On May 22, 2013 we trucked our Island Packet 35 back into the Island Packet Yachts Factory for their refit program. We planned to spend a summer at home and take a break from our full time cruising. We scheduled the boat to be inside the factory, on a Joules Yacht Trailer until Nov 4 when we are scheduled to truck back out. Our primary reason for trucking in, is to replace the chain plates on our 1994 yacht. I had no signs of issues, yet I wanted to be sure. You can't expect these systems to last forever, so I concluded there would be no better place, not better team, than the Island Packet Yachts Factory team to complete this job. So that is why I trucked in.
I will say, it turned out to be far more work to prepare the boat for trucking than expected! Everything and anything higher than the top of the bow pulpit needed to be removed. Items like: mast, canvas, solar panels, antennas, wifi, ssb. Then below deck, we EMPTIED the entire yacht. All lockers, sail locker, frig, freezer, food storage, clothing, spars, tools, safety items, etc! We boxed and moved all of this into a local storage 5' x 4' x 10' tall. Then we hauled out at Snead Island Boat Works to the truck, left our mast at Snead and sent the boat to the factory.
We worked out the ever expanding list of jobs and goals with Bill Bollin who directed the team on our many jobs. With six months to do this work, everyone has plenty of time to fit this work into the factory work of building new Blue Jackett Yachts and IPs.
Here the list of Jobs
copy of our list
Our Goal:
To refit Island Spirit from a safety and seaworthy standpoint focusing on systems and items that could sink the boat or cause major damages. Our primary goal and the main reason we have trucked into the factory is the chain plates. We are here because of this. Our secondary goal is seaworthiness. Note: We are re-rigging the mast at Snead Island.
The Jobs Requested (#1 concern is any hose to any seacock needs replaced as per Norm Pierce)
1. Chain Plates, remove and replace with new.
1-B. Since the water heater needs to be removed as part of the chain plate job, we would like a NEW water heater.
2. Sink drain hoses. Replace the Galley and Head Sink drain hoses.
3. Head sea water intake hose replacement. This includes the hose from galley thru hull to sea strainer in bilge over shaft.
4. New Engine Exhaust Muffler and exhaust hoses replacement.
5. Air Conditioning sea water intake hose replacement. Located center bilge up to AC pump.
6. Stern Tube, remove, inspect welds, replace cutlass bearing, re-install stern tube. Note my improved stainless steel threaded backing plate inside the hull. This allows for threaded bolts from the outside into this plate, plus this allows for easy removal and re-installation. NOTE: Stern tube UP position. I understand they have a slight angle. If stern tube is cracked, I would like a longer one installed.
7. Install gas struts in the Cockpit hatch lids, I have gas struts in the shallow locker.
8. V-berth bed, remove cutout at entrance and make the bed one full surface. We NEVER remove that curved cut out piece. When we get new mattresses, then we will get one piece.
9. Re-make exactly the laptop desk under table, with teak on one side and almond Formica on the other side with teak edges.
10 New Fiberglass Holding Tank level gauge and all new lines.
.....added in new macerator pump
10 a. Please add to this replacing the macerator pump with the same unit. Same install configuration, this has worked well. Lines to be the OdorSafe Dometic hoses and fittings. (SEE ABOVE #10)
11. Add Saltwater foot pump to Galley Sink.
12 Replace hand pump at galley sink.
13. Re-paint the mast step on the deck.
end copy of jobs
A few items I have learned so far (Sept)
1. Trucking is not that expensive. Joules Trucking is amazing!
2. Send your mast with the truck. It simply stays on the trailer in the factory.
3. Offloading is 10 times more work than you expect.
4. Use a POD for offload, no matter what the cost. POD can be dropped close to boat, then you are only moving everything twice, not 4 times.
4. The factory can do anything, make anything, fix anything, and improve everything.
5. Spell our goals and jobs clearly.
One alternative to trucking, is that you could hire the factory to come to your boat. This works best if you sail your boat to SALT CREEK MARINA, in St. Pete. (See Map Link) This location is 15 miles by roads from the Island Packet Yachts Factory. The factory can send a team to your boat for jobs. You pay the travel time. For a single job like chain plates, this could be a better way to save the haul out and trucking costs.
As for price of all our work, I would prefer that you get bids from the factory for your jobs. I will share that the average going rate, from my study, to replace chain plates is around $10K or a little less. That is not bad when you think about ripping out the entire interior of your boat, saloon, v-berth, head and hanging lockers!
As I get photos, I will add them.
Here is a Google Map of Refit Resources
tinyurl.com/ipyrefit
Hayden, getting excited to get Island Spirit back in the water and sailing!
