Fridge Update

Ile Jeudi
Bob and Lin Griffiths
Tue 9 Oct 2012 18:58
Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 October 2012
 
 
Monday was spent making phone calls to England and Spain and other Canary Islands to explore options for the fridge in anticipation of the contact with Isotherm tomorrow (sorry this has become a fridge blog).  This includes flying back to the UK to collect a new one, which happens to be in stock at the UK Isotherm distributor, and bring it back on the plane.  This would avoid the unpredictable duties and delays of importing to the Canaries (we have been advised this is sometimes the quicker and cheaper option as Mr Customs Man sometimes decrees that boat parts are luxury items which attract a 30% duty).  However we soon established that transporting a fridge compressor in the hold of a plane is unlikely to be approved by the airlines, because although the gas it contains is inert it is under pressure.  The Spanish Isotherm distributor didn't have the fridge we need in stock but 'could get one from Italy in about 2 weeks'.  No thanks.
 
On Tuesday Isotherm Italy told me they could ship a compressor FOC to Spain and then on to us to fit as a test to see if that solves the problem.  If it doesn't we would only have to pay transport and duties.  As the compressor is €750 we decided to call a halt on the repairs and start again with a new higher-spec fridge that might be better suited to the tropics.
 
Gran Canaria is a place geared up for equipping yachts because the island is often the last port of call before setting off across the Atlantic.  We found a company that specialises in Waeco boat fridges in Las Palmas - and they have them in stock - so we have decided to sail there.  Usually it is not possible to get a berth in Las Palmas at this time of year because they have to make space for the 230 boats which arrive for the start of the annual 'Atlantic Rally for Cruisers' (ARC) in November.  The fridge supplier, Rolnautic, say they can get us in because we are having work done.  We made arrangements to be there later this week.
 
Unfortunately the canvass man was not in Lanzarote on Monday so couldn't collect the sprayhood for repair until Tuesday.  This he did and he managed to get it back to us the same day but unfortunately there was another adjustment he needed to do and it became too late for us to set off for Gran Canaria.
 
Someone once described liveaboard life on yachts as 'boat maintenance in exotic places'.  It is a perfect description.