Wednesday 26 February 2020

Launch

Taiko - Magenta Petrel

The new name to the boat is beginning to stick and the boat is becoming more like our home. Much has been accomplished in the last month since our last post and we are very pleased with our endeavor.
Taiko, to our knowledge, has never been a live aboard vessel or undertaken lengthy periods of cruising and as such lacked a few comforts we consider essential. The most basic of which was a simple table from which to dine in comfort. We imported and fitted two adjustable aluminium bases and table tops from the UK to remedy the problem. While these are not an ideal sea going table it was the most expedient method of obtaining usable table space as opposed to building something from scratch given the difficulty of tracking down good quality timber and fittings in Mexico.

Tables mounted on each side of the engine box.

With crew dining to port and occasional guest dining to starboard, the result is pleasing for use at anchor or for sailing in moderate conditions. I console myself with the thought that nothing stays put on a table in developed sea anyway.

Meanwhile work has continued on the outside of the ship. With the major part of the paint work complete the modified rudder was painted and re-hung and the computer generated name graphic applied to the hull.

The new applied to the hull.

The paint crew seemed to take a strong personal interest in our project. Their pride in their work was very evident from the beginning but as work progressed it was their subtle ways of discouraging us from some course of action or another that demonstrated their commitment to a quality finish. They added small extras to enhance the work; the white line around the water line, the boat name carefully placed to accommodate the fridge cooling water outlet (as can be seen above in the middle of the 'a') and the addition of our names on the rudder stock.

Names on the rudder stock.



The short video above shows us just launched. Unfortunately the travel lift engine is still running and makes a terrible noise so I recommend you turn your speakers off to watch it.

1 comment:

  1. Congratulation !!!
    What a beautiful bird ... and a beautiful boat ... not to speak of the beautiful souls of it´s owners :)
    You really did a great job <3

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