Marmaris Yacht Marina, Patara & Teak decks
Marita3
Mark & Helen Syrett
Mon 29 Apr 2013 05:16
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Why so long in the marina we hear you ask?-- and
well you might! Our decks melted in Thailand
 Every time we went on deck we were covered in the
black tar of the melting caulk. Re-caulking needs to be carried out in a
dry warm climate---ideally Thailand or Turkey and definitely not England unless
you want to take the mast down and put the boat in a dry, temperature controlled
shed. We did not have enough time in Thailand to take the boat out of the water
for three weeks so after obtaining a quote we decided to have it done at the
Yacht Marina. An advantage was that they did not require us to have Marita
lifted out---they just put us in isolation to one side of the marina and
then we discovered why. The Red Sea sand was nothing compared with the mess made
by removing the existing caulking and the subsequent sanding.
It started with the existing caulking being removed
and a new channel drilled out in the teak with a router
 and once thoroughly cleaned the primer put into the
new grooves
 and after one hour drying time the caulking
injected was injected using a compressed air gun
 by this time the boat (and ourselves) were covered
in teak dust so we hired a car and disappeared for a day. We drove east along
the coast to Patara---another place of ancient stones in which Turkey
specialises
 When we arrived we were the only people there apart
from a woman getting water for her cow and calves, and no doubt using the same
well and drinking trough used for many years before
  a few sheep
 and some goats
 all wandering around the ruins except one goat who
stood alone and watched
 We walked down the High Street
 and amongst the ruins
 There was a lovely ampitheatre built for 6,000
( they built them for one tenth of their population so Patara, an ancient sea
port, had a population of 60,000)
  the sea has since receded and left the 'city' high
and dry but we walked down to the beach, a long stretch of white
sand
 and then we returned, as the Tour de Turkey cycle
race flashed by, to Marmaris through the fertile plain that lies
between the mountains and the sea. A lot of greenhouses
 and a refuelling stop where we were joined by the
local farmer
 Meanwhile back at the boat work was progressing,
albeit at a typical Turkish pace---not much regard for time! The excess caulking
was now, after about 5 days curing time, being removed with what looked
like hair clippers
 and then the dust really flew with the first
sanding
 meanwhile the marina staff were busy putting boats
into the water with two travel lifts and various other bits of lifting
equipment. A 330 tonne travel hoist lifted the big ones in----this boat,
requiring 13 slings, was small compared to the two masted sailing yacht that had
17 slings
  on one day alone they put 34 boats in the
water---they work until midnight most nights. There are about 2,000
boats on the hard and another 1,000 boats in the
water on the stern to pontoons. It is a well planned operation with the boats
having launch dates written on their rudders having been lifted onto the
hard at the end of the previous season and placed according to their next season
launch date. Woe betide the skipper who wants to delay his launch
date!
We walked up the hill next to the marina and looked
back
 and went to a cave which was an old prayer
'house''
  whilst back on Marita the new deck started to
appear
 but we still await the final product with work
delayed yet again when the marina management said ''no work today'' (Sunday) as
they wanted to have a clean up in the yard. Our departure for Greece has
therefore been delayed until Tuesday as there is one days work to do including a
final light sanding---more dust.
Photograph of the finished product next
time!!
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