Every month, we publish an unfiltered list of things we dealt with while living full-time on our sailing catamaran. We hope these monthly behind-the-scenes reports give you a better idea of what boat life is really like! If you’d like to support our efforts and gain access to even more behind-the-scenes content (tech details, wiring diagrams, exclusive updates, ad-free videos) join our Crew or become a VIP! Here is the roundup for December 2024:

• We noticed severe chafe on our first reefing line, so Ray cut out the affected portion.
• I polished our stainless steel once. I am nearly out of polish and hope to find more in the Marquesas. 
• We hauled out at Technimarine in Tahiti after discovering water in our starboard sail drive. Raiatea has a more affordable haul-out facility, but we are only insured in Tahiti, Moorea, Tuamotus, and the Marquesas during cyclone season. Here is the breakdown of our final invoice, converted to USD:
  • Haul out, pressure wash, stalling of boat, splash: $1729.59
  • Daily storage fee: $150.41; we stayed for 16 days
  • Accommodation: ~$100 per night
  • Mechanical work (removing propellor, oil seal, cleaning of all parts, removing axis on both sides): $591.73

We had an excellent experience at Technimarine. Had we not found issues beyond the sail drive seals, their staff would have had us in and out there in 24 hours. 

• We did not find an obvious cause of the leak in our sail drive. However, we were surprised to see significant wear on the port shaft. This shaft did not seal from the factory and had two speedi sleeves pressed on. A deep groove had been worn into the shaft ahead of where the sleeves were installed. 

The mechanics agreed it was best to repair or replace the shaft. We hoped to find a machine shop to build up the metal around the groove and grind it back down to spec, but no one could do that in Tahiti. We began contacting shops out of the country but were quoted a minimum 2-week lead time to complete the job. When exploring replacement options, we were quoted 4X the price for a new shaft in Tahiti. To purchase it in the USA and have it shipped to Tahiti, a $200 agent fee is required, and in our experience, it takes weeks to clear a package through customs. Factoring in the price of yard time, purchasing a new shaft in the USA and a round-trip flight to pick it up was the cheapest option. So, that’s what we did. Thank you, Just Catamarans, for assembling our shaft with new gears and quickly getting it to us in Texas. We spent $1,472.36 for the shaft and ~$500 on airfare. 

• While reattaching the propellers, we noticed the mechanic forgot the unique washer that bends in two places, securing the bolt on our flexofold props. We reminded him and watched him bend it incorrectly, cracking the tab 75% of the way. Thankfully, we had a spare, reviewed the manual with him, and got it right the third time. One part bends forward, the other bends backward. We always insist on doing the work ourselves or keep a close eye on the person doing it. This is how it should look when installed properly:

• We finally had the aft portions of our helm enclosure repaired by Sellerie Marine de Tahiti for $600. We replaced the forward panels a couple of years ago but did not have room in our budget to do the rest. We have regretted that decision ever since. We’ve continually had to re-stitch and duct tape them together as the thread disintegrated and the plastic crumbled. With the heavy rain in French Polynesia, keeping the helm dry has become increasingly important. We are thrilled to have this checked off of our to-do list. 

• While on anchor in Tahiti, we experienced 6 days of squalls bringing 40kn winds and thick sheets of rain. We were thankful to be in an empty anchorage with 280ft of brand-new anchor chain out (and to have a generator!). 
• We got our asses kicked during our passage from Tahiti to the Marquesas. An unforecasted storm swallowed us for three days as we sailed close hauled into 10-12ft seas, struggling to make any headway toward our destination. We turned downwind and ran with it for a while. At one point, we were able to maintain SOG 5kn with no engines on and no sails up. The trip took us 7 days and was our most challenging passage to date. 

• While motoring to the Tuamotus, we heard a high-pitched whine from our starboard engine. A similar sound is what initially alerted us to the water in the sail drive, but upon inspection, there was none this time. We turned off our chargers to determine if it was coming from the alternator, but the sound persisted. We’ve concluded it may have been a singing prop. The sound went away after a few hours. 
• After a rough upwind passage, we realized one of our bobstays had detached from the bowsprit. There was minimal damage to the hull from the stainless whacking against it, nothing beyond the gel coat. We’ve never had this happen, and aren’t sure what caused it. We should have done more thorough inspections while underway despite the sea state. We will have to reshape the attachment point before we can use the bow sprit again.  

• Our starboard head was leaking around the base. Ray replaced the macerator motor, which stopped the leak. We kept the old motor and plan to rebuild it. 
• A portion of our teak on the portside sugarscoop has separated from the fiberglass, allowing water to get underneath. Ray pulled it up and added some adhesive to reattach it to the deck. 
• They’ve implemented a new monthly tax for cruisers in Nuku Hiva for household waste (obligatory, $9.16) and water (optional, $9.16) that we paid at the chandlery. 

We hope you enjoyed this month’s behind-the-scenes report!