Researching prices on a replacement damper plate for our Volvo engine was a useful exercise in case we should need other major spares in the future. The main places that had these plates were Netherlands, USA and UK. The company doing the work would have used a supplier in Singapore which would have had to procure from USA thereby creating more costs. Surprisingly, and perhaps satisfyingly, the best price was from Volspec UK with a DHL delivery said to take only 2-3 days. The first line of help in diagnosing this damper plate problem was the Beneteau Yahoo Users Group which has been very useful with other issues in the past. However, as well as offering best value, Volspec were extremely helpful in discussing symptoms and helping to analyse that it was definitely the damper plate that was the problem.  All was arranged and we tracked our shipment on the DHL website whilst we waited.

In fact the goods arrived in Borneo within 3 days via Hong Kong. Then Customs stepped in. We had the special code for parts and equipment needed for yachts in transit but documentation was required to be presented as proof of identity and validity. This took a couple more days but eventually our shining new damper plate with its intact rubber buffers arrived at the DHL office for collection. This was Thursday. Dai Lieng Snd. Bhd., the Volvo agents who would be doing the work, were very accommodating and arranged their engineer for the following Saturday – we were in business. Getting major engine work done in Miri which has no boat yard and is not geared up for yacht maintenance had been one of our major worries. However, the boat could have gone no further without serious damage to the gear box so we had no choice. Finding an engineering firm that was a Volvo agent felt like a big plus but we were still extremely nervous about the whole business. 

Saturday morning and our engineer arrived, he spoke Chinese and little English but the company sent a trainee with him who spoke very good English and acted as interpreter. It transpired that the company specialises in large engines and had not worked on yachts before. The lack of space was perhaps a surprise for the engineer but he was a careful, had detailed drawings from Volvo and didn’t rush things, so much so that the pair didn’t leave the boat until nearly 21:00p.m. So we were all exhausted.

All’s well that ends well. We like Miri, it is a good marina and with hired bikes just 10 minutes from the town centre but we shall be glad to hand back our bikes and get on our way. Thanks Miri.