Pinoy Boat Yard
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
With luck this goes thru on a very sporadic internet connection. Yesterday was a bit trying. Super typhoon Haiyan barreled thru our area with the eye passing just thirty miles to the north of us. We did not spend the day on the boat but perhaps 20 yards away in the upstairs bar here in Pinoy Boat Yard. We were three couples who had boats here along with Zeke the yard owner and several of his workers who were dubbed Hero's. Two other couples stayed aboard and several others moved to high ground at one of the local schools.
During the day the winds veered from the ENE all the way around to the ESE. We have no accurate anemometer reading but a best guess was over 100 knots with higher gusts. Most of our day was spent watching the boats move and stretch there mooring lines. All were secured bow and stern with a minimum of 8 lines. None parted but there was lots of stretch and several trips were made from the bar to one or the other of the vessels to make adjustments to the lines.
Finally by 4 PM things had calmed to perhaps 25 knots and Kathy and Blue Cat returned to the boat. I stayed in the bar having a few beers and perhaps a rum while the winds continued to calm.
This morning we awoke to clear sky's and calm winds, this was followed by a brief rain shower to help wash the leaves that were covering our boat. Next Zeke arrived and directed the workers to start on clean-up. We've all been busy and the entire area is cleaned up and all of the yachts here have been put back in order. It was quite amazing to see everything put back in order so quickly. The entire are is without power and will be for perhaps a week or more. In talking to the workers most have severely damaged homes but all reported that their families were fine. They were all happy to only work a half day and to have gotten paid today and in addition they received a raise. I would expect that most will make repairs to their houses tomorrow and be here for work Monday morning. The Philipino people are very resilient.
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Friday, November 8, 2013
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
TYPHOON HAIYAN
Pinoy Boat Yard
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
This has been preparation day for the expected coming of Haiyan, meaning the seabird Petrel in Chinese. The Philippine name is Yolanda. We were fortunate in that all sails had previously been removed and stowed away. We began the morning with clouds but calm winds. The yard workers were taking care of the stern lines which are secured to bollard's across the channel, they normally have weights to in the middle to hold them down. These were removed and we added two more. Two more bow lines were added along with running the anchor chain to a bollard. As all the yachts here are doing the same we appear to be in the center of a giant spider web. Anything that would provide windage was taken off and we stored two of our solar panels normally secured to the lifelines, the on deck fuel cans, canvas bags etc.
It's now just after 3 PM and as I write the barometer is 1014 and steady, the sky is cloudy and we have had some light showers but only about 10 knots of wind. All the workers have gone home to take care of there own houses. It's now just waiting to see what will be. The forecast has landfall bout 75 miles to our northeast tomorrow morning with winds of 130 knots.
We along with most of the others here will stay aboard and do what we can when Haiyan arrives. I'll try to update things once the storm passes depending on electricity.
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Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
This has been preparation day for the expected coming of Haiyan, meaning the seabird Petrel in Chinese. The Philippine name is Yolanda. We were fortunate in that all sails had previously been removed and stowed away. We began the morning with clouds but calm winds. The yard workers were taking care of the stern lines which are secured to bollard's across the channel, they normally have weights to in the middle to hold them down. These were removed and we added two more. Two more bow lines were added along with running the anchor chain to a bollard. As all the yachts here are doing the same we appear to be in the center of a giant spider web. Anything that would provide windage was taken off and we stored two of our solar panels normally secured to the lifelines, the on deck fuel cans, canvas bags etc.
It's now just after 3 PM and as I write the barometer is 1014 and steady, the sky is cloudy and we have had some light showers but only about 10 knots of wind. All the workers have gone home to take care of there own houses. It's now just waiting to see what will be. The forecast has landfall bout 75 miles to our northeast tomorrow morning with winds of 130 knots.
We along with most of the others here will stay aboard and do what we can when Haiyan arrives. I'll try to update things once the storm passes depending on electricity.
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| GOOGLE EARTH OVERLAY WE'REJUST ABOVE CEBU CITY IN ZEKE'S NEW YARD |
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| ON IT'S WAY TOWARD US |
Friday, November 1, 2013
PROGRESS and SOME NEW DECISIONS
Pinoy Boat Yard
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
As this blog title says "progress" on the new hard top progresses and with a bit of luck we hope to have it installed sometime next week. We recently added a third worker who does both sanding and painting and just yesterday added a fourth as a result of an important decision that we have just made.
The supporting frame work was finished on the boat, and our original plan was for me to brush the final top coat rather than dealing with the difficulty of masking a significant amount of the boat and having it sprayed. I managed two coats but we found that the new color was quite a bit different than what was on the existing cabin top and would never look good. Kathy and I discussed what options we had and then made the decision to go ahead and do a complete paint job even though the cabin and decks were done just over a year ago. This of course leads to budgetary questions and has an effect on the timeframe that we had previously planned on for leaving the Philippines. More talks and we have now decided that we will most likely stay here in the Philippines for another year getting projects done. The costs of getting work done here is so reasonable in comparison to anywhere else in the world especially back in the states we need to spend the time here and get it done. An example regarding wages this past week our workers compiled 117 total man hours, the labor bill will be 8,900 pesos or just over $200 US. that's and average of $1.76 US per hour.
The yard was on holiday schedule today, All Souls Day, so we had only one worker, Jing who sands and paints. He did the final sand and paint of the frame work and then managed the first coat of finish on the top side of the bimini. The other side was done previously so it should be just one more coat on each side and then installation.
We continue to come up with more projects for Lando our carpenter. Kathy bought a teak drink holder perhaps ten years ago and we have been storing it ever since as we could never figure out how to best mount it. It took she and Lando about ten minutes to figure the solution and the bracket has been made and after several coats of varnish it will be installed. Lando is now working on redoing a cabinet top and the navigation station top in the same manner as we had done for the saloon table. We have several more projects lined up for him.
Our plan is not to spend the whole of our extra time in the Philippines here in the the boat yard but for now we'll be staying busy here.
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Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
As this blog title says "progress" on the new hard top progresses and with a bit of luck we hope to have it installed sometime next week. We recently added a third worker who does both sanding and painting and just yesterday added a fourth as a result of an important decision that we have just made.
The supporting frame work was finished on the boat, and our original plan was for me to brush the final top coat rather than dealing with the difficulty of masking a significant amount of the boat and having it sprayed. I managed two coats but we found that the new color was quite a bit different than what was on the existing cabin top and would never look good. Kathy and I discussed what options we had and then made the decision to go ahead and do a complete paint job even though the cabin and decks were done just over a year ago. This of course leads to budgetary questions and has an effect on the timeframe that we had previously planned on for leaving the Philippines. More talks and we have now decided that we will most likely stay here in the Philippines for another year getting projects done. The costs of getting work done here is so reasonable in comparison to anywhere else in the world especially back in the states we need to spend the time here and get it done. An example regarding wages this past week our workers compiled 117 total man hours, the labor bill will be 8,900 pesos or just over $200 US. that's and average of $1.76 US per hour.
The yard was on holiday schedule today, All Souls Day, so we had only one worker, Jing who sands and paints. He did the final sand and paint of the frame work and then managed the first coat of finish on the top side of the bimini. The other side was done previously so it should be just one more coat on each side and then installation.
We continue to come up with more projects for Lando our carpenter. Kathy bought a teak drink holder perhaps ten years ago and we have been storing it ever since as we could never figure out how to best mount it. It took she and Lando about ten minutes to figure the solution and the bracket has been made and after several coats of varnish it will be installed. Lando is now working on redoing a cabinet top and the navigation station top in the same manner as we had done for the saloon table. We have several more projects lined up for him.
Our plan is not to spend the whole of our extra time in the Philippines here in the the boat yard but for now we'll be staying busy here.
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| PAPER & PLASTIC TO COVER EVERYTHING |
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| LOTS OF MASKING PREP |
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| TRYING TO LIMIT OVERSPRAY TO OTHERS |
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| MIXING |
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| NOTICE EDDIE'S OSHA APPROVED T-SHIRT RESPIRATOR |
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| BOTTOM SIDE OF BIMINI |
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| LANDO AT WORK |
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| OLD FORMICA TOP IS GONE |
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| FITTING OF THE NEW TOP |
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| A NEW TOP FOR THE TABLE AND NEW PANELS FOR THE REST |
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| MOST WORK IS DONE WITH A GRINDER |
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| OR A CHISEL |
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
EARTHQUAKE,TOPLESS and DUST
Pinoy Boat Yard
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
Here in Port Carmen just 20 miles north of Cebu City and 40 miles from Bohol Island where the quake was centered we were fortunate to only get shaken about. On the boat it felt as though a large boat wake had rocked us. The only damage that we have viewed has been that on the internet.
The new top has been removed and is back up in the shop for the work to finish the tabbing that will allow it to be removed if necessary. The workers continue to add fiberglass to the supports. The carpenter has been using the old teak from the aft companionway ladder to box in the top of the redesigned splash guard combing. Lately there has been lots of grinding and sanding in the cockpit meaning dust everywhere. When we are aboard it's confinement in the cabin with all port lights and hatches closed. Both our 12 volt and big shore powered fans work overtime. Every afternoon We use the saltwater wash down pump to clean of the fiberglass and wood dust so all is clean to start the next day. A regular hose would be nice but the freshwater from the hose bibs on shore only produce a dribble.
We have begun the project of recovering the cockpit cushions but it is on a bit of a hold till as it is so warm inside the boat and not very comfortable for Kathy to be chained to the sewing machine.
The photos just show more of the process as work continues.
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Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
Here in Port Carmen just 20 miles north of Cebu City and 40 miles from Bohol Island where the quake was centered we were fortunate to only get shaken about. On the boat it felt as though a large boat wake had rocked us. The only damage that we have viewed has been that on the internet.
The new top has been removed and is back up in the shop for the work to finish the tabbing that will allow it to be removed if necessary. The workers continue to add fiberglass to the supports. The carpenter has been using the old teak from the aft companionway ladder to box in the top of the redesigned splash guard combing. Lately there has been lots of grinding and sanding in the cockpit meaning dust everywhere. When we are aboard it's confinement in the cabin with all port lights and hatches closed. Both our 12 volt and big shore powered fans work overtime. Every afternoon We use the saltwater wash down pump to clean of the fiberglass and wood dust so all is clean to start the next day. A regular hose would be nice but the freshwater from the hose bibs on shore only produce a dribble.
We have begun the project of recovering the cockpit cushions but it is on a bit of a hold till as it is so warm inside the boat and not very comfortable for Kathy to be chained to the sewing machine.
The photos just show more of the process as work continues.
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| LANDO FITTING WHAT WILL BECOME ONE OF THE TABS HOLDING THE TOP |
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| SANDY GLASSING THE INSIDE FRAMWORK |
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| tABS READY TO BE GLASSED TO THE TOP |
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| GLASSING THE TABS |
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| BACK IN THE SHOP FOR ADDING MORE GLASS TO THE TABS AND FAIRING THE INSIDE |
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| THE SPLASH GUARD COMBING |
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| lANDO CUSTOM FIT TEAK FOR THE TOP PIECES |
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| THE HEAD CARPENTER ALEJANDRO BUILDING FLOORING FOR ANOTHER BOAT HERE IN THE YARD |
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
A FITTING
Pinoy Boat Yard
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
Today was the long awaited day when the bimini supports had finally been epoxied in place and it was time to bring the new bimini aboard. We're not sure of it's actual weight but my best guess at this time is two hundred pounds. As it is a rectangle approximately eight feet by nine feet it's a bit unwieldily. We first doubled up on our gang plank giving extra width and a handrail on each side. Lando and Sandy carried the top down and then having a line through what will be the window we attached a spinnaker halyard. The guys carried the top down, there was a tense moment when it dropped but was saved by the halyard. Once alongside, the main halyard was attached and with the guys and I moving the new top and Kathy controlling the weight with the halyard it was moved into place. After removing the line used for lifting and sliding the top around the fit was almost perfect. Quite amazing!!!The rest of the day was spent making small corrections in the fit and adding more fiberglass to the support structure.
Next the top will be removed again so the inside can be fared and painted. There is still more fiberglass work to be done on the boxing in of the splash combing along with the tabbing on the inside of the top to make it removable. We at least have now seen what the top in place looks like and are quite happy.
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Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
Today was the long awaited day when the bimini supports had finally been epoxied in place and it was time to bring the new bimini aboard. We're not sure of it's actual weight but my best guess at this time is two hundred pounds. As it is a rectangle approximately eight feet by nine feet it's a bit unwieldily. We first doubled up on our gang plank giving extra width and a handrail on each side. Lando and Sandy carried the top down and then having a line through what will be the window we attached a spinnaker halyard. The guys carried the top down, there was a tense moment when it dropped but was saved by the halyard. Once alongside, the main halyard was attached and with the guys and I moving the new top and Kathy controlling the weight with the halyard it was moved into place. After removing the line used for lifting and sliding the top around the fit was almost perfect. Quite amazing!!!The rest of the day was spent making small corrections in the fit and adding more fiberglass to the support structure.
Next the top will be removed again so the inside can be fared and painted. There is still more fiberglass work to be done on the boxing in of the splash combing along with the tabbing on the inside of the top to make it removable. We at least have now seen what the top in place looks like and are quite happy.
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| KATHY AND BLUE CAT ARE PLEASED WITH THINGS |
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| LOOKING FROM FORWARD |
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| SIDE VIEW |
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| OUR HOPE WAS TO FOLLOW THE LINES OF THE COCKPIT |
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| LOOKINF FROM THE HELM SEAT |
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| LOOKING AFT FROM THE COMPANIONWAY HATCH |
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| LOOKING FORWARD FROM OUR STERN SEAT |
Thursday, October 3, 2013
CONSTRUCTION MOVES ALONG
Pinoy Boat Services
Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
It's been ten days since our last update and progress's keep moving along. Sandy, who is the fiberglass and prepare to paint worker keeps busy sanding and then adding "bog" which is epoxy mixed with different type of fillers to then sanded to give a smooth finish. Today it was a mixture of epoxy paint and talcum powder to fill the smallest of pinholes. This gets sanded further and more fill applied until perfect.
During this same time Lando, the carpenter, has stayed busy building what will be the support for the top. This has involved lots of input from both Kathy and I as we will be the ones who must live with the final result. One of our main concerns was that the final product did not look like a box set on top of the center cockpit of Po oino Roa. We have been thinking of this "room addition" for a number of years and want it to add to the look of the boat not detract. To accomplish this our idea has been to keep all the supports at angles. So far as we look at the framework that Lando has built we seem to be on the right track. As each and every support has been cut and held up both Kathy and I look at it from various locations trying to get a feel for what the final outcome will be. Lando has an excellent eye for how things ought to look too. The plan was to box in the splash guard combing and for the supports to then be attached there. This involved first putting up some of the supports at what we thought was the proper angle and then having Lando make a model of the front part of the bimini top as it had been laid up in the honeycomb material and fiberglass. This gave us a two foot wide replica. We then spent time looking and adjusting until we were happy. This same process was done for the aft section of the new bimini. Lando then was able to complete the boxing in of the space in front off the splash guard combing.
That was finished yesterday. Today all was removed as the new wood needs to be encapsulated in fiberglass and then re-installed on the boat. It will then be fiber glassed to the existing cabin top. Once the structure was removed this morning Lando used the grinder to smooth away the areas on the cabin top so the new construction has something to adhere to. Tomorrow the re-assembly process starts.
I'm very impressed with the carpentry skills we have seen here, most all is done the old fashioned way with hand saws, planes and chisels. They do use a power grinder and planer but most is done with the simpler hand tools. It may take them a bit more time but we pay 800 pesos or $20 US per day for Lando, in the USA a carpenter with his shill would more than likely command $40 to $60 per hour. I was speaking to another yachtie here who has eight workers daily on his boat. He figures that there daily wages approximately 5,000 pesos equal what the same as for one hour of a shipwright in Australia.
Now after a proof read by Kathy I'll send this off to publish and then with luck be able to add some photos.
----------
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Port Carmen, Cebu
Philippines
It's been ten days since our last update and progress's keep moving along. Sandy, who is the fiberglass and prepare to paint worker keeps busy sanding and then adding "bog" which is epoxy mixed with different type of fillers to then sanded to give a smooth finish. Today it was a mixture of epoxy paint and talcum powder to fill the smallest of pinholes. This gets sanded further and more fill applied until perfect.
During this same time Lando, the carpenter, has stayed busy building what will be the support for the top. This has involved lots of input from both Kathy and I as we will be the ones who must live with the final result. One of our main concerns was that the final product did not look like a box set on top of the center cockpit of Po oino Roa. We have been thinking of this "room addition" for a number of years and want it to add to the look of the boat not detract. To accomplish this our idea has been to keep all the supports at angles. So far as we look at the framework that Lando has built we seem to be on the right track. As each and every support has been cut and held up both Kathy and I look at it from various locations trying to get a feel for what the final outcome will be. Lando has an excellent eye for how things ought to look too. The plan was to box in the splash guard combing and for the supports to then be attached there. This involved first putting up some of the supports at what we thought was the proper angle and then having Lando make a model of the front part of the bimini top as it had been laid up in the honeycomb material and fiberglass. This gave us a two foot wide replica. We then spent time looking and adjusting until we were happy. This same process was done for the aft section of the new bimini. Lando then was able to complete the boxing in of the space in front off the splash guard combing.
That was finished yesterday. Today all was removed as the new wood needs to be encapsulated in fiberglass and then re-installed on the boat. It will then be fiber glassed to the existing cabin top. Once the structure was removed this morning Lando used the grinder to smooth away the areas on the cabin top so the new construction has something to adhere to. Tomorrow the re-assembly process starts.
I'm very impressed with the carpentry skills we have seen here, most all is done the old fashioned way with hand saws, planes and chisels. They do use a power grinder and planer but most is done with the simpler hand tools. It may take them a bit more time but we pay 800 pesos or $20 US per day for Lando, in the USA a carpenter with his shill would more than likely command $40 to $60 per hour. I was speaking to another yachtie here who has eight workers daily on his boat. He figures that there daily wages approximately 5,000 pesos equal what the same as for one hour of a shipwright in Australia.
Now after a proof read by Kathy I'll send this off to publish and then with luck be able to add some photos.
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| THE FIRST SUPPORTS |
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| SUPPORTS WITH TGHE START OF THE BOXING |
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| A VIEW FROM THE BOW |
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| SUPPORTS AND THE BIMINI TOP MODEL |
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| NOT BOXY TO MY EYE!!! |
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| THE V-BERTH IS BACK AS A GARAGE |
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| HAND FITTING |
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| GRINDING AWAY |
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| SANDY MIXING BOG FOR THE ENCAPSULATED FIBER GLASSED SUPPORTS YOU SEE IN THE BACKGROUND |
Sunday, September 22, 2013
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES
Pinoy Boat Services
Port Carmen,Cebu
Philippines
Time moves on here in the boat yard. I have kept busy with some minor projects and watching the workers on their construction of the new hard bimini top. Kathy busy with her games via phone and tablet. The workers need no supervision, just reminders of little things, such as how we plan on installing the shades, what we want the grab rail handles to look like etc. We are pleased with how the top looks so far. This morning they cut the hole for the window, now of course there will be more wood and fiberglass work for backing to affix the window. Work is also moving along on the supports.
The weather here of late has just continued to be hot and dry, no rain for the last week or so. Thankfully the the last two typhoons and the newly formed tropical storm are staying well north of our location.
This now goes out with sailmail and then I'll hope to once again update the photos thru blogger.
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radio email processed by SailMail
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Port Carmen,Cebu
Philippines
Time moves on here in the boat yard. I have kept busy with some minor projects and watching the workers on their construction of the new hard bimini top. Kathy busy with her games via phone and tablet. The workers need no supervision, just reminders of little things, such as how we plan on installing the shades, what we want the grab rail handles to look like etc. We are pleased with how the top looks so far. This morning they cut the hole for the window, now of course there will be more wood and fiberglass work for backing to affix the window. Work is also moving along on the supports.
The weather here of late has just continued to be hot and dry, no rain for the last week or so. Thankfully the the last two typhoons and the newly formed tropical storm are staying well north of our location.
This now goes out with sailmail and then I'll hope to once again update the photos thru blogger.
----------
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| LAYING OUT THE FIBERGLASS ROVING MATERIAL |
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| 3 TO 1 EPOXY MIXING CUPS |
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| SANDY SQUEEGING OUT THE EPOXY |
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| LAYING UP WHAT WILL BECOME THE GRAB RAILS |
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| A GRAB RAIL IN PROGRESS |
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| REMOVING THE HONEYCOMB FOR THE WOOD PERIMETER |
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| A COMPOUND BEND FOR THE WOOD PERIMETER |
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| WOOD EPOXIED AND CLAMPED IN PLACE |
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| CANDY CRUSH IN ONE HAND NEMO'S REEF IN THE OTHER |
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| PLANNING THE SUPPORTS |
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| LANDO CUTTING THE WINDOW YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE GRAB RAIL HANDLES |
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| THERE'S THE WINDOW |
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