This will be the last post to the blog until we return to Mexico.
Our Visitor's Visa expires on the 28-Apr-2014. We were only required to leave the country for a day - actually we could have just walked across the boarder and then back again. But it gets pretty hot around here during the summer and the hurricane season is quite active so most cruisers find a safe place to leave their boat and then go away for a while. Some of them refer to this as their vacation - probably not something you would want to hear. So David searched the internet for cheap flights and he found one way tickets to Victoria for $218 each. That isn't even worth using air miles for. We do have to fly to Houston and overnight in Calgary however we have some very good friends in Calgary that we will be able to connect with - one way to turn an inconvenience into a convenience!
So this blog is dedicated to all the preparations involved when you leave your boat in a foreign country for any period of time.
First thing you have to do is decide where to leave it. It has taken us several months to make that decision. We chose the marina at Barra de Navidad for several reasons. It is already on our route without the need to backtrack. The summer rate is extremely reasonable at $11 a day or $330 per month. This rate is supposed to kick in on the 1st of May but David talked to the people at the marina office and they were kind enough to give us the reduced rate for April also. That just saved us about $400.00. It is a very protected marina and has survived previous hurricanes and is one of the few establishments that actually has hurricane insurance. There is 24 hour security and the main security office is just at the end of our dock.
Arturo has been doing some work for us and is very good and dependable and he has agreed to look after the boat while we are away. We have developed a very good relationship with him and feel very comfortable leaving the boat in his hands. He is one of the regular guys around here and has a good reputation. One day David had asked him where he could buy some more blue masking tape. Arturo said that you could get it at the marine store but it is very expensive. A better place would be Home Depot in Manzanillo - a half hour bus ride away. The next day we were away from the boat and when we returned there were two rolls of it sitting in our cockpit. He had been in town and just picked it up for us without us asking him too. We knew at that time that we could trust the guy with our boat! And today he dropped off half of a fresh watermelon because it was hot. He will clean the outside of the boat as needed along with the bottom and any other jobs that we ask him to. And he is on the hotline with the marina should anything come up that requires immediate attention. And yesterday he offered to drive us to the airport saving us a $55.00 cab fare.
The marina is only 20 minutes from the Manzanillo International Airport. And we will probably come back a little early so I get to make use of this wonderful pool while we prepare the boat both coming and going. So all in all we feel very good about our decision to keep the boat here. The free appetizer and bar night that the marina puts on every Thursday has also helped us make that decision!
The list is endless so we have decided to do the work in the mornings and then relax by the pool in the afternoon. This way we do not get stressed out and are still able to enjoy our slice of paradise.
Contacts:
* left Arturo and the Marina Office our contact information
* left Visa vouchers for moorage
* left cash for Artura for any unforeseen added expenses
Clear Decks:
* we have cleared the decks of all easily removable items
* cleaned and stowed the barbeque
* emptied and cleaned and stowed the jerry jugs and water jugs
* cleaned, deflated and stowed the dinghy
* bought and secured two heavy duty tarps with reflective material on one side to reduce the het penetrating the boat
Cleaning the Inside of the Boat:
* all cupboards had to be emptied and wiped down with a 5% bleach solution
* this included the area in the bilge and under the cushions in the vberth
* cushions were vacuumed and raised to an upright position to allow for better air circulation
* went through the lockers and got rid of old clothes and donated clothes that were too big to the young family that does our laundry
* washed all the bedding and vacuum sealed the good stuff and got rid of the rest
* put roach bait in all of the cupboards
* cleaned the stove and oven
* cleaned and emptied the fridge and freezer and turned it off
Engine:
* lubricated the throttle and shift parts
* checked the belts
* changed the engine oil and transmission oil
* changed the filters
* had recently drained! flushed and replaced the coolant so did not do it at this time
* replaced the oil orb sheets
Batteries:
* checked the fluid levels
* batteries are relatively new and were replaced in LaPaz
* batteries are still connected as boat will be plugged in
Life raft:
* new in August 2013
* will leave secured on deck
Medical:
* checked expiry dates on drugs
* all items can be replaced in Mexico and at a much lower cost
Outboard Motor :
* did oil change
* flushed with fresh water
* stored upright inside boat
Rigging:
* inspected rigging and made a list for replacement parts
* cleaned other winches that were not cleaned in Ensenada
Sails:
* removed stay sail, cleaned and stowed in boat
* removed genoa and stowed in boat
* decided to leave main sail on the boom
* put another wrap on the sail cover on the mainsail
Systems:
* flushed bilge with fresh water and added bilge treatment
* this step was a little frustrating as the bilge pump decided to stop working and David spent the better part of the day repairing it
* but he was successful!
* filled the propane tanks! closed valves and disconnected hoses
* topped up the refrigerant
* put biocides in the water maker
Tanks:
* filled fuel tanks and added bactericide
* flushed holding tanks and added vinegar
* lubricated the valves
* flushed the water tanks and added bleach
Insurance:
* checked with insurance company with regards to coverage
* updated content list and gave to insurance company
* took pictures of boat for insurance company
Boat is ready to go and we are ready to head back to Canada. As stated at the beginning of this blog - no more entries until we return to paradise. When will that be? I have no idea! That would involve long term planning which is something that is foreign to us now that we are retired!
Our new motto: all plans are written In the sand at low tide!
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