ende

2023
02
May

Splashed!

Yippieh, after 1 and a half weeks of sanding, painting, replacing stuff, sweating, swearing, running, searching, shopping, 13 steps up the ladder to quickly fetch stuff, balancing on rickety scaffolding, swampy puddles to work in, constantly muddy feet, mosquito-ridden bathrooms and more sweating and swearing (oh and some more sweating and swearing, did I forget to mention that?) we are BACK IN THE WATER!

2023
02
May

How to replace an all-rubber cutlass bearing

We spent a week running after mechanics to help us remove the cutlass bearing, were strung along and advised impossible solutions until Christian finally decided to build a make-shift pusher himself: only 2 pieces of wood, 1 piece of steel tube, 2 threaded bars, 4 big washers and 6 nuts were necessary to makeshift this ingenious gadget!

When we replaced our cutlass bearing 3 years ago in Tahiti the only model available was all-rubber (nitrile). We didn’t think it was a bad idea at the time, but would never buy one again–the damn thing turned out to be nearly impossible to get out again as it simply bounced back whatever we tried to bang against it (with an array of ever-growing hammers)… We tried several contractors here at Vuda marina, but they all put us off to the afternoon/tomorrow/tomorrow, never showed up or insisted that we had to remove the shaft (a very complicated procedure on Pitufa that would require dismounting not only the aquadrive and gearbox on the engine side, but also the skeg on the outside!!). Soon we had half the yard discussing our problem and heard advice from freezing the rubber with dry-ice, via melting it all the way to cutting off the P-bracket and welding it back on.
Finally Christian decided to tackle the problem with his Mad-Max engineering approach that has often proved successful in the past when makeshifting repairs underway. Going through our lockers he found the necessary material and quickly improvised a cutlass-bearing extractor. Once in place he slowly tightened the nuts along the thread, gradually increasing the pressure of the steel tube on the rubber. The nuts seized twice on the threaded bars, the wood nearly cracked, but suddenly the resistance was gone and the bearing started moving! Once it was loose, he could hammer against the tube and push it out on of the P-bracket. Then he cut it open with a hacksaw and we could push in the new bearing!


2023
02
May

Read Online: Article on Atoll Navigation in Boating NZ

Birgit Hackl, Christian Feldbauer: Mind the Reef, Boating New Zealand, March 2023, p. 88–92. Read the online version of this article.

2023
28
Apr

Great antifouling for aluminium boats

Finding an antifouling that actually helps against growth is tricky for the owners of aluminium boats. After lots of disappointments we finally got a great product in Tahiti: Carboline Sea Barrier Alloy 100. We had it on for 3 years, never had to haul out and when we did last week it still looked good!
We couldn’t find Carboline in Fiji, so we had it shipped in from New Zealand prior to the haul-out. We can really recommend it for other aluminium boats.

2023
24
Apr

Shitty project

Christian had a fun day yesterday exchanging the hoses going to and (worse) from the toilet. After 20 years of use the job was overdue and pumping the toilet should be much easier now ;-)
In the meantime I was sanding some corrosion bubbles on the bow–climbing on scaffolding with angle grinder and orbital sander is not what the physio therapist suggested, but I can’t stand being idle in the boatyard…

2023
23
Apr

On the hard in Vuda marina

We hauled out last Thursday in Vuda to do some jobs on Pitufa: antifouling, little paint jobs, changing thru-hulls and some plumbing, etc.
Much to our surprise little Pitufa didn’t fit into the 63 t travelift: her high stern and radar arch exceeded the limits and Christian had to climb up to quickly to remove some bits before we could be put on the hard stand. Times on the hard are hard times with work from dawn to dusk, but I’m trying not to overdo it–and still do despite all good resolutions ;-)

2023
15
Apr

No twisting, no lifting, no pushing, no pulling

It’s easy to avoid all those motions, especially on a boat, right? In the beginning I counted myself lucky that my ribs were healing quickly and I thought I’d be back to normal in a jiffy. Now it’s been two months since we had the accident and my ribs still refuse to get stable. I’ve been cautious all the time, only tried some gentle exercises, but apparently one of the lower ribs has still not healed (might be slipping rib syndrome, which can hopefully be cured by rest).
At least I can write and make jewellery, so that’s what I’ve been doing this week while avoiding movements and willing my body to finally heal.

2023
14
Apr

Battery monitor

Our friends arrived loaded with spare parts for Pitufa–one of them was a replacement for the battery monitor that got fried when we were hit by lightening in Suva. Yesterday Christian finally got round to installing it and the little job turned into a full day project as the shunt wouldn’t fit into the battery compartment and Christian had to remake the whole mounting. One of those annoying and typical boat jobs where there’s hardly enough space to reach the work piece, let alone using tools… I was assisting handing stuff and occasionally I ran to the medical cabinet for iodine (even small cuts need to be disinfected in the tropics), Flammazine (great cream for burns, e.g. from dripping solder) and Traumeel (miracle cream against bruises). Now the little box is installed and working and we can see the energy production and consumption again–so important on a green boat with only alternative energy sources!

2023
02
Apr

Back in the water

My ribs are still causing me some pain and trouble, but snorkeling I hardly notice them! The Yasawas have been a bit disappointing underwater. We had assumed that islands that rely heavily on tourism would protect the underwater world for the sake of their attraction on visitors, but most places we have seen are heavily overfished and the coral is also not in great shape. Today we found a real gem though with healthy reefs, plenty of swarm fishies and even a turtle and a white-tippy reef shark came by to say hello!

2023
01
Apr

Friends visiting

Our friends Bonnie and Ryan from San Diego are visiting, so we get to play tourists for two weeks! We are taking them up the island chain of the Yasawas which remind us of the Marquesas with spectacular mountain views, but rolly anchorages.

2023
10
Mar

Sailing again!

Almost 4 weeks have passed since our accident. Christian’s as good as new and I’m now also making good progress after some set-backs. My ribs and lungs have healed well (I slept lying down in bed for the first time again!) and yesterday I got the results of the MRI scan of my elbow and the all-clear to start moving it gently!
So today we sailed Pitufa out of Suva harbour and to a nearby anchorage. Taking her in through the reef pass with a 1.5 m swell making her surf at times and breaking waves on both sides was quite an emotional challenge for me. Christian offered to take the wheel, but I knew I had to face my fears to get over the trauma. All went well and we went for a swim afterwards–I managed to climb the stern ladder without assistance :-)

2023
09
Mar

Our Rapa Iti mooring project in Cruising World!

We installed 2 moorings for sailboats in the beautiful, but difficult anchorage in the bay of Rapa Iti (French Polynesia) together with the local community to protect the delicate staghorn coral. There are two strong, safe moorings for sailboats there now, so crews no longer have to risk their anchor and chain in the deep bay with plenty of coral heads.
The article can be read online for free!
If you make it there, please use the moorings and make sure to dive on them, check them and leave a donation for the community!

2023
04
Mar

Slowed down

Yesterday we went to Suva to meet up with an NGO about the Tabu and to do some grocery shopping. We were quite astounded when strangers stopped us on the street to shake our hands and wish us well. Turns out we were on the cover of the Fiji Sun–we had given an interview the week before…
Despite all the cheering and good wishes, the mood is a bit gloomy on Pitufa. I still have no MRI results for my elbow and don’t know whether simply immobilising is the right course of action and my lungs and ribs are giving me trouble again. Bureaucratic hurdles for donations are slowing our x-ray project down, so we went to the ministry of Itaukei affairs yesterday and hope to make progress. The guidelines on applications for MAKING a donation are a dozen pages long and the first part is mainly threats what will happen if you don’t get it right ;-)

2023
25
Feb

Matuku aid project – support is growing!

We are still determined to get some positive outcome for the islanders of Matuku from the boating accident we and Maikeli Tamani (the deceased headman) suffered there. 2 weeks have passed and we are making progress! We still have not decided on an x-ray machine, but several offers have come in. If you have ideas, contacts with medical equipment contacts, get in touch with us!
After comparing options it looks like goFundme will be the best platform to collect donations, we’ll keep you posted.
We are in touch with the doctor of Yaroi hospital (Matuku) and his superiors for practical issues (suitability of equipment, importing, etc.).
Tony Philp of Vuda Marina and Coprashed Marina has spontaneously offered to provide buoys, ground tackle and some fuel for the Tabu-fish protection zones in Matuku, thanks Tony!
John Hembrow, founder of Down under Ralley and their Ahoy Magazine has offered support, thanks John!
BoatingNZ magazine and Austrian Yachtrevue will run articles about the accident–thanks John and Judith!
Christian is almost back to full strength after some physio-therapy and injection into his inflamed shoulder, I’m still slowed down by my 5 broken ribs (healing nicely) and pneumothorax (almost gone according to the latest x-ray), but not being able to use my right arm due to a partial tear in the triceps tendon is more annoying than the other injuries as it keeps me from what I’m best at–writing.

2023
25
Feb

Pitufa on the cover of Ahoy magazine!

John Hembrow of DownUnderRalley noticed our reports about our experience of spending the cyclone season cruising the Lau Group of Fiji. He got in touch with us to ask whether we wanted to contribute to the Ahoy online magazine and much to our surprise and delight, Pitufa’s on the cover of the current edition! The magazine’s free, so enjoy!

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