Refit year 12

 12th refit and 5th winter in Marina Coruña, Spain

While I am busy with my Yachtmaster Shorebased courses in coastal/offshore sailing and ocean sailing as well as holding talks at boot Düsseldorf the great team at Marina Coruña is no less busy taking care of my fine old lady for the forthcoming season.

To all my Regina Family and Friends, who join the theory courses as well as sharing good time onboard Regina Laska with likeminded family members of the Reginasailing tribe: Thank you for making this possible and keeping Regina Laska in such a splendid condition.  

The following is being inspected, refurbished, fixed and improved so that guests can sail in Safety, Comfort and Style. This is what is currently being done at Regina Laska during the winter of 2023-24, my 12th refit-season with this boat. This page is constantly being updated as work is progressed. 

 

Polished hull and repairing the mark in the stern

As in every year, Regina Laska's hull is being polished and waxed. 

Also the dent that happened earlier last summer is being completely repaired with the transom receiving a new cover of spray-paint.  Thank you, Robin for your excellent work! 

 

Re-activating Coppercoat

The hull is being sanded to a minimum to re-activate the Coppercoat. (see main picture above) 

 

Stainless steel rub-rail refurbished  

The stainless rub-rail around the hull has been taken off in order to polish the metal and also to clean and polish the hull under the rub-rail. Due to lack of oxygen screws rust and the hull under the rub-rail needs to be cleaned after 10 years.

New screws in teak 

The solid teak foot rail is original and thus screwed and not vacuum glued. Some of the teak plugs were missing and where the plugs were still in place, some black discolouring around the plugs can be seen. Therefore these are replaced with new screws and plugs.

New mast foot 

During a routine inspection by Marina Coruna's rigging team, it was discovered that the teak under the mast foot got compressed with a bent mast foot as a consequence. 

The teak under the mast foot is replaced by solid uncompressable GRP and a new mast foot is installed.

 

Paintspray Furuno Covers 

After years in the sunshine, the white Furuno covers got black spots. Also, they don't really match the smart gray control panel. So the covers have now been paint sprayed in the same colour. 

 

 

Propspeed redone on Bow-Prop 

Every 2-3 years the Propspeed has to be redone on the main Flexifold Propeller and the bow-prop. This year, it is time to fix up the Propspeed on the bow-prop. 

 

 

Mussels in through-hulls 

It's impressive, but the fresh Galicien water is ideal for mussel growth. Highly welcome on the dish, but not everywhere... The through-hulls need to be cleaned and painted further in with anti-fouling.

 

Bathrooms polished 

As in each year, both bathrooms are polished and refurbished for yet another sailing season in comfort and style.

 

Bathrooms re-painted  

In order go maximise the feeling of freshness and retained beauty, the bathrooms have been masked, sanded down and repainted giving a nice structure of the surface. Nothing beats a nice welcoming bathroom without any smell. 

 

 

 

New cupboard doors for bathrooms  

The bathroom doors were not painted with moist-safe paint and so moist eventually penetrated the wood after many years in a wet surrounding.

 

New doors have been made with moisture proof endings. 

 

 

 

 

Refurbished hatch frame  

A black moisture spot became visible in the forward hatch which is a result from a leaking hatch seal. 

 

Rather than just fixing it, the frame was dismantled and the Lewmar seal replaced and the complete mahogany frame refurbished to its previous beauty.

 

 

 

All winches serviced 

As in each year, all winches are taken apart and looked at and necessary parts are being exchanged. The new or cleaned parts are being greased and put together for yet another sailing season.

 

Rigging screws taken apart and inspected

All rigging screws have been taken apart and inspected despite the fact (or maybe exactly therefore?) I have only been sailing for two seasons or 10,000 miles with them. It's good to check if they have any early signs of misproduction. Nothing the like, yet it's good to check and re-grease.

Changing from clam-cleat to Spinlock for preventer

One accidental jibe was more than enough to understand the weakness of clam cleats. Luckily the Dyneema rope was sliding through the clam cleat and thus was acting as a boom-break, but one thing was for sure: It didn't hold the massive load of a jibe. Therefore, the new clam-cleats, which I never really trusted, have now been changed to true Spinlock clutches, the best. 

 

Servicing gears of dinghy davits

It's 5 years since they were inspected and serviced last time, so it was time to take apart the gearbox for the davits. All good as new now, I am told.

 

 

Service and replace steering gear 

Less lucky were were when taking apart the complete Whitlock/Mamba steering system by Lewmar. It's 25 years old, after all and I could feel a play in the steering wheel, meaning that I could move the steering wheel about a finger's width without the rudder moving. Time to take apart and check. There are three gearboxes: One in the pedestal connecting the aft of the steering wheel with the vertical shaft into the engine room. A second gearbox connecting the said vertical rod to the horizontal rod from the engine room to the aft cabin, and a third big gearbox under the aft cabin berths connecting the horizontal rod with the tiller arm moving the rudder shaft.

 

See the  below picture enlarged as a pdf here. 

When the first gearbox was opened it looked ugly and greasy, but this was easily cleaned. What was revealed behind the grease were rather worn cogwheels. 

The gear taken out of the engine room with the Mamba autopilot drive still attached to it.

All the gears have now been taken apart, cleaned and packed and sent to Lewmar in England for inspection, rebuild and/or replacement. Luckily they seem to have necessary spare parts in stock, which is fantastic news considering that this steering is over 25 years old! Good designs don't change apparently! I can so far only talk very warmly about this excellent service of Lewmar! 

 

 

 

 

 

Changing the windows in the harddtop

After 25 years, the frame of the hardtop windows have begun to corrode and the rubber has become stiff. Especially around the screws you can see that the stainless steel screws don't do well in the aluminium frames after 25 years. Click on the correspondent thumbnail for a blow-up. 

 

Below are photos of the newly installed windows in the hardtop. From afar, the difference might not be noticeable but the windows will last for at least for another 25 years, i.e. my lifetime and they fit perfectly. It was a straight swap and quickly made, actually. Sometimes you are surprised how easy it goes when you work with true professionals! 

 

 

Changing the fresh water pump

Since I sail so much with guests, the fresh water pump is running extensively. Therefore I change it every 2-3 years. I felt it was time again, just to be on the safe side.

 

Anti-chafing stainless steel on footrail 

When mooring in a gale (see my article in German magazine YACHT here) I like hanging the fenders on the lower end of the stanchions to avoid extensive pressure on the lifeline. Hanging them there, however, often involves chafing against the teak foot-rail. Therefore protective stainless steer lists will be fitted under each stanchion. 

 

Completely service davits 

The mechanism of the Simpson davits are being taken apart and serviced. I do this every 5 years. 

 

Weak GPS-strength 

During 2023 the GPS-signal has been a bit weak. I can't tell if it has anything to do with the war in Ukraine or if it's an issue with my own GPS and/or antenna. My main Furuno SC33 GNSS-receiver is a Multi-GNSS with GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS satellite networks while the Furuno GP33 only receives GPS which is feeds into the VHF for DSC and acts as a spare GPS. 

There will now be a spare for the spare GPS, so to speak, which equally is a Multi GNSS receiver. 

New EPIRB by Jotron 

Jotron has recently launched a new type of EPIRB TRON60AIS, working with both Satellite as well as on AIS frequency. It is, in other words, a combined EPIRB with SART AIS function. 

This AIS is approved in accordance with the latest EPIRB standard and has an AIS homing technology for faster location. It is also prepared for RLS (Return Link Service) through Galileo GNSS, which means that one can get an approval of the received emergency signal by the MRCC. The LED light is also flashing with an infrared light to assist the SAR to find you. And last, but not least, it has an 11 years and 3 months battery lifetime! 

 

This new EPIRB will be placed in a float-free bracket with a Hammar H20 hydrostatic release unit and is additional to the TRON60GPS EPIRB and the TRON AIS SART which are carried in the grab-bag.

 

New PLB by Jotron 

In addition to the 6 MOB-1 by Ocean Signal, there will also be a brand new PLB by renown Jotron, the recently launched SA20PLB.  I have been waiting for this PLB for years and I am really excited that it is now on the market! It's features are outstanding and I am excited to be one of the first ones to receive this new PLB.

It works on both 406MHz for satellite alerts as well as 121.5 MHz homing frequency. It has a Return Link Service (RLS) and works for all major GNSS (GPS, Galileo and Glonass). Like the TRON60AIS EPIRB this small Personal Location Beacon (PLB) has an IR-LED flash so it will be easier to find by Search And Rescue vessels (SAR). It has a mobile APP connectivity and a fantastic battery life of 11 years! 

 

 

 

Changed Heating element 

After 5 years, it's time to change the heating element in the boiler for preventive purpose. It's hard to do while underway and I don't want my guests to lack any hot water. During winter, its an easy thing to do for the yard and this element is not lasting for ever.

 

 

 

All 6D life-jackets upgraded with Spinlock HRS-system 

All main life jackets (Spinlock 6D) are being refitted with the Spinlock Harness Release System (HRS). In case you fall overboard are still clipped on, it's essential to stop the boat immediately by means of a crash-stop (i.e. tack without touching any sheet to end up in an hove-to position). Lacking that, the person being pulled along the side will drown. The MOB then quickly needs to release himself from being clipped on. This is done by pulling the blue line on the HRS. 

new 6D life-jackets for your skipper 

While all guests have already received the upgraded Spinlock 6D wests two years ago, your skipper still used his old 5D version. With the battery now having to be replaced for the skipper's  MOB1 PLB (which everyone onboard has), it was decided that the skipper grants himself a new Spinlock 6D with a new MOB1 PLB. 

New Danbuoy 

The Dan-Buoy fades and the plastic gets brittle after some years so this essential safety equipment is being replaced once we arrived in Lymington (Brexit!). Ocean Safety was chosen, not because it's overwhelmingly well designed but simply because there isn't any other MCA approved version that is better. Personally, I prefer the inflatable Jon Buoy Danbuoy & Horseshoe combination by Ocean Safety (which Regina Laska has as well) but unfortunately it's only approved on smaller boats, where a rigid Danbuoy cannot be carried. Hence, Regina Laska caries both: The rigid te be approved and the inflatable one to be used in first hand. 

 

 

New pots and pans 

At boot Düsseldorf I got in touch with a company called Cook Vision.

 

For more than 30 years this company has been developing and producing innovative products for everything to do with cooking, with a focus on cookware and steamers. Over the years they have applied for a large number of patents and received kitchen innovation awards. So far they have developed and produced almost exclusively as OEM for well-known brands in the industry, but for the first time they are now reaching out directly to the boating industry with a new product range called nesto. 

I have bought a set consisting of 14 pots, handles and lids that neatly stack into each other and thus saves huge amount of space.

The removable handle feels very sturdy and the cookware is made in very high quality.

Cook Vision has been kind enough to grant a 10% discount to to the Reginasailing community, so don't be shy to use it. I have not come across any other discount other than a similar discount they gave during the boot Düsseldorf week (Discount Code for Reginasailing family and friends: Reginasailing). 

 

New cups and plates for underway 

The company Marine Business was again chosen for new Melamine plates to be used underway. While at anchor or in a marina, we use the special Hallberg-Rassy china by Swedish Rörstrand, but for underway Melamine is simpler and safer to use. We chose the Sailor Soul series to suit the blue and white Hallberg-Rassy design. 

 

New toy: Laser Rangefinder 

Every year, I tend to catch myself treating Regina Laska with some necessary unessential toy. Last year, it was the handheld digital depth sounder. This year's it's a 1,000 m Laser Range finder by Huepar. 

The idea is that it will come in handy when measuring distances to shore or other boats while at anchor or to determine how much rope we would need to bring a line to shore or... Well, I'm sure I can come up with more reasons why I bought it! Eventually.