Sunday, January 18, 2015

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Pinoy Boat Service
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines

Yes, we are still here in the boat yard BUT we have a projected departure of Tuesday morning 20 January. We have been extremely busy getting things ready to leave since the 5 th of January when we finally received the refrigeration part that we had been awaiting. I installed the new electronic module the next morning. We once again have cold in the freezer compartment.

The past two weeks have been "eggs to lay and chickens to hatch" as we became fully involved in getting the boat ready to once again sail and cruise the waters as she was intended. We have been stagnant here for twenty months at least when I went in to clean the bottom we were not attached. A long list was made and then as things were done check marks were applied. A slight problem was that as one item was crossed off often two new ones were added.


Lots of things had been removed and placed in a storage area. All needed to be back on the boat. There are a couple of things still to do tomorrow but Kathy did the last major shopping today. My job was to get the outboard for the dinghy running. Fresh fuel and about ten pulls of the cord and off it went, quite surprising after sitting for an extended time.

Our plan has us leaving about 11 am Tuesday and heading out to the Camotes islands a short fifteen miles away. We'll then take another week to ten days to head south and a bit east to the island of Mindanao  where we'll stay in a marina as we do our final preparations to head back east across the pacific to California.

I'm looking forward to sending out the next post from somewhere out at anchor.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Pinoy Boat Service
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines

Tis the day before Christmas and all thru the boat seems to be the feeling of Bah Humbug!! It must be that we have been here in the boat yard far to long. We are in the process of readying the boat to get underway. The necessary projects have been completed and now it is mainly waiting for a package to arrive that was sent from the States Nov. 13. The company failed to follow our instructions and send it USPS Priority and instead sent it First Class. Who knows when it may arrive. Perhaps we will decide to do without. So Bah Humbug has been the theme this year.

No matter that as we sit here today we wish  you ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Sunday, December 7, 2014

GUSTY WINDS AND RAIN

Pinoy Boat Service
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines

For us here secure in Pinoy Boat Service just north of Cebu city typhoon Ruby was kind. Ruby brought us gusty winds to perhaps 40 knots late last night through this morning. We continue to have a light but steady rain that started last night. So far the only drawback for us has been the loss of electricity. We have been receiving the internet on Kathy's phone to follow what has been happening as Ruby tracks through the Philippines to our north.

Tomorrow will hopefully bring back the sun and we can put the boat back together. Perhaps I will also fill in the missing weeks of no blog.


Friday, December 5, 2014

READY AND WAITING

Pinoy boat Service
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines

All of our preparation for Ruby's arrival has been done and we now sit and wait. Yesterday was very busy in the yard as all the workers helped in the preparation. More lines were added to both bows and sterns  of all the yachts. Anchors were deployed from bows up and across a wall to augment bow lines. Shades and furled sails were removed. Mainsails were wrapped on their booms. Dinghies were relocated and tied down securely. The roof of the upstairs restaurant/bar was tied down. Busy, busy, busy!! All the while this was going on we were busy looking at various internet weather sites for updates on the forecast and projected track.

This morning, Saturday 6 December, we have gray sky's with some gusty winds but less than 25 knots. so far we have had no rain. Most important Ruby continues to track a bit north of west and when she makes landfall will be about 120 miles to our north and east on  the island of Samar.
We will experience wind and rain but as long as this forecast holds things will not be to severe for us.

LATEST FORECAST TRACK

THIS MORNINGS SAT PHOTO


WE HOPE THE WALL HOLDS

PO IN THE MIDDLE WITH
LINES LIKE SPAGHETTI

WE'RE ALL CROWDED IN

STERN LINES GOING EVERYWHERE


HOW MANY LINES CAN
ONE CLEAT HOLD
As long as we have power and internet I'll try to send updates. Based on what we see now we hopefully will have no problems in this area of the Philippines.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

TYPHOON RUBY

Pinoy Boat Service
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines

To any faithful readers I apologize, it's been several weeks and there has been a lot happening here in the boat yard. Sorry but all of that will have to wait as we are on typhoon watch. Local name Ruby, international name of  Hagupit is on it's way and depending on which model used we could be in for severe weather. We are hoping that the US Navy site JTWC is the correct one and ruby will make a last minute turn to the north leaving us on the fringes and with winds on  the 40 knot range. Time will tell.

We have been watching this system develop over the past five days starting as a mass of clouds near the equator and now developed into a category 5 or super typhoon with sustained winds of 155 knots and gusts to 190 knots.

We are about 90% prepared as I write this on Thursday evening here. We will finish up tomorrow adding additional stern lines, tying up the wind generator and some other small jobs. Depending on the forecast model that comes true our area will start feeling the effects around noon Saturday. by then we should also know where Ruby is going.





I'll try to give some updates during the next few days and once Ruby has left catch up on the last month activities.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

A BANNER WEEK

Pinoy Boat Service
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines

We had a very productive week from start to finish. We were very busy with several different things and all were steps forward.

Monday began with me setting the plugs in the screw holes of the cap rail section that had been installed on Sunday. It was then off to Cebu. I left the bus before Kathy to head to Broadwater Marine where I purchased the new water pressure pump it cost about $80.00 US more than had we been in the states but it was the only game in town. Next I was off to the store to get more screws for finishing the cap rail, then to the big Ayala mall to meet Kathy. Kathy disembarked the bus at the terminal and then taxied to the S&R membership store. It was 700 FP or about $16.00 US to join. Kathy says just about a duplicate of Costco, including lots of Kirkland products. Next for her was Ayala mall and her favorite western products store Rustons. We then met at the Moon cafe which serves fairly good Mexican food. After our late lunch as there were lots of heavy bags we splurged on a taxi back to the boat yard.

Tuesday's first job was to install the new pressure water pump very nice to once again use the faucet rather than the foot pump or water from a bucket for showers. Next the wood plugs in the cap rail were trimmed and some cleanup work to the actual genoa track so it would be ready to install  as now the last section of cap rail was in place

Wednesday some more work on the genoa track and then the re-mounting of some other hardware on the cap rail.

Thursday Chen Chen was here to clean the inside of the boat. We finally received our package from the states so I can install the snaps on the enclosure and then Hyde Sails can continue with their sewing. My day was taken up drilling the holes for the genoa track mounting. Thankfully I have some 12" long drill bits as each of the 36 holes trough the cap rail and bulwark's/ toe rail needed to be 7 " deep for the new machine screws and nuts. Each hole was also countersunk in order to hold the bedding compound to keep things from leaking once the track was bolted down.

Friday was spent getting the genoa track bolted down. First we put the machine screws through the track and then down through the bulwark's/ toe rail and then we attached the washers and nuts. this left the track held up by some wedges above the wood of the cap rail. Next we spread the 3M 4000 adhesive/ bedding compound down, took out the wedges and were then able to bolt the track in place.
Friday evening I called the bank which held the loan on the boat. Finally the loan has been paid off and Po Oino Roa is now ours free and clear

Saturday and today I spent re-filling the lockers that had been emptied out to gain access to the areas where the genoa track bolts were. Next it was mounting the GPS which Kathy had purchased in the states and re-mounting other navigation station instrument's.

There are a couple of small things to finish up on the starboard cap rail tomorrow and then I 'll work on the snaps for the enclosure before stating on the same process on the port side. At least now I have experience.
READY FOR THE BOLTS

CHICA HELPING AND
A MESS TO BE PUT
AWAY

BEDDING COMPOUND WAS
ADDED AND THE TRACK
BOLTED DOWN

NEXT REMOVE TAPE
AND EXCESS COMPOUND

THE NAV STATION
IS BACK
TOGETHER



Sunday, November 2, 2014

MOSTLY MOVING FORWARD

Pinoy Boat Service
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines

Another Sunday and more drivel. There is truly not much new to report. The work on the cap rail continues. I attached the last section on the starboard side today. The plugs will go in tomorrow before we make a trip to the big city of Cebu. It's time for our monthly shop.

We plan to do this shop just for the day, rather than spending the night in the city. Our plan has us splitting up. I will go to the marine store in Lapu Lapu city, Broadwater Marine while Kathy checks out a membership grocery store then off to one of the big malls where I'll meet her later.

My trip to Broadwater is to purchase a new pressure pump for our on board water system. Ours has died and when I got the spare out which I believed to only need a new pressure switch I found it's motor to also be toast. Broadwater carries Jabsco pumps so though we have always previously used Surflo pumps we will now be changing. After getting the pump I will head to the old part of the city to load up on the rest of the screws, 135 or so, that I need for the rest of the cap rail project. then off to meet Kathy.

In all our time here we have heard good things about the S&R membership store having a large range of western products, tomorrow Kathy will check it out.

We are still waiting for stuff to arrive in the mail so things can move forward on the enclosure. The package has arrived in the Philippines,cleared the sorting facility and enroute to the local post office here. We're hopeful to see it this week.