Charly enjoyed a 3-month cruise with his wife. And they liked it! So much so, that they set out to find a sailboat to live on. After doing some research on the Internet, the couple settled on one model: the Maramu from Amel. They liked the Super Maramu more, but it was out of their reach.
A visit to test yourself
However, when Charly comes across an advertisement for a Camper Nicholson 48, which resembles the Maramu with its central cockpit and protected wheelhouse, he decides to make an appointment to view it. His aim wasn't to buy it, but rather to use the opportunity to get a feel for sailboat negotiation. This is his first visit to a pre-owned boat, and it will be his last!
Complete, but in its own juice
In fact, the sailboat he discovered on dry land in Sète caught his eye. It's a 1972 model, number 6 in a series of 46, but it's not hiding its age. Indeed, the teak deck is totally worn and numerous leaks inside the cabin have attacked the varnish. On the plus side, however, the Perkins 4.236 engine seems to be in good shape, an anti-osmosis treatment has been applied, a watermaker is on board and the boat underwent an electrical refit less than 10 years ago. The negotiation begins.
A low bid
The yacht is listed with the broker at 75,000 euros. The broker tells Charly that an offer of 45,000 euros was previously refused by the owner, who bought the boat in 2013 with a view to repatriating it to Réunion, but who has never sailed it. Faced with the yard, Charly isn't backing down. After budgeting for a refit, he makes an offer of 25,000 euros. Which was accepted!
Elbow grease in prospect
He feels he's made a good deal, aware that it's going to take a lot of elbow grease to get this yacht back into shape. He begins by moving the boat, still in the same yard, to position it on a concrete slab. He even built a real wooden staircase to safely reach the stern. Aware that the work would take several months.
Interior modifications
With winter just around the corner, he doesn't get involved in exterior work, instead concentrating on renovating the cabin. He will repaint some of the bulkheads whose varnish has been attacked, bringing a little luminosity with white bulkheads in the cabins. The forward cabin is completely dismantled to allow for the installation of a tunnel bow thruster. Finally, the aft cabin layout is revised to enlarge the bed, to create a true double bed. The bed is slightly raised for the occasion, creating additional storage space. Also to facilitate life on board, the navigation berth in the passageway leading to the aft cabin is transformed into a large closet.
No more teak decks
But it's on the deck that most of the work will be done. Using a chisel, Charly removes all the teak slats one by one. A mammoth task! He then sands the entire deck down to a more or less even surface. With the help of MAP Yachting in La Ciotat, he uses Sicomin products for the entire renovation. Charly admits that this support in advising, selecting and explaining products was essential to the success of the project. As a result, the deck was coated, sanded and then painted before receiving an anti-slip coating. Gone is the teak, replaced by an attractive white and beige deck.
The same goes for the hull, which is sanded and finished with Sicomin paint. The result is stunning, even if Charly says he can see imperfections. All visitors see is a beautifully refurbished ketch.
Bending plexis
The main difficulty was the renovation of the deckhouse plexis. These are curved. After taking a template, Charly fitted the first one cold, happy that all was going well as he gradually bent it. But the next morning, the Plexiglas was broken in two! So he went back to work, this time heating the material. And this time it worked!
A skilled handyman
Charly is not a professional, but a conscientious do-it-yourselfer. He doesn't hesitate to search the Internet for solutions. It took him a whole year to refit the yacht, working between 6 and 8 hours a day. The job cost him around 30,000 euros in materials. For the tools, in particular the compressor, he equipped himself to resell at the end of the project.
Happy to sail
After a year of renovation, the yacht is back in the water. Charly admits that she's no war lightning at 18 tons, but she's easy to handle and, above all, very comfortable. However, below 10 knots of wind, the 80 horsepower of the Perkins is often called upon. But today, Tookana's newly rechristened yacht is well within reach of her intended voyage.
