MV Kebsup Goes In For Her Annual Makeover
At least once every year our trusty Phuket dive boat MV Kepsub will be unceremoniously hauled out of the water and into the dry dock in Phuket Town for a 3 week overhaul. It’s a nice break for our hard working boat crew and office staff but a bit of a nightmare for the owners.
So What Happens?
Well just about everything, the entire boat will be inspected for any problems and new features added. There’s generally quite a few bodies clambering around both outside and inside. Carpenters, electricians, diesel mechanics, painters and steel engineers as well as a handful of hangers on whose purpose is a bit of a mystery.
So the negotiations will begin, in past years separating fact from fantasy was an extremely difficult challenge, we basically had to trust that everything proposed was necessary. For the last couple of years we bought in an old friend in to oversee the work – Captain Min has been in the boat business for decades and knows exactly what needs to be done, the amount of proposed work and costs have coincidentally tumbled…
captain min and the boss
Rigorous Inspections And Cleaning
The hull will be thoroughly inspected and new wood will be fitted were necessary, the engines will be stripped, generators checked, every piece of degraded wood on the entire boat will be refitted and of course a new paint job.
A major part of the process is cleaning the underside of the boat, an incredibly strong pressure cleaner will strip all the stowaway barnacles as well as most of the paint. After refitting any bad wood and smoothing away any rough edges a few coats of paint will make the hull shiny and smooth which will add a knot or two to our cruising speed for a few months. Propellers will be polished and ground to make them as efficient as possible.
all polished up
New This Year
We’re still trying to better utilise the sundeck and there maybe some changes up top, the toilets have been completely stripped out and refitted and all the wood upper seat stanchions have been replaced with stainless steel. A larger stabiliser has been fitted which as well as making are already stable boat a bit smoother, apparently will add some speed but we’re yet to be convinced and won’t find out until the sea trial.
stripped to the bone
Why Now?
Seemingly it would make sense to have the boat looking it’s best for next years high season and we may well take the boat out again for a spruce up just before high season but that’s just aesthetics. Although the low season here is not particular bad, we do get a swell on the ocean that puts extra stress on the boat so we feel the next few months is the ideal time to have the boat in absolute peak condition to ensure guest comfort and safety, especially for the long Phi Phi day trips. A solid, well constructed boat like ours will breeze through high season conditions.
Suggestions?
We try to make all the possible improvements but sometimes a guest can see something that we can’t and after all what we change is primarily for your comfort and safety, so if you’ve been diving with us then please don’t be shy to make a suggestion. Within reason of course, we’re not going to be fitting a jacuzzi or a nightclub on the top deck any time soon.
By Justin Hartrey
Posted in News & Updates on .
