A Fishing Trip to Remember: The Great Preparation Saga
A Fishing Trip to Remember ; well, here goes. Every great fishing adventure starts long before the lines hit the water. In our case, it began in November last year with a grand plan: prepare the boat for a big fishing tournament in March based out of Whitianga, followed by a relaxing week at Great Barrier Island with my wife. Simple enough, right? Well, as it turns out, boat preparation has a way of turning into an adventure all on its own.
November: The Great Waterblasting Debacle
First things first, the boat had to come out of the water for a thorough clean. Marinas nowadays insist on a spotless hull—no unwanted hitchhikers allowed. Armed with a waterblaster, we set to work. It was all going well until, with a loud pop, a chip of the gel coat came away. A quick call to a boatbuilder reassured me, “She’ll be right!” which, as every seasoned boater knows, is Kiwi for “I don’t want to deal with it, so let’s hope for the best.”
The Gelcoat Chip and Hole
The boat went back into the water looking pristine, and all seemed well. Yes, a Fishing tript to remember for sure.
December: A Freezer Fiasco and a Hidden Leak
Then, in December, another issue cropped up. The freezer had packed up. A leak in the pipes meant the whole unit needed replacing. The installer, ever helpful, turned off the shore power during the installation, which led to another discovery: the house battery had gone flat, which meant the bilge pump had failed.
January: A Salty Surprise
I only discovered the water in the engine room in January—and that was thanks to the battery failing. Returning for a check, I found an unexpected new feature—an indoor saltwater pool forming in the engine room. Now, I appreciate a good water feature as much as the next person, but this wasn’t quite what I had in mind.
The boat was immediately hauled out again to properly investigate the leak. Once out of the water, the source of the trouble was finally revealed—a hole drilled right through the hull. And wouldn’t you know it—the hole was discovered right where the chip of gel coat had come off with the water blasting. The area had been weakened by the poor patching job from a previous repair, likely done by a nervous apprentice hoping his supervisor wouldn’t notice. It seemed like a quick cover-up that didn’t hold up to the pressure of real conditions!
The hole was patched correctly, and the voids were drained. Problem solved! Or so we thought.
February: The Mysterious Water That Wouldn’t Leave
Back in the water, the boat seemed fine. No leaks, no sudden sinkings—always a good sign. But every time we drilled into the underfloor voids to check, water kept appearing like an unwanted houseguest. After much head-scratching, it appeared that the water was tracking from other voids under the floor, making it seem like it was coming from nowhere. It was a stubborn trickle that just didn’t want to leave.
March: The Alternator Conundrum & A Costly Coat of Paint
Just as we thought we were in the clear, the port engine decided to get in on the fun. The alternator was overcharging, and the wiring was—how should I put this?—a creative interpretation of electrical principles. The rev counters weren’t working, and the only thing to do was to return the boat yet again for more repairs.
While the boat was out of the water, a boat polisher appeared out of nowhere, offering to not only apply a fresh layer of antifoul to prevent algae growth but also to polish the entire boat. Sounded like a great idea—until the invoice arrived. Turns out, his rates made top-tier law partners look like budget options. Seems the boat polisher and the alternator had something in common—they both had a bit of an overcharging problem. A few layers of paint, a glossy finish, and a slightly lighter wallet later, the boat was finally ready to go.
The Final Push
With tournament day fast approaching, everything was finally in working order. No leaks, no unexpected electrical fireworks, a functional freezer, and a hull that wouldn’t raise any eyebrows at the marina. It had been a long road, but we were finally ready to fish!
Looking back, the preparation was almost as much of an adventure as the fishing itself. Almost. But that’s a story for another day. And coming soon. Will it be a fishing trip to remember?
If you’re thinking of buying a boat, dont’t rush out until you’ve considered what boat ownership means.
For me though, it’s all about adaptation to a life after medicine
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