Guaymas, Mexico- Two boats, March 2019

Still working

We are still living in the boat yard and working on two boats. I cannot overstate how old this is getting. I fear we may never escape. Its a real fear since there are a handful of guys that have been in the yard for a number of years. 

However, I still have hope for a small season. It all depends on what more we find to repair on Holoholo. 

(We found more yesterday.) 😭😭😭
Since we have been questioned many times about what we are working on I will give a quick run down. 

So far we have: 

• gone thru the engine and replaced hoses, and belt, cleaned heat exchanger and taken apart the water filter and cleaned fuel filter #2 
• polished the fuel and cleaned the diesel tank, 
• fixed the bow sprit of wood rot and painted
• maintenance on windlass,
• torn out the propane system that wasn’t working and installed new parts,
• bought and installed new batteries,
• hired Lucas to help get the electrical in order, replaced the dead inverter with EM”s inverter, and non working panels with EM’s panels,
• cleaned the running rigging and tossed out 3 halyards due to failure points
• inspected and tightened the standing rigging at deck,
• sanded the bottom,
• rebuilt the bilge pump,
• replaced faulty plumbing lines,
• attempted to repair the generator then sold the generator, same with the dinghy,
• figured out how to bring another solar panel aboard by retrofitting EM”s bimini on the stern of Holoholo,
• clean and paint the prop,
• install new solar panel parts and get power to the boat



working on bilge pump

• harvested much electrical and gear from EM- a very time consuming project

We still need to:

• replace the 4 lower shrouds due to terminal cracks and wire issues,
• replace the head hoses cause Shay needs to do this for mental health reasons,
• reprime and paint the bottom,
• get Shay up the mast to inspect the rigging and masthead,
• hire a stainless steel welder to make the frame for the solar panel,
• phase 2 electrical can happen in the water,
• replace the foot pedal for the windlass,
• new engine gauge cover so we can see the gauges,
• replace steering cable,
• get our TIP (visa) for Holoholo- don't ask about this its a headache right now. 
• sell the rest of EM. 
• Update: replace rotten spreaders and some blocks and sheaves and probably more later.
• Update: Wait for parts like bilge pump and seacock tailpiece for the raw water hose.  Not going anywhere without those!

This does not include the top side paint job, stainless cleaning, general cleaning, new canvas and fix the main sail type of work. Some of this won’t happen this year. Shay wants to get EM’s awesome railings retrofitted to Holoholo next year so the lifelines are higher and a more secure bow pulpit and stern pulpit.

In between we are slowly harvesting EM’s gear to install on Holoholo or hold till a later date. 
On bad days Shay falls thru the companionway and does the banana splits backbend and scares me to death but is ok and just covered in bruises and in pain for a few days, or we are so dirty but don't care and go to bed covered in grease and sand.

Its a lot to deal with and many days I feel overwhelmed and overworked. 

However we recently found a local estuary and are spending more time out in nature. This helps me tremendously. Just escaping the dirt for a few hours and seeing the ocean helps. 

Little comforts help

Good days are when you figure out how to make a seat for our toilet bucket with an old pool toy, or find the wire you were looking for at the FIRST store and are able to actually complete a project.

The temperaturenis turning warm now and so we will have to adopt a new work schedule to avoid the afternoon heat. Thank goodness we have Georgia’s trailer to live in as Holoholo is still not in working order to live aboard. 

Fingers crossed we can splash soon! (Amended: at all) 

Estuary