on board s\v Elegant'sea soon then staying at the dock till the end of the month. Then this gig is over. We will continue to summer over at ParadiseVillage Marina.
Fuel filter and TMC 60M tranny oil changed - 2015
Middle of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
From the TMC 60M manual.
Getting ready to move back aboard s\v Elegant'sea! from house sit - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Monday we plan on starting the compounding and waxing of the port side. Weve got the starboard side done.
Beta 38 hp diesel engine fuel and air filters found in Puerto Vallarta - 2015
Middle of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Debbie at the counter. The chicken-wire is for palm
leaves that help keep the sun off the bus stop.
Anchored in Zihuatanejo - fish market - 2015
Anchored in Zihuatanejo end of March 2015
Looking out towards the anchorage where s\v Elegant'sea is.
Galley/Force 10 - replaced bronze stove bar and replaced bronze towel hooks - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, MexicoA
The existing brass two-hook towel holder.
late summer idea was to re-do the stove bar...from brass to stainless steel.
Pressure Cooker beef stew + ingredients - 2015
This we made in the house,
We have been eating large! This week Debbie made Lasagne and the we made beef stew in the pressure cooker. This is Mexican friendly, meaning it is all available here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,
Voom, voom Beta Marine 38 hp diesel engine almost ready for another season - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Looking good again and running smooth!
Achilles Dinghy oars got refurbished - 2015
Main sail up for the Winter season and ready to go - 2015
Today was about getting the main sail up. Yesterday we removed the aft Shadetree boat awning for this main install. We had Jason of Argos Marine come over and re-install the main. We splurged and the price was right. I worked on re-installing the propane locker and got it finished off and the Force 10 stove is operational again.
Helm seat upgrade to teak in Mezcales? - 2015
October 2015 - At a private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Here is the main shop area in Mezcales- his motorcycle is in the far back.
Dingy raise with Badlands electric winch with video - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 - s\v Elegant'sea is at private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
First we had to inflate the Achilles LSI-310E dingy.
Bimini window covered from under side - very nice creature comfort - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Closed.
As you can see we put our bmini back up. It got re-stitched and some dot fasteners installed and some modification made for better stern shade etc.
Getting s\v Elegant'sea ready to move back aboard, end of house sit - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Yes we are about ready to move back aboard s\v Elegant'sea.
Anchor snubber/chain hook re-visited - 6 of 6 - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
This bridal came with a few pulls in the line but not worth complaining about.
Cockpit teak grate washed and Teak Wondered 2015
Beginning of November 2015 At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Beta Marine 38 hp Diesel engine air filter cross reference numbers - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 -At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Beta Marine 38 hp Diesel engine air filter cross reference numbers listed below.
One stateroom louvered door hung and all varnished! - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Now the door varnish is complete, the aft hanging locker louvred door is hung.
Anchor snubber/chain hook re-visited - 5 of 6 - 2015
Beginning of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Purchased this roller which is for a boat trailer from the Zaragoza Chandlery.
s\v Elegant'sea 's Bilge is getting a refresher with Bilgekote - 20115
Beginning of November 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Interlux "Bilgekot"
Finishing up the bimini with Dot Fasteners - 2015
End of October 2015 - House sitting at private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
First we used a pencil to mark the holes for punching.
Ocean Kayak Malibu Two 8" hatch installed at Nuevo Vallarta house sit - 2015
End of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
We found this video on Youtube and followed the instructions plus the instructions that came with the Ocean KayakMalibu Two hatch for the Malibu Two.
Inside cover for bimini window to keep sun out - 2015
End of October 2015 - House sitting at private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
The sewing projects continue! (That's the beauty of having a seamstress in the family and the wonderful Sailrite sewing machine!!)
Finished product - here's the process!
Varnishing the stateroom louvered doors, yes lots os louvers! - 2015
End of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
This is the last can of gloss varnish for the season we had to buy - gloss.
Debbie made us a tool pouch for canvas tools - 2015
End of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Debbie was feeling creative on Saturday after being cooped up after working hard at getting the boat hurricane-ready (see post about Hurricane Patricia) now that the threat has passed. She made this handy "tool roll" for our snap/grommet tools.
Meet my new best friend Muriatex Alamo\Muriatic Acid acid 2015
We were looking for ways to get rust stains out of the gel coat and found this video.
We have some rust stains on the bow and stern and up in the anchor locker etc we would like to remove. So here is what we found out.
Off to Honda dealer for outboard spin on oil filter - 2015
End of October 2015 -At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
We went to the Honda Puerto Vallarta dealer. Not the Honda car dealer but the motorcycle dealer. They also sell Honda generators there and 4-wheelers etc. They do not have Honda outboards on sale but do have and can get parts. We picked up a spin-on oil filter. We happen to be in the neighborhood.
We went to the Honda Puerto Vallarta dealer. Not the Honda car dealer but the motorcycle dealer. They also sell Honda generators there and 4-wheelers etc. They do not have Honda outboards on sale but do have and can get parts. We picked up a spin-on oil filter. We happen to be in the neighborhood.
www.comotohonda.mx
Re-furbished Magma Flopper-Stopper at Taler De Torno Gonzalez Machine shop - 2015
End of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico, house sitting
Taler De Torno Gonzalez tel 322 224 0784
More "eye candy" all around - here are some motor boat parts, rudders or stabilizers!
We went to the Machine shop - SS welding to pick up the last of this years' welding projects.There went Hurricane Patricia! - biggest on record!big surge at marina - 2015
End of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Chamela (Perula Bay) when we were anchored there in 2014.
The Sierra Madre mountain system of Mexico is on the edge of Puerto Vallarta and saved us from all but a heck-of-a-lot of rain from Hurricane Patricia.Boaters at the marina (and some tourists) were evacuated off property but the mountains saved us - just as the "old timers" predicted.Here comes Hurricane Patricia! - biggest on record! - 2015
This is the largest hurricane ever recorded in Mexico's history! A cat 5.
Polishing the hull - starboard side done! 3 of 4 2015
End of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
A little touch up paint on the gel coat.
As it turned out we ended up cleaning a section of hull and then compounding it with White Shark compound.
Doing this by hand did not remove much gel coat. We then put on the White Shark Selant wax and then the Past wax. Lots of rubbing.
Still smiling. Remember it is in the 90's and very humid!
The hull does look nice and clean now and will not chalk up, at least not till the wax wears off we hope.
Turists :)
Stateroom cane door varnished - done! - 2015
Middle of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
This door came out just OK. It will get a going-over some time to come.
Flushing the antifreeze - antifreeze rre-filled and running good - 2015
Middle of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
We mixed up some 40\60 antifreeze to water.
Varnishing the trim again by the nav station and by the steps - 2015
Middle of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
We got a coat of varnish on the trim here and the trim on both sides of the companionway stairs.
Nubee Temperature Gun - purchased
Middle of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Found this old post that never got published?
We had a temperature laser type gun but it has an oddball battery. And it is not easy to use.
So when Morris and Debbie on s\v impulsive said they were going to sell their extra Nubee Temperature Gun at the La Cruz swap meet this month we grabbed it.
Found this old post that never got published?
We had a temperature laser type gun but it has an oddball battery. And it is not easy to use.
So when Morris and Debbie on s\v impulsive said they were going to sell their extra Nubee Temperature Gun at the La Cruz swap meet this month we grabbed it.
This is simple to use and has a 9v battery. Easy to replace and find.
Note 2018:
We have had this gun now for a few years and it still works good. This was a good purchase.
Dinghy 20' cable cleaned, Schlage cable locks purchased, paddles drilled etc - 2015
Middle of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
We had this made up at Downwind Marine in San Diego.
Flushing the fresh water\antifreeze -Flushed , looking good - 2015
Middle of October 2015 - t private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
Yesterday we flushed out the coolant system.
White 30 amp power cord - cleaned and ready. - 2015
Middle of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
We cleaned up the 30 amp white 50' power cord and have it ready for use.
Nav station seat pad, Done!
Beginning of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
We fit the seat to the Nav Station to see for sure if it would work. Was it going to be too thick so you could not fit the legs under the desk for instance. All is great so Debbie went ahead and finished it off. This is all done with leftovers from other projects.
We fit the seat to the Nav Station to see for sure if it would work. Was it going to be too thick so you could not fit the legs under the desk for instance. All is great so Debbie went ahead and finished it off. This is all done with leftovers from other projects.
Flushing the fresh water\antifreeze - 50\50 to 40\60 - 2015
Middle of October 2015 -At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
From the Beta Marine Engine Forum
"You can disconnect the large hose at the bottom of the heat exchanger tank between the tank and the engine fresh water pump or disconnect the small water heater hose from the bottom of the tank under the exhaust outlet."
More info from the Beta Marine Engine Forum.
"Due to a lower specific gravity, a 40% coolant /60% water, ratio transfers heat more efficiently than does a 50/50 coolant ratio. It still gives more than adequate freeze protection in tropical climates.
My first recommendation would not be distilled water. Use normal tap water that is not "hard" or filtered water. Distilled water lacks any mineral content and has a tendency to attract minerals from its surroundings."
From the Beta Marine Engine Forum
"You can disconnect the large hose at the bottom of the heat exchanger tank between the tank and the engine fresh water pump or disconnect the small water heater hose from the bottom of the tank under the exhaust outlet."
More info from the Beta Marine Engine Forum.
"Due to a lower specific gravity, a 40% coolant /60% water, ratio transfers heat more efficiently than does a 50/50 coolant ratio. It still gives more than adequate freeze protection in tropical climates.
My first recommendation would not be distilled water. Use normal tap water that is not "hard" or filtered water. Distilled water lacks any mineral content and has a tendency to attract minerals from its surroundings."
Sold El Jefe's dinghy a deal for a cruiser - 2015
Beginning of October 2015 - At private slip in Nuevo Vallarta in Banderas Bay, Mexico
We just sold El Jefe's dinghy for him. We were asked by the homeowner we house sit for to sell an older 13' Avon dinghy. He gave us a price range and we got somewhere in the middle. Everyone is happy - El Jefe and the cruiser who purchased it. It was a bit of a pain for us but it comes with the house sitting turf and we got to meet some more nice cruisers.
We just sold El Jefe's dinghy for him. We were asked by the homeowner we house sit for to sell an older 13' Avon dinghy. He gave us a price range and we got somewhere in the middle. Everyone is happy - El Jefe and the cruiser who purchased it. It was a bit of a pain for us but it comes with the house sitting turf and we got to meet some more nice cruisers.
The aluminium flooring.
Holds air.
Even has dinghy wheels
Note:.
He eventually got rid of the aluminum flooring. That flooring was really heavy. He made the flooring from plywood. Regular ply wood as marine plywood is impossible to find here. He painted the plywood with epoxy.
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