When money slips through your fingers

Gaby in the sun in Auckland, New Zealand

Back on the “Katinka Enjoy,” we finally get to work on the many tasks that need to be completed before the next launch. First, there are a few things to organize. The antifouling is the first issue. Naive as I am, I go to the Norsand Marina shop and order Seajet 039 Platinum, since that’s what’s already on the boat and requires the least effort on my part. Problems are most likely to arise where you least expect them. They make it clear to me that Seajet isn’t available in New Zealand. Complaining won’t help; I’ll have to apply a different antifouling. Of course, that includes all the prep work required for switching antifouling. So I have to sand it down, apply a primer, and paint on the new antifouling—and then just hope for the best that it holds up. So we’re faced with the question: Which antifouling paint is the most effective one available? They give me a pitying smile. “There’s no effective antifouling paint in New Zealand. It may be called ‘antifouling,’ but due to environmental regulations, it only bears that name anymore.” Not that Seajet was particularly effective to begin with. In general, it’s very difficult to find a suitable antifouling paint in the warm waters of the Pacific. In New Zealand, however, there are additional environmental regulations that limit the selection to a minimum. 

Seajet Antifouling on the Katinka Enjoy

So I have no choice but to prep the hulls with a sander, then apply a sealer, and finally coat them with an antifouling paint approved in New Zealand. The solution is International Micron Extra 2—we’ll see how it works. After all, the whole thing costs NZ$2,700, not including my labor—just the cost of the materials. The next project is our dinghy. After a good 17 years, the Highfield 340 is on its last legs. So we need a new one. Since I’d already patched the tubes in several places, replacing them was the first option I considered. In New Zealand, this “retubing” service is offered by various companies. I got a quote, which ultimately came to NZ$4,500 for the PVC version and NZ$8,000 for the Hyperlon version. A new Highfield UL-340 in the PVC version is available for NZ$5,500. So we’ll probably opt for a new dinghy.

Our dinghy is running out of air

On our way to New Zealand, we had to endure very rough weather over long stretches of the Fiji–New Zealand route. As a result, several water deflectors under the boat were torn off by the waves. That’s no big deal—except for the water deflector on the cockpit drain lines. Unfortunately, on the Lagoon 421, these drain lines are located directly below the entrance door to the salon. If this deflector is missing, water shoots up from below through the drain pipes and spreads evenly throughout the cockpit and the salon. 

Entrance to the salon. The bilge pipes are located beneath the grating.

As a temporary fix, we plugged the drain pipes with rags, which of course defeats the whole purpose of these drain pipes in an emergency. A new cover isn’t available in New Zealand. A quote from Lagoon puts the cost at 400 € plus VAT and shipping from Europe. I decide to install two water deflectors, which are normally designed for an engine exhaust. The whole thing costs 400 NZ$, which is just half the price, and I save on VAT and shipping costs. 

New water deflectors for the cockpit drain pipes

Last but not least, there are the worn-out anodes, which add up to another good NZ$500. So this month, money is literally slipping through my fingers. Since this blog’s reach is pitiful and those who read it find themselves in a similarly dire situation—meaning that a donation would be like hitting the jackpot—I’ll refrain from asking for donations at this point. Instead, I’m tightening my belt and have instructed Gaby to buy only special offers and items that are about to expire. Gaby claims, however, that such items don’t exist—at least not where she shops. I’ve already thought about setting up a special fund, similar to what our federal government has done. But unfortunately, as a “rogue state,” you’re more creditworthy than as a retiree. So I’ll have to make do with my pension—if I ever get it.

Rubber seals for disc sanders are not available in New Zealand

But back to our work on the boat. Everything is now ready. We’ve gotten a new sander with a dust extraction system. We also have paper coveralls, masks, and goggles for personal protection, so we’re ready to get started. Unfortunately, the weather is still very unpredictable. Despite a forecast calling for dry weather, it keeps raining on and off. So New Zealand’s weather is definitely comparable to that of the Scottish Highlands. The trick, then, is to wait for a stretch of time when it stays as dry as possible. In the meantime, money keeps slipping through my fingers. May you always have fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.