Leaving for Spain - what stuff needs doing in the UK?

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TheBishop

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SWMBO definiteley didnt like the last Channel crossing, nor the last 4 summers, so if the Azores High wont come North then we will go South.

We are off to Spain in March....what needs to be done here in the UK before she goes as it is easier, cheaper etc etc..???

List of jobs as follows though you may suggest more:

Diesel and Genny maintenance
A/C and Heating maintenance
Fitting of an ice maker ( with apologies to any now inflamed raggies!)
Hull cleaning
Antifouling
Recommissioning of Blackwater tank
Anodes
Refit of leaking main lower helm window

Am based in Plymouth so if anyone has any suggestions as to who might do those jobs then please get in touch.

We will transport by road. I am a Trader 50 so nearest splash point is Port Lecaute near Perpignan, then a couple of long legs to Sant Carles by sea ...about 250nm. Not finalised the road transport selection so again any ideas welcome. Should be quite a sight on the move as Trader 50's are big old boats and very close to the max air draft through France and definitely too high to get all the way to Sant Carles by road.

Am in touch with Hurricane ( thanks Mike! ) who has been unfailingly polite and helpful with my barrage of questions.

This is going to be quite an experience so if anyone has trod this path before then I would be delighted to hear from you esp if you can stop me falling into the many bear traps that litter my route.

Best

The Bishop
 
Sort yourself out with a euro Fairfx card. It's a prepaid mastercard so pay all your bills in the normal way and there is a flat €1.50 charge for taking money out of a cashpoint. The beauty is that you can load it when the £:€ rate is favourable. Todays rate is 1.20 Compare that to the high street rate!
The only charge is a tenner for the initial card.
By coincidence I found out about Fairfx fron a couple in San Carles marina.
 
In my experience nothing is cheaper in the Med, wherever you are. Get everything done in the UK so that you can check who's doing it and how it's done. You might even be in a position to reclaim VAT (ahem!) as well, which is v difficult or impossible if you get things done in the Med. One issue is the type of antifoul paint. I used Titan Medium in Majorca which worked well and others are using CSC Micron or similar also with good reports but Hurricane will advise. Also buy a stock of engine/gennie spares in the UK because these are invariably cheaper in the UK. I would also think about buying a spare alternator and starter motor plus spare toilet pump/holding tank pump/aircon water pump etc etc. These kind of things may not be available off the shelf in the Med, especially in July/Aug and failure of one of these can ruin a holiday.
Ref road transporthttp://www.petersandmay.com/?gclid=CKWKxeWhxaMCFeFc4wodc2p2aA have a good reputation. For my last trip, I used http://www.vandewetering.nl/ who were excellent but they may want to pick up from Holland and deliver to Port St Louis. One tip about road transport. If you're flexible on dates, ask for a return load quote as it will be cheaper. Also make sure you inform your insurance co as the truck company's standard insurance will not cover the full value of the boat. Also expect to have to remove the radar arch and maybe some of the flybridge fittings to reduce height
 
That's a good list. Plus

LR and fire ext service (in French ports they check if things are in date)
Copy of Bord du Mer (compulsary in France)
Hydraulic passerelle,
Bimini

Uk is loads cheaper so if there are any things you have been thinking of upgrading do them in UK
 
Docking winches? I know St Carles has UK style pontoons, but you'll be visiting places that don't. I agree with others, get everything done here, it will be much easier, much cheaper, and far less chance of being ripped off.
 
jfm said:
That's a good list. Plus

LR and fire ext service (in French ports they check if things are in date)
Copy of Bord du Mer (compulsary in France)
Hydraulic passerelle,
Bimini

Uk is loads cheaper so if there are any things you have been thinking of upgrading do them in UK
Click to expand...

Got a passerelle and bimini top.....what is the Bord du Mer???

The Bishop
 
For transport suggest you contact Simon Butler 07967588965 www.boat-shift.com he brought my boat back from Sant Carles earlier this year (photo on his home page). Very competitive and VERY careful with the boat. If there is a way of getting it all the way there by road he will know it. Mine did not have a height problem, but he did say there are several ways out of Spain dependent on height.
 
TheBishop said:
Got a passerelle and bimini top.....what is the Bord du Mer???
Click to expand...


Actually that was a rushed post, and a slip of my keyboard. The Bord du mer is actually a coast road twixt Antibes and the airport! I meant to say the Livre du bord, Med equiv of alamanc. A4, softback, 40mm thick. Handy reference book and only €22 from any chandler down there. In France you get ticked off if you don't have it on board so it's easier to have one, and they're quite good. Can buy online (Bloc Marine is the publisher) or when you get there. sorry for causing confusion!
 
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