Public Discussion Forum

Richard -

First, it sounds like you could be in Chaguaramas, Trinidad at any one of the shipyards there (where the restoration of Beebe’s original Passagemaker was completed not too long ago). Workers work, talent is everywhere, timelines are met, the quality of the work is outstanding, some materials are readily available and some are hard to get, sourcing precious “unobtainium” requires much patience, and your USD goes far.

Second, I am so happy to see a fellow Selener following, whether they (you) know it or not, the “No Plan Plan.” You are apparently waking every day, looking around to see which way the wind is blowing, and deciding then how you will spend your TIME, that precious resource that is irreplaceable. Sadly, we will never make it to every port.

I commend you for your adventuresome spirit and welcome you to my comfort zone - a place just this side of chaos.

Roll on brother - Jack

Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 6047

Hi Mark,

That is a great question and one we've been asking ourselves for the past couple of years. We came to Guatemala with the idea of going through the Panama Canal and up the West Coast. But, we would also like to cruise around Belize, the San Blas Islands of Panama, and get new upholstery in Cartagena. The best time to leave Panama and start heading north is Feb 1 arriving in San Diego by July 4th. We also want to go back to CA for a month around the holidays. That's too many things to do between the time the boat gets finished (mid Nov) and Feb 1. So something will have to move. We're just not sure what yet. An option is to cruise in the Caribbean for another year and head up the West Coast in 2028.

Our intention is to get up to the PNW, but not sure which year. We don't want to rush by great areas just to arrive at another great area. A First World problem.

I would be glad to sit and talk about our experiences in Guatemala and RAM in particular. But I'm not sure when we can do that in person since we are nowhere near the EC or WC Rendezvous. But the phone works just fine.

I just thought about this yesterday. If the cost was the same, I would prefer to get the work done at RAM rather than any US boatyard that we've been to. RAM has skilled labor that works every day and makes progress. In the U.S. it seems days go by with nothing done and timelines get pushed out. Also, the RAM people will not stop until it's done right. They do not do shortcuts. They are repairing work that a U.S. boatyard did not bother to fix, and was probably created at the factory. Also, the facilities are excellent. The problem is getting components. It takes about a month and the tariffs and shipping adds about 40% to the cost. So, I wouldn't have electronics done here, but they have the painting, fiberglass, woodwork and stainless steel down to a science.

Give ma a call anytime and we can talk more.

Richard Nye

Untethered, 57-22

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/MV_Untethered/

Thank you Jenni. And thanks for rising above the boyish fellow East Coasties comments (I say that will all due respect ).

Is it coincidence or is the Almighty Google listening in on our conversation? I've had the attached photo presented in several ways since my original post. I will miss the beautiful water and people of the Bahamas. But at least I did experience it more than once.

I may or may not get the lights. If I can get a decent deal on them I might. But it would add to an already busy workload while I'm trying to get the boat back in the water.

Richard Nye

Untethered, 57-22

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/MV_Untethered/

Think blue underwater lights look great when you're anchored… Especially down in the Bahamas… It attracts fish, which is kind of cool
Greg Groome
Sent from my iPhone....excuse the typos!

Blue Phoenix has underwater lights. We turned them on in the survey and that was about it. I’m sure we will turn them on somewhere sometime but we are relatively fancy redneck so having our Christmas lights up all year long is par for the course.

Dan and Bethany Moore

Blue Phoenix - 2008 Selene 59-17

Definitely don't want blue on your delicates

Delicate surfaces for securing Jack’s delicates. Good tape

AHA! The battle is joined! Should be epic.

J

Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 6047

What’s the purple?   Not familiar with that.

Huzzah to that. I have the blue and the purple onboard

Corey
Sent from my iPhone

I’ll have you all know that I currently have blue tape on my transom that is covering the penetrations that support the teak step up from the swim platform.  They were leaking and needed re-bedding.

Always engaging in deeeeeep thoughts!

Of course you are right. Going on Amazon Prime to shop right now, but bet I can get a Disco Ball in Hong Kong in a couple weeks that doesn’t have to travel and circumnavigate to get back to Shangri-La. Can’t wait to get it all up and running. It is going to be “Dance Dance Dance” (Beach Boys, Chic, Steve Miller Band) soon. “Yowsah!”

J

Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 6047

Don’t forget your disco ball to hang from the radar arch. You can always put it up there with tape!
Sent from my iPhone

When it comes to attracting fish at night, I use a waterproof Green Blob light off the swim platform that works wonders. I did install four blue underwater lights on 6047 because I always admired them and was a little jealous when hanging around Miami or anywhere near Puerto Rico with all the underwater lights and lasers flashing.

If you want a “Too Ghetto” analysis, ask yourself WWCD (What Would Corey Do)? If it is no worse than blue tape it is probably OK.

Jack:)

Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 6047

I just don't like the idea of additional holes in the hull.

I've considered a watertight light on a power cord you can hang off the stern when you want to use it, but haven't made one yet.

rob

Roadrunner

2007 Selene 49 deep hull 48-029

Hi my personal view is that underwater lights do not belong on a traditionally-designed boat like Selene. (I am not a marine biologist but I also think that the lights are not beneficial to the marine life either.) I think you should spend that money on an electronics upgrade or a heavier anchor or something.

I am considering installing some Lumitec Seablaze X3 underwater lights. I'll admit, when we were in the Bahamas I had a craving for underwater lights to see the beautiful sand bottom and attract the evening's entertainment.

As we head norward up the Pacific, I'm not sure underwater lights will have the same appeal. If you have them, would you do it over again? If you don't, are you considering installing them?

One night when we were at the Cape Lookout, NC anchorage I went to the swim platform with my headlight to work on some project. My tiny light shone into the water to reveal a literal bouillabaisse of sea life...crabs, shrimp, little and big fish. It was amazing!

Richard Nye

Untethered, 57-22

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/MV_Untethered/