‘Land of Trees’, Boat Projects Accomplished in Rio Dulce, Guatemala

I have read that ‘Guatemala’ means ‘Land of Trees’ in the indigenous language. The country is still very green with lots of forests but most people use wood for cooking meals. Based on the daily wage, there are not enough jobs for the people here, and to compound the problem, families have lots of children leading to even more widespread poverty and overpopulation. Even though I prefer to eat meals cooked in either a wood burning oven or over and open fire, I am glad to see some are replaced with gas ovens or electric ovens as that means the deforestation might have a chance of being stopped. Without some way of either generating more jobs which will lead to more widespread gas usage or decreasing the population, I truly fear that the “Land of trees” will soon be the “Land of bare earth”.

For last two months in Rio Dulce, we have worked a lot on the boat, mostly enhancing and upgrading the boat. The boat looks at its best with new make-up. John always keeps a To-Do-List of the boat. When he found out the inexpensive local labor, the workable marina facility, and boat product availability in Rio Dulce, he grabbed the opportunity. John sometimes measures his happiness and pride by the looks and functionalities of his boat. I learned boat work is more than house work. If one wants to keep it the best, one has no time for play. Everything in ‘Moderation’, I keep reminding him of balancing between work and play.

Before the hurricane season which starts in six weeks or so, we would like to be somewhere north out of the hurricane zone. This means we need to leave Rio Dulce soon and heading to the USA. We are waiting for a couple of items we ordered from the local businesses. I am hoping they get delivered soon with no more ‘Mañana’ (Tomorrow) promises. During our spare time, we wandered a lot in Rio Dulce. I feel I know most of the local stores in Rio Dulce/Fronteras. We ate enough ‘Tortillas’ and tried to speak a good portion of Spanish. We generated some jobs for the local businesses and people. We didn’t visit ‘Antigua and Volcano’ nor ‘Tikal Mayan Ruin’ but having some stainless burglar bars and other wood work jobs are our souvenirs from Guatemala. Among all the jobs we had here, my favorites are ‘New Desk’ in my cabin and ‘New Cutting Board’ in my kitchen. The woods are naturally so beautiful.






















***Boat Make-up Projects in Rio Dulce (February to April 2016) ***

Custom made new five stainless burglar bars for the hatches (by local Welder Nuelman Padilla-Phone 3023-7585)
Repaired ‘Starboard’ stainless dent (by Welder Nuelman)
Repaired stainless ‘Dorade’ in my Cabin (by Welder Nuelman)
Repaired the swim ladder and cleaned rust from the ladder (by Welder Nuelman)
Custom made new cockpit grate (Teak Wood, by Local Carpenter Carlos Urrutia-Phone 5189-0523)
Custom made new cockpit table (Teak Wood, by Carpenter Carlos)
Custom made new desk (Roseau Wood) in my cabin (by Carpenter Carlos)
Custom made steps (Teak Wood) on Granny bars by mast (by Carpenter Carlos)
Custom made a thick work wooden board (Santa Maria Wood, by Carpenter Carlos)
Custom made a cutting board fits on the sink (Jocote de Fraile Wood, by Carpenter Carlos)
Custom made an ‘Outboard Motor’ holding stand (Cedar Wood, by Carpenter Carlos)
Replaced Formica on generator access door (by Carpenter Carlos)
Inset floor hatch latches (by Carpenter Carlos)
Repaired main sail cover (by S/V Pamela Ann)
Custom made ‘Outboard Motor’ lift straps (by S/V Pamela Ann)
Repaired Gelcoat in the cockpit and a couple of areas in Stern (by Local Workers)
Purchased a new Yamaha Outboard Motor (5HP, 2 Stroke, Yamaha Dealer by Mar Marine)

Re-bedded two front cleats
Re-bedded starboard forward rail stanchion
Re-bedded three Dorade guards
Re-bedded two Granny bars at mast
Repaired the jib pole
Tighten lowers of standing rigging
Tightened deck tension rod
Cut one foot main halyard to move the normal chafe points
Cut one foot off first reef line to move the normal chafe points
Removed the anchor and chain, straightened the kinked chain, and reattached the anchor and chain
Added pad eyes to the end of the Danforth anchor to aid in tying it down

Cleaned and vacuumed the bilges
Cleaned the front water tank and engineered/replaced with a new gasket
Cleaned rust from front deck and everywhere on the boat
Cleaned lockers and drawers
Cleaned and repainted all the storage in the cockpit
Cleaned and organized the arch storage room and replaced the broken cable ties
Cleaned the front cabin with Dalys SeaFin Teak Oil
Washed the main sail
Washed and waxed the boom and the mast
Washed and waxed the hull
Washed and waxed topsides

Removed the stove oven and cleaned the location and the stove
Sanded and refinished Fiddle Rails with Poly Urethane
Stripped off brown Latex paint in staterooms and repainted with Bilge Coat white
Cleaned and refinished entrance ladder with Poly Urethane
Removed the dining room tables, sanded, and varnished them with Poly Urethane
Sanded and re-painted the bottom of the steering pedestal
Re-painted the chain lock
Re-painted the engine room
Freshened up Non Skid in engine room
Sanded and varnished oars
Sanded and varnished dinghy
Sanded and varnished Toe Rail (Front and Aft)
Sanded and varnished Cheek plates
Sanded and vanished the side wall of the cabin rooms

Repaired and reinforced wet locker
Reengineered ‘Alpenglow’ light bulbs
Removed old silicon and replaced with new silicone on the all plate dishes and bottom of the fans
Polished all sinks
Polished all stainless with ‘Flitz’ metal polish