Monday 30 November Krabi Boat Lagoon

Moving on from Phuket we've arrived in Krabi Boat Lagoon, a whole in the mangroves south of Krabi town, for the final phase of repairs for the damage we sustained in a knock down outside the Philippines in January. 



removing section of guard rail

The first phase was back in May in Labuan when we were able to order and fit the damaged electrical components. Hearing glowing reports of the standard of steel work available in the boat yards in Thailand, and the availability of 316 steel, we elected to wait until now to have the guard rail and stanchions repaired. This afternoon the boat yard's steel work team arrived to remove the damaged section, port aft. The plan is to take the piece in to the workshop, try to straighten what they can and make new where they can't. They are also going to rebuild a fitting on the main sheet block which snapped. The electrician is due later to diagnose why the engine won't switch off with the key.  Through the small on site chandlery we can order replacement danbuoy, life ring and MOB light which may still be floating somewhere in the Pacific.

stanchion snapped off at base

Thai boat yards have a reputation for excellent wood work too; not a damage victim, but worn out with age, we've ordered a new teak table for the cockpit, what was affectionately known as our 'sushi bar', a small table which clips on top of the helm seat to be made and a new fly screen for the forward cabin.

cutting teak for table

While the craftsmen and women craft we've taken the opportunity of being in a marina with umlimited power and water to clean and polish the Jackster from the top of the mast to the waterline. A team of marina workers were booked to clean and polish the outside areas from the top of the masts down to deck, deck, freeboard, cockpit while David and I took care of the rest. David has polished all the bright work. I've emptied and sorted cupboards, scrubbed fenders, helped David scrub the dinghy. Even the cat has had a bath. She was chasing a local cat down the dock when the carpenter cut her off in mid flow with a length of timber and she ran in to the water. Luckily the pontoons aren't high and she was able to climb out.