top of page
PROJECTS
Boat works and maintenance jobs, also known as repairs in exotic locations. The challenges of trying to fix things without speaking the language or knowing the place.
Coppercoat
Coppercoat antifoul treatment - preparation & application (part 2)
This stage of the preparation of the hull was not only backbreaking but also psychologically challenging.
Sailing The Dream
Nov 6, 2022
Coppercoat antifoul treatment - considerations and costs (part 1)
A pure cost analysis not factoring inflation over a period of 10 years puts normal antifoul paint at 4500€ against the 4200€ of Coppercoat
Sailing The Dream
Oct 24, 2022
Building a hardtop at anchor
Building a hardtop - costs, other numbers and conclusions (part 6)
To our surprise the weight difference between the old set-up with the original Bimini and the new hardtop was negligible.
Sailing The Dream
Oct 12, 2022
Building a hardtop - stainless steel works and installation of equipment (part 5)
They were quite surprised that John and I could lift it reasonably easily just the two of us
Sailing The Dream
Mar 27, 2022
Building a hardtop - joining the pieces and painting (part 4)
With a plan in mind, we prepared a set of lines and straps, arranged in a way that allowed us to flip the 3.8x3.8m hardtop
Sailing The Dream
Feb 26, 2022
Building a hardtop - fairing (part 3)
Once all the fibreglassing for both pieces was completed it was time to start working on preparing for fairing and primer painting.
Sailing The Dream
Feb 19, 2022
Building a hardtop - the construction (part 2)
With the decision of building the Bimini on the foredeck, we wasted no time while still waiting for a few work supplies we built a mockup
Sailing The Dream
Feb 12, 2022
Building a hardtop - the idea, concept and material choices (part 1)
After living on board for four years, we became more and more convinced that a rigid Bimini was one of the items that would improve our life
Sailing The Dream
Feb 4, 2022
Solar Power - Our Journey
Rigid solar panels - here we go
...when we went to order them the supplier had already run out of stock, damn we missed out the opportunity and the option was to settle wit
Sailing The Dream
Jul 28, 2019
Solar panels - what's next?
So, after some serious re-thinking of our current solar installation and the efficiency of the flexible panels, or in this case how they see
Sailing The Dream
Sep 9, 2018
Flexible solar panels - second season of use update
Our power production was affected in a way we were not expecting, considering that the previous season most of the times whilst docked in a
Sailing The Dream
Aug 21, 2018
How we power our batteries - solar energy
Power, electrical power, is the all-time battle and headache of any long-term sailor, of course, we can plug to shore in the marina or run t
Sailing The Dream
Oct 10, 2017
Batteries
The Dream - LiFePo4
A total of 600Ah capacity would give us up to 480Ah of usable power (at 80% discharge) of usable capacity with a total weight of 60kg
Sailing The Dream
Nov 27, 2022
Batteries failure - what went wrong!
Before moving onto The Dream back in 2017 we had spent a lot of time doing research and arriving at our decision with regards to the new...
Sailing The Dream
Mar 1, 2020
Replacing the batteries and running 220/240v full time
All it took was one touch on the electric winch after we had issues with the fuel tanks that stopped us from using the engine and the whole
Sailing The Dream
Aug 18, 2017
Transat - Repairs off the beaten track and another lesson learned - part 3
Between the suitcase and the new autopilot, I was already close to my weight allowance leaving only room for some clothes I could use to pad
Ana
Apr 8, 2023
Transat - Repairs off the beaten track and another lesson learned - part 2
After having our spirits crushed again when the autopilot blew the fuse after a couple of hours of use, we decided, we had nothing to loose
Ana
Apr 2, 2023
Transat - Repairs off the beaten track and another lesson learned - part 1
The dark cloud had rolled back over our heads, and we knew we had an urgent problem to be solved before we could start exploring the country
Ana
Mar 11, 2023
Transat - the Hydrovane and the jury rig
Despite being back at steering with the Hydrovane quite successfully, the failure of the autopilot presented a huge problem.
Ana
Feb 25, 2023
Galley mini-refit - Gimballed induction cooktop and convection oven
Since the beginning of our boat travels we did not like the idea of LPG on the boat.
Sailing The Dream
Nov 20, 2022
2019 Winter projects list
Some projects from last years jobs list weren't completed and there's also the new projects that another year living aboard demand a
John
Dec 16, 2019
Increasing the Diesel capacity
After a bit of work fitting the diesel heater in the deep stern locker and then installing the new diesel tank The Dream fuel capacity is no
Sailing The Dream
Aug 4, 2019
Warming up for a winter at anchor
We also plan to sail both high and low latitudes in the coming few years. So a diesel heater was a must.
Sailing The Dream
Jul 17, 2019
EPIRB, PLB, MOB devices - what are they, how do they work and what do we have
Every time we get into the discussion of what are our safety procedures and pieces of equipment with other sailors the discussion is always
Sailing The Dream
Jun 30, 2019
2018 Winter projects list - what was really done
Ok well goodbye 2018 and hello 2019, we hit a lot of repairs, projects and upgrades last year and the list is comprehensive, I thought we sh
John
May 29, 2019
Making the cockpit feel like home - cushions
The original Dufour cushions were just pathetic and embarrassing when one thinks of how "luxurious" they sell the brand. With the
Sailing The Dream
May 15, 2019
How to repair your Solar Panels
A lot has been said about flexible solar panels, one of the things is that they stop producing power quite easily. One of the reasons is the
Sailing The Dream
Mar 14, 2019
The ongoing bow thruster dramas
The AGM batteries are now right on five years old and we believe at the end of their life, again we don’t know the story of how were they ca
Sailing The Dream
Nov 23, 2018
2018 Winter projects list
With the end of the sailing season of 2018 it is time for some intensive care of The Dream, after all our yacht has just turned 5 years old,
John
Oct 22, 2018
How we steer just with wind
After having to completely rebuild our rudder bearing we decided we needed the R-word REDUNDANCY and thus we started our search for a backup
Sailing The Dream
Dec 15, 2017
How we replaced our seized rudder bearing assembly (part 1)
2 months have flown by and at the same time it feels days dragged by. (...)
It was day after day of 10-11 hours working in all sorts of diff
Sailing The Dream
Aug 20, 2017
Where have we been?
bottom of page