Its been five weeks since we returned from Thailand and slow progress is being made on Meikyo.  The major projects are:
Replace and rationalise the batteries and complete electric system.  Being an American boat, it was 110v with some 240v. The large 110v inverter ran a microwave and a small 240v inverter ran the washing machine and a few sockets for charging. There is lots of solar power but limited battery capacity for storage.
Sort out the problem with the prop shaft connection to the gearbox that gave us problems in Langkawi and on the way down here.
Replace the canvas and clear cockpit enclosure.
Replace the delaminated plywood in the lockers caused by water ingress. Find and seal any deck leaks.
Rub down the hull and apply new antifouling.
Fit windvane self-steering.

We had expected the old batteries to have been removed and the new ones to be in place along with the charge controllers, inverter etc needed by the time we got back. We were told there was then just a week’s work to be done to have it all working. Five weeks later it has just been proved to work but is still not finally ready.
Why are we changing the batteries? The previous owner had fitted Lithium batteries which are good at storing lots of power from the solar cells and with an inverter should be able to run more household type equipment at the same time as running navigation electronics and lights. They didn’t have much battery capacity, and it was a complicated system. We have upped the capacity and simplified it meaning we can hopefully use less cooking gas and use our solar panels more effectively.
The power sockets which were American 110v are all being replaced with 240v universal ones which will take all international plug types and have USB sockets.

The old battery made up in a wooden enclosure, beginning to swell and not looking good, and one of the new batteries in a purpose-built metal container. We have two of these going in.

The prop shaft was removed and a new coupling bought from England. The shaft needed a new keyway machined into it (this stops the shaft revolving in the coupling) and it needed shortening slightly. The machine work was done very quickly by a local company; we took the shaft in about 10.00 am and had it back in the afternoon - great service.

Sarah has been working on the canvas work; this involves a very complicated piece to infill between the Bimini and Sprayhood with a zip in the clear to allow airflow and narrow side panels. Plus, four dropdown side panels. All of these zip together to give protection when anchored. She has also been steadily sanding the antifouling in preparation for new paint. This is a much bigger hull than Serenity’s.

 Sarah working away in our rented apartment. The old insert that goes between the sprayhood and bimini alongside the nice new one. There are also four side panels that zip on.

A number of the storage lockers had delaminated plywood in them probably due to water ingress when Meikyo had a teak deck, that woodwork has been removed and new boards are ready to go back in, thoroughly painted to protect them.

Phil cutting out some rotten flooring and some new panels ready to be fitted .

We have a second-hand Hydrovane self steering which a friend in Australia found for us and couriered up and this will be fitted soon.

Trial fitting the Hydrovane brackets to the transom.

Overall, we are making good progress but not without a few hiccups. Tracing a problem in the electrics has taken time, although it should be possible to run kettle and microwave etc from the batteries each time the kettle was tried the system fell down. This was eventually traced to a faulty wire connection in one battery. A close watch has to be kept on all work done and luckily Phil checked the screwing down of one piece of equipment. It had been screwed into the hull below the waterline, and the screw point went all the way through! The owner of the company doing the work has spent the last week repairing the hull, Phil has now made a plywood mounting board for the inverter charger to keep all fastenings away from the hull.
Importing spare parts is not always simple and some have caused delays. One piece from the US was sent and could be tracked to Kuala Lumpur but failed to arrive with us. A new part was then sent and did eventually arrive. We were awaiting delivery of some Hydrovane Self steering parts. They arrived but not duty free as they should be, so we had to wait while this was sorted with the help of Ruz in the marina office. Parts for yachts in transit are not subject to import tax or duty.
One of our reasons for doing this work in Pangkor is the helpful marina staff, Ruz in the office willingly sorts out problems with customs and couriers. Nothing is ever too much for any of the staff. Add to that the use of cars for £7 half days £14 full day and the availability of airconditioned apartments why would we go anywhere else. 

It's not all work, friends from previous rallies who have also been in the marina doing work.