Ingenious solutions

 

Ia Orana!

We have been on a minibreak to Baie Vairahi this week.  It’s a beautiful little bay on the east side of Raiatea – a new anchorage for us and more importantly the place where Esteban runs his dinghy repair business.  Esteban is a lovely chap from Argentina who like many others has ended up in Raiatea semi permanently after a Trans-Pacific crossing.  Somewhat worryingly his boat is no longer.  When and where it sank, we didn‘t like to enquire but now he is doing up a beautiful old monohull in the bay and financing the work with multiple enterprises including … dinghy repair.

Sunset at the mooring

Turbulent weather at the mooring

According to his Facebook page Esteban repairs “any” dinghy. Who could resist such a glowing endorsement? Under the current circumstances we certainly couldn't and a meeting was arranged forthwith.  Like so many face to face interactions here the details were sketchy. To allow for this, it was decided that Skipper would set off to meet Esteban at the marina in the newly pumped and sponged out problem dinghy and I would follow in the relief vessel (old dinghy) should it be required.  I waited and waited – a complete “comms blackout” (as Skipper sometimes remarks of my texting efforts).  I finally made a unilateral decision and somewhat reluctantly released the painter. The next 25 minutes were ugly - swell and spray  making for a 25-minute saltwater shower.  I arrived bedraggled and exhausted only to find the meeting over.  Esteban had left…without the dinghy, and the work would be done on board over the weekend. Needless to say no relief vessel was required!  I was not best pleased, but Skipper seemed immune.  He was delighted with the result in fact.   Apparently, the repair would involve stuffing tractor inner tubes into slits made into  our existing tubes and  then inflating the inner tubes through valves that would now protrude out of the old rubber exterior – just like a bicycle tyre repair.  Genius!  What could possibly go wrong?  I could think of a few things but decided to keep quiet.  We returned to Papillon in convoy with Skipper magnanimously offering to take the relief vessel.  No drenching could quench his spirits - operation dinghy repair was still in business!!

Better weather up the hill

New fish at the harbour

A couple of days later we set sail for Baie Vairahi.  It was great to be on the move again.  Light winds and clear skies made for the perfect conditions for a dinghy repair.  Was this sorry episode finally going to be put to rest?  

Rainbows at Uturoa

Full moon setting at dawn

Our new anchorage was beautiful, a shallow bay somewhat sheltered from the prevailing easterlies and close to a public dinghy dock.  Shortly after dropping the hook Esteban came out to greet us.  First job was to lift the dinghy onto the trampoline using the headsail halyard.  With 3 people to guide and an electric winch to provide the muscle power this proved to be much easier than we had imagined.  Why on earth hadn’t we tried this before?  The dinghy was upturned on the trampoline within minutes.  One thing about the sailing life is that you are always learning, life is a continual re-evaluation.  I doubt we will ever attempt a dinghy repair off the back of the boat again.  Hauling her up on front is the way to go!  Once in position Esteban took over for the rest of the afternoon.  Slits were made in each chamber and the inner tubes eased into place inside.  Who had come up with this idea?  Watching him with his arm braced up to his oxter in the chamber reminded me of a difficult calf birthing.  No wonder he had biceps the size of my upper thigh!  

Dinghy after day 1

Beautiful sunset

Many hours later he called for the automated pump and inflation was used to pop the difficult creases into place.  He left at dusk claiming to be happy with the result…so far.  The following day he returned for more manipulation, more pumping and finally the gluing.  Each slit was closed with waxed suture stitches and then covered with a glued patch – 5 more hours of slow and painstaking work.  It may have all sounded incredibly unlikely a few days ago but the result was immaculate.  Three new valves protruded from the old rubber compartments, the old valve holes were beautifully sealed and most importantly the dinghy remained inflated.  The proof will be in the pudding of course and currently we wait for the glue to cure but according to Esteban she should last another 1-2 years which will give the new owners plenty of time to figure out what to do next.  What a service. An ingenious solution to a persistent problem.  In isolated places like this where replacements are hard to come by, he deserves to do well.  Hopefully he will and his latest restoration project will progress to the point where she is safe to sail to Fiji  - a country where amazon deliveries are possible and repairs comparatively cheap.  We wish him well.

Skipper contemplates the week

Repaired dinghy still very much inflated

It was too late to return to the mooring by the time Esteban had finished so a celebratory beer was had onboard followed by a quick run ashore for pizza.  So many treats in one day - this had been quite the minibreak!! 

Since our return to the mooring, work on the dinghy has continued in her new position on the front decks.  Old patches have been reglued, the hull has been cleaned and polished and the dinghy chaps (covers) refashioned to take account of her new valves.  We will try her out on the water in a couple of days when all the glue has cured.  Exciting times. Meanwhile trips into town are restricted to the old dinghy.  The journey is tortuous so we keep putting off the inevitable and remain in dirty clothes living off a very weird diet.  The justification for this slovenly lifestyle is all the time we need to get Papillon ready for advertising, hopefully at the end of the week.  Currently the list looks interminable, but much has already been achieved.  More importantly Skipper's elbow bursitis is receding, the weather remains set fair and spirits are high.  Our bodies may be tired and cooking a thing of the past but there's nothing like a deadline to keep you focussed! 

Sunset at the mooring

Papillon out on the reef