Opua: floating
Opua: floating
I woke early this morning, and after reading for a half hour in the v-berth, got up, walked aft and opened the companionway to a mostly clear star-filled sky reflected on smooth black water accompanied by the spice smell of fern forests ashore. I’ve been afloat and back on my mooring since yesterday morning.
I accomplished everything I wanted to in the boat yard and became more than a little tired. There is still much to do, but the biggest, hardest and most expensive tasks are behind me, and the rest can be done out here. I went back ashore this morning and paid all the bills. I haven’t added them up yet.
The above is obviously the ‘after’ picture.
‘Before’ is here.
I use International’s Micron Extra anti-fouling paint. Curiously the color that is called “Shark White” in the United States is “Dover White” in New Zealand.
It goes on gray/grey (spelling depending on country) and does turn white in the water.
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What does a boat that can sail around the world cost?
Well, if you had been here last week, the answer was not much.
The original asking price of about $21,000--I’ve converted all prices here to U.S. dollars--had been lowered to $14,000. I thought that a bargain, until the boat was put in the cradle next to THE HAWKE OF TUONELA and the new owner told me he had just bought her for $8400.
While I have not been aboard the boat, assuming that she has no critical structural damage, this is quite a bargain. She appears well-built from the outside and fully equipped for solo sailing. While her full keel will not make her fast, she should be capable of being sailed anywhere, including Cape Horn. In fact I almost wish I’d bought her myself and done that very thing.
Perhaps a trifle sadly, the young Aucklander plans only to take her south to his home, and she may never even venture as far as the Bay of Islands again.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010