Have Yachts and Have Nots

With a very heavy heart we have had to give Beyond up for adoption. Yet again she's moving in to new hands. She is going to a good friend who will have more time then we do to work on her. And hopefully with his intentions to do some blue water cruising and sail around the Pacific and down Under, she will realise her travel potential. Bon Voyage!

Rust Never Sleeps

We have an issue in that some exposed parts of the bilges are showing flaky rust, where others are covered by foam. We don't know if there's rust in the inaccessible parts of the bilge and worse beneath the foam. The sole and cabinets were built as a monotithic whole, so to access parts of the boat we will have to move quite a bit of the interior.

Which flag?

Debate was had as to whether we should keep her documented on mainland USA, or register her in the USVI, or as a BVI boat and avoid the import duties, or on the Small Ships Register in the UK. We decided in the end to go for full British Part 1 Registration. These are the reasons:
1. British flag did not require the Bill of Sale notarised, just signed and dated, so now we have title.
2. BVI Coastal Craft and USVI Registration, although cheaper, are not proof of title.
3. Coastal Craft would not permit us to travel beyond the Virgins
4. For the price of a BVI "Coastal Craft" we could get full British flag.
5. No longer may one register a boat on the SSR if you cannot prove residence in the UK for the majority of time.
6. British flag is renewed every FIVE years, everywhere else is ANNUAL.
7. We preferred a British flag in case we have to return to Europe.
8. British flag give us nationality, title, and military protection.

Steel boats rust from the inside out

Fortunately her zincs were still in reasonable condiditon, but the small section of the hull that had been sanded exposed a small hole, which when splashed allowed in 24 gallons an hour. We then proceeded to pump by hand for 36 hours as she was a "dead ship", until we got the hole RESEALED with the miracle epoxy putty stick. Once hauled again she will need a LOT of chipping, sanding, priming and painting.... and likely cutting and welding of new steel plates.

10hp SABB Engine

Her 10hp, one cylinder SABB engine is in need of a good overhaul before we run her under her own steam. These engines have variable pitch propellers rather then a transmission. These are reliable engines and run on next to no diesel. They have been hugely popular amongst the fishing population of the North Sea.

Moored in Sea Cows

Beyond is sitting on a 750 pound ships anchor in Sea Cows Bay before she will be hauled out for work.


View Larger Map

Beyond, Departure 35, steel sloop

This yacht is a Departure 35', built in Bellingham WA, and fitted in Tarpon Springs FL by the original owner.

She has been sitting in North Sound, Virgin Gorda, in the BVI for several years which in the tropics can be quite damaging.

The first most important jobs will be to treat her for rust in the interior and get a good barrier coat on her. The running rigging will be entirely replaced and the topsides repainted.

She will be a fine yacht with a few months of good work put in to her.

It is now the intention of this blog to record any new findings for working on a private boat in the BVI, methods of dealing with rust, or useful measures to make a job easier.