Sailing Around Australia; It's Only Money

Boatworks Coomera, Gold Coast Qld

12/7/2015 It’s Only Money

After 18 days on the hardstand at the Boatworks near the Gold Coast, Easy Tiger was lifted back in to the water on Friday.

55 of the 79 jobs were completed by 7 different trades, with 500 hours of labour, 14 trips to Bunnings, 20 trips to the chandlery and about $12,000 spent.

All in all several of the long list of jobs were essential. Other items might make life a bit easier and some were blatantly cosmetic.

On the upside, Easy Tiger is more self sufficient, is better organized and probably a few kilos lighter. The hull is now nicely polished, has three coats of high quality anti foul paint and the “whoopses” repaired.

On the down side, we probably could have lived for 12 weeks on money we spent, but something may well have broken on the boat had we not repaired it.

For example, both the engines have been stripped back, rustproofed, repainted serviced and tuned. They had become quite rusty after being doused with salt water during our sailing adventures. Also, the bows are now reinforced where the spinnaker bowsprit pull down cables are attached. These were suffering as they take the full force of our multi purpose sail when it fills with wind.

Other jobs, while not as essential as preventing rust overwhelming the engines will make tasks easier, like getting in and out of the dinghy and having the barbecue out of the wind. We have a new BBQ and grab rail, new rope cleats and repositioned dinghy tie on cleats. New LED strip lighting mounted in sail track will brighten up our evenings indoors where previously we would fossick around in dim, low light.

One item we had been managing to do without for the past couple of years, was the washing machine. The problem was that we had not allowed enough money for Laundromats in our original budget. We find that a couple of machine loads and then some time in the dryers seems to cost about $30 or thereabouts and as this is a weekly expedition it adds up quickly.

Coupled with this is the logistical battle of trying to find a Laundromat close the an anchorage and then dragging the washing into and out of the dinghy, or waiting to do laundry during a stay at a marina berth. We were also looking for ways that we could stay away from marinas for longer as they are getting more expensive as we go into the popular sailing areas.

The first issue we faced when thinking of installing a washing machine was where to store it aboard, when not in use. A quick survey of the boat revealed the only possibility was to strap it on to the roof, as all other potential places were taken. At this point we were thinking a cheap twin tub type washer, but storing a bulky item like that until required is presented a real problem. We found a place that we could make a cupboard to store it in, but to go to that effort, we might as well get a machine “built in”.

After a quick measure up I calculated that it would fit in our rear cabin where there were three drawers that could be removed. A trip to Bunnings and Good Guys revealed that most 5kg machines were way too big and drew too much power for our generator to handle. Then after some research we found a 4kg Camec RV front loader washing machine that would fit perfectly (Or so I thought). Problem was it was double the price of standard “Good Guys” type washers.

After much debate, we decided that the machine would pay for itself within a year, so we could go a bit over our budget. We ordered the washing machine and it was delivered a day later. I got to and removed the drawers. Battling the 80kg machine through a doorway that was exactly the same width as the machine and then twisting it into position by myself was no mean feat. Then I found the real problem. The opening was actually about 6mm too narrow!

I contemplated cutting the opening out a bit more. But the sight of nicely finished timber work, routed edges and the overall presentation of interior of Easy Tiger stopped me in my tracks. It would have to be done by a professional.

A visit from the boat cabinet maker and $800 fixed the problem. So for exactly 2.5 times our budget, the washing machine works well and I would say that in 2 and a half years should have paid for itself. BUT!

Now with a great washing machine using 32 litres of water per cycle, we are going to need a whole lot more water, which means finding water sources and either lugging it in jerry cans or pulling into fuel jetties and marina berths weekly to top up the water supply.

There is no problem that money can’t fix. Feeling very light headed from much debate and empty walleted we ordered a Rain Man desalination unit. These come as a portable unit and can produce 140litres of water per hour. Water problem solved. BUT!

Where are we going to store this when not in use? After a long search and again much more “debate” the anchor chain was taken off and replaced with our spare that we had been keeping for a rainy day. Also one of our 2 spare anchors was thrown off. All in all we took of nearly 100 kilos.

Leanne hit upon a brain wave and as she is the Gumtree queen, advertised the old rusty chain and the anchor. A day later we had $180 in our pockets and were rid of the cast off.

I have for some time, with very limited success said to Leanne, “if something new comes on to the boat, something old will be thrown off”. For some time I had been thinking and planning how to get rid of some weight off the boat. Our water line is now 100mm higher than when we bought the boat, due to the weight we have brought aboard and that affects our sailing performance.

So I was vey pleased to get the old anchor and chain off. I was very pleased when Leanne finally decided to part with some clothes and shoes that didn’t fit into our newly rennovated walk in robe. I also had a throw out of odds and sods we hadn’t used for quite a while and were storing for the maybe one day. I could feel Easy Tiger lighter and a half a knot faster already.

My hopes however were dashed though, when I did the maths. 20kilos of old clothes removed, 20 kilos of odds and sods thrown off, 100 kilos of chain and anchor gone. 80 kilos of washing machine added, 50 kilos of water desalinator, 10 kilos of new weights for dive belts and… doh! Just as heavy as before.

So now we are back in the water and staring at a bucket full of invoices. We kind of feel sick about the money we spent and laugh when we look at the budget amounts we allocated for each job.

But with a nice shiny, organised and maintained boat ready for the next part of our sailing around Australia adventure, we’ve just got to take a deep breath and say… it’s only money!