July/August 2018 passagemaker.com 81heat will stop scheduled work. As we
discovered, you really can’t paint a
hull when the temperature is above 95
degrees Fahrenheit. So three o’clock in
the morning was the only time of the day
in summer when we could get the paint
on the hull, since otherwise the drying
time was too short.
We learned to listen—and learned when
not to listen. We learned that the local
trawler guys who pulled their boats out
to do yearly maintenance knew more
than any book. We paid close attention to
everything they said, always listening, and
taking into consideration our requirements
and budget. One really experienced skipper
who spent most of each year at sea advised
us to not have a backup motor. “If you
only have one, you’ll look after it properly
and you won’t have problems from lack of
maintenance.” Invaluable! It was a similar
issue to relying on insurance: It creates a
false sense of security that allows people
to take risks and to not pay attentionbecause there is the backup of a payout
or the Coast Guard. We didn’t want to do
it that way. Instead, we focus on the main
engine like it’s the only form of propulsion,
and though we have insurance, we pilot
carefully as though we don’t.
So we listened and listened as the
older fishermen love to share their
stories, and we were grateful for their
wisdom. But we also learned the right
time to not listen, too. Though the
majority of the feedback we’ve received
has been supportive and encouraging,
some people have been negative.
Many were particularly skeptical that
we could run Brupeg on vegetable oil,
or they incorrectly assumed we had
money to burn, good health, and loads
of spare time. We listened only to what
we felt were fair points or concerns and
disregarded the pessimists. As people got
to know us, they seemed to accept that
we were in it for the long run, and so far
nothing has been able to stop us.Today, years later, we have nearly
finished the refit. In perhaps another
six months we can “drop” her in the
water for a swim. In that time we will
be finishing the head as well as the
new lounge, building four new doors,
cleaning the final two of Brupeg’s six
diesel tanks, and getting topcoat on the
wheelhouse interior. After that, we’ll turn
our attention to sandblasting and painting
the roof and deck and starting the motor.
The final stage will consist of building
retractable stabilizers and finishing some
hull work, repacking the glands, and
getting some electrics sorted out. Plenty
of works remains. Once in the water we
will finish the insulation and the interiors
and test the vegetable oil conversion.
After sea trials we will start exploring
around Australia, New Zealand, and the
South Pacific islands. Then we’ll haul out
and finish any ice strengthening before
heading to where the weather is fresh and
icebergs await. More: buildingbrupeg.com QAfter nearly forty years of servicing boats, there is one thing our
customers can count on...
...we’ll be there when you need us.
Five Yards, Four States, One Company Dedicated To Helping You Cruise.
Call today and let’s talk about your boat: 804-725-3440
zimmermanmarine.com – [email protected]
Herring Bay MD Deltaville VA Mobjack Bay VA Southport NC Charleston SC