Progress: It Is Coming Together
- Blue Tortuga
- Dec 23, 2022
- 3 min read
We spent some time over the last week moving - but NOT onto the boat. As our scheduled
time to play tourist has come to an end, it meant we needed a new place to stay. We had spent far too much time trying to find a place that would allow us to do a short-term rental with furniture, during the height of the holiday season. However, with the help of a diligent real estate agent, we were able to locate an apartment that fit the bill. We learned a lot about the process of ‘living’ in South Africa as we are no longer ‘tourists’. At least in terms of our living arrangements. More details to come on that in a post titled: “Intermission from Boat Building: CAUTION CALIFORNIA”.
Now that we are closer to the plant where the boat is being built, it is a little easier to get to the plant more regularly. That is good and bad as we don’t see as much progress between visits – sometimes painfully little progress. Perhaps not because the work has stopped, but more related to the painstakingly slow application of resin, sanding, re-applying resin, sanding, re-applying resin, sanding . . . you get the idea. Work that is all too familiar for other owners that have done boat projects.
See this video at Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmL3YbEjgbW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Preparation on other components continues which is also very hard to see. It is work that occurs off the boat itself in preparation to add items to the vessel. Components continue to roll in and will soon be installed. Meanwhile the craftsmen continue to prepare, elements for install.
Though a few components remain difficult to get, like the windlass. We made a visit with our builder to the supplier and promise after promise is that the windlass is on a ship and will arrive, and each week goes by and it does not arrive. ☹
However, there is a continued accumulation of products bought for the vessel that pile up in storage areas of the plant. From small items like faucets, plumbing hoses, spools of wire, and hatches to larger items like a life raft, stove top, refrigerator, freezer, toilets and the like. Boxes and boxes and boxes of “bits” as the Builder calls them. Every nook and cranny is full of "bits".
We have been in country 5 weeks when the last of the status pics are shared and clearly work toward a final product continues. We are exercising patience and trying to make the most of our time in South Africa.
Our one-year completion date came and went in mid-December and we still do not have a target launch date. That is said because it seems to be a very loosey-goosey time frame. Mid-January, late January, early February, it is hard to assess whether they just really don’t know, don’t want to commit, or just like to keep us guessing. But that issue is really overshadowed by the lack of productivity at least from the productivity we are used to in the US.
We need to remember "We are not in the United States anymore and the eight-hour work day is far from the norm", at least in this instance. Everyone is out by 14:00 on Fridays. Start time is uncertain. Though we can appreciate that it is not the norm, what is more troubling is the acknowledgement that they are behind schedule and the shop will be closed for two weeks at Christmas and leadership is off for several more weeks in addition to that time.
Celtic Yachts is known as a boutique, custom builder and they clearly love building
quality boats. Time is definitely a tertiary factor. However, it is stressful for us, especially being here in country. Adding to that stress point is knowing the time on our South African Visa is ticking ever closer to expiration, our apartment rental agreement will be up in February, and our original launch date (December 1st) is now in the rear view mirror and our plans for sailing around the iconic cape have all but disappeared. We are trying to find the positive.
Focused on getting the vessel finished: here is the progression of things from our first visit November 14 to December 14.
Bimini Top Fabrication:
Port Forward Cabin / Utility Room:
Port Head:
Boat building is meticulous work and anyone that has done boat work will attest to the fact that it ALWAYS takes longer than you think. But we are not professional boat builders . . . in the end it takes time. <Sign> Lots and lots of time.
While we are confident that a solid, sea-worthy vessel is being built. We just don't quite know when we will be done. They say sailing is about being flexible. Sailors get into trouble when they sail to a schedule. We are learning that in spades.
Stay tuned! There is definitely more to come!
Always slow at this stage, but this could be the most important stage! Great blog site. I always look forward to seeing what is happening. Happy Christmas! And stay safe.
Looking at the pics of what they have stockpiled for your boat, I see 3 toilets. Do you really need 3 toilets?