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Mike.P · 30-11-2010, 03:44

Hello everyone, my partner and I recently purchased a 42’ Hartley South Seas ferro-cement ketch called Karma. We just sold nearly everything and left Scotland just in time to watch everyone shiver from a distance and are trying not to rub it in too much…As of mid-November we are living aboard on the dry in the Algarve for the winter while we get her prepared for sailing next year. As long as everything goes according to plan we hope to float around Feb-March.

Previously I have owned only one boat, a 21’ Victory that I never did any work on. So needless to say the learning curve is massive. We did lots of homework and are well aware of the debate for and against ferro boats. Given the budget we had to work with we felt that we could get a lot more boat for our money if we went with ferro. Karma is classed as an amateur build because she wasn’t built by a boatyard; however she was built by an engineer in South Africa in 1974 and was built to a very robust standard. Our gut feeling the minute we saw her was to buy now and get a survey later and we are very happy with that decision. Our surveyor gave her glowing reviews and affirmed what we initially thought.

The main priority is the hull. There one really bad patch that is around the size of a dinner plate that will need to be smashed out and cut back to unaffected mesh and renewed with new mesh and cement. We feel quite capable of doing this ourselves and our surveyor is going to advise us as well. Has anyone ever done this before?? Please share your experiences if so!

The 12 volt system is slightly dodgy as well, we are going to replace the batteries and rewire everything and would like to know what others’ experiences are with different types of batteries and 12 Volt systems in general. We would say that our power demands are lower than average.

There are tons of other jobs as well but we are focusing on these for the moment. Has anyone got any advice on sourcing batteries in this part of the world? Or anything for that matter…2 drain gate valves need replaced, we need larger solar panels too, the list goes on…

Thanks for any advice!

Mike & Rosy

**boatman61** · 30-11-2010, 03:51

From the Photo.. would I be right in thinking your in Portimao...??
OH... SORRY>>>>>>>> Welcome to CF folks.....

**James S** · 30-11-2010, 04:29

Welcome to the forum Mike and Rosy.
Have you any more details or pictures of the boat.

**GordMay** · 30-11-2010, 06:30

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mike & Rosy.

Congratulation on your new boat.

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swagman · 30-11-2010, 09:30

Hi Mike and Rosy,
Welcome to the site, enjoy.
I suspect if you are in Faro you'll hear of the chandlery in the Sopromar yard at Lagos. As of last year they were the only real chandler in town and sorry, not cheap.
There was a smaller one that used to keep them honest - it operated close by amid the fishing sheds at Marina de Lagos - but they now moved two streets back behind the bus garage opposite the walk bridge and anyway 70% of their stock today is fishing gear.
Have you thought about hiring a car and driving to Gib and back? It can be done easy in a day from Faro, a days hire is usually 40 euros plus fuel, and you'd have a wider range of chandler with tax free prices.
Or buy off the internet and get delivery 'poste restante' to Gib......
Either way, sorry I could not be more helpful.
Good luck
JOHN

biltong · 30-11-2010, 11:02

HI and welcome Mike and Rosy. If you wish to email me, I will pass you onto a good friend of mine who is an expert on the building of ferro cement yachts. He built a 45' Hartley Tahitian which I bought and sailed once he was done with his cruising life.I am sure that he will be able to help you with repair details.
Mark

**boatman61** · 30-11-2010, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman61

From the Photo.. would I be right in thinking your in Portimao...??
OH... SORRY>>>>>>>> Welcome to CF folks.....

If you are in Portimao.. drop me a post and let me know what your after... I spent over a year there so may be of a little use info wise... no promise's..