The main reason we came to Whangarei, NZ was to complete a few major jobs on the boat. The largest and most expensive job being to replace our windows. The boat is only eighteen years old and had already had its acrylic windows replaced three times by previous owners. The acrylic was so badly crazed that we could barely see out. We were unable to enjoy the boat's best feature, the 360 degree view from the deck-level salon seating. As we also didn't want to be replacing acrylic again in five years, we felt a glass replacement was our only option. It took a solid week to prise off the acrylic panels, scrape down the adhesive and make factory templates for the new windows. We will be living with no windows before the new ones are made. Luckily, we were able to fabricate some covers using plastic sheeting, duct tape and old, clip-on sun shades to get some degree of waterproofing. There has been lots of rain, but, only a few minor leaks.
When we first arrived at Marsden Cove, we had to wait a few days before heading upriver until a boat left the very full marina to make room for us. There wasn't a spare inch available, on the hard, or, in the water. That first wait was a sign of things to come. At first, we were like two kids in a candy shop. It seemed like there were multiple suppliers here for every possible boat service we could need. What a welcome treat after spending the two years since acquiring the boat in areas with no services at all. We were very excited thinking we could wrap up the jobs where we needed professional help in a couple of months and be on our way to French Polynesia. The reality was somewhat different. It's true that there are many good suppliers. We arrived late in the season and thought they would be winding down and have time for us. Actually, most of them were burnt-out, so busy and backed-up with work they weren't able to take on anybody else, just told us to put our name down on the list and they would get back to us when they could. We're not that good at waiting and found this very, very frustrating, but, there was no alternative.
At Easter, large numbers of boats starting departing with a small flotilla passing our stern almost every day at high tide. Most were heading to Fiji, Tonga, New Caledonia, or, Vanuatu. It took a few weeks after that, most boats that were leaving had left and we finally got our turn. We've now been able to get professional-level engine, generator and outboard servicing done, some welding done, ordered some new, redesigned upholstery, had our rig inspected (not yet fixed), had our leaking dinghy fixed, had hydraulic hose with new fittings made, had some tricky carpentry done, had a chartplotter fixed (card reader had failed) and as mentioned above, ordered our new windows. In-between we have been working daily on the long list of jobs that we are capable of doing, including removing the electric toilet and all its complicated hoses and valves, replacing it with a manual, maintenance-free Lavac. We've also replaced the crazed acrylic in all the deck hatches and installed new nav lights on our newly-welded bow plates.
The South Pacific cruising season lasts until the end of October and from this location, we can leave any time a good weather window presents itself. In the meantime, we're celebrating each day, trying to work through the many frustrations and enjoying the small satisfactions as we cross each long-anticipated job off the list.
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