Just a recap, in January of 2020 due to covid travel restrictions, Maiatla was abandoned for a full 15 months on the island of Roatan in the Bay islands of Honduras.

The hotel and Marina, Fantasy Island in which I entrusted her care did the
unthinkable by closing the facility and turning the electrical power off. I had
left two fans and a dehumidifier running on a timer which normally kept the
boat mold and mildew free. But without the fans mold took root and to add to the
problem, a pair of portholes started to leak allowing the water to rot out all
the teak cabinetry work in the head as well as two walls bordering the head,
fore and aft.

Almost a year and a half later when Jackie and I managed to finally return
to the boat the sight made me cry. Aside from the rotten head, the engine was
nearly entirely seized up. The battery bank was dead and the bilge was a
knee-deep cesspool of oil and fungi.

The exterior cap-rails and brightwork was bleached bone white and the canvas
dodger was burned to the point I thought a stiff wind would carry it off in
taters. To add insult to injury, a passing hurricane tore the dock loose
Maiatla was tied to and both went sailing away. Thankfully some other cruisers
saved Maiatla and the dock but not without damaging the fiberglass hull and
stern. All of my electronics were shot and need replacing. She was a mess.

After a couple of weeks of grueling work, we resurrected the engine and made
the boat ready for sea. It was only a day’s sail to Guatemala and the Shipyards
of the Rio Dulce. By August of 2021, the boat was in the Nana Juana Boat yard
and the repairs were begun. I would make a trip down to the boat in December to
oversee the continued work, which went slow but well.

I hired a local shipwright and his apprentice son to start the demolition
and repairs. I also hired a general laborer to start the sanding and
refinishing of all the exterior wood and as well as scrub the boat clean. These
three fellows have done a fantastic job. Work stopped in my absences for the
winter.

Well in November of 2022 my sister Jackie and I returned to the Rio Dulce to
continue Maiatla’s refit. Upon our return I found new issues. Several copper
hydraulic lines for our steering had corroded through where water had leaked
through the cockpit floor. So, no steering. Rot and permeated the main and
mizzen booms as well as a set of spreaders at the top of the mast. Many of the
electrical light fittings were corroded and not working.

To make thing s worse, there were several new deck leaks. The good news was
that the engine started right away but the engine exhaust hose blew out in a
spectacular fashion, instantly filling the boat with a thick black smoke that
sent my to carpenters scurrying topside for fresh air. We had our work cut out
for us and we did not have much time.

Note that since much of the damage was caused by a Hurricane and a “Act of God” -covid 19, insurance would not cover any of it.

Deported from Guatemala.

I had a few months to get the work done but soon after my arrival, I became
aware that my cruising permit had expired and I had to leave the country and
for a minimum of 90 days before I would be permitted to return. In the mean
time, I would be fined for every day past my expiry date. Thankfully the fine
was minimal, about $2.50 a day Canadian, not a killer but as we were already
tree months into the penalty phase it was adding up and with every day we were
running the risk of the government officials deciding to Nationalize Maiatla
and charge me import duty of 39% of the boats’ value, and they determine the
value.

Our good friend Jim, on Meander had a similar problem as his permit had
expired ( he had been there longer than us) and not only was he facing a fine
but the Government decided to review his case and he was ordered to stay until
they decided what to do with him. Ultimately her would be interned for over a
month before he was just ordered to pay a fine before he could leave.

So I decided to make the minimal of repairs and get out of Guatemala while
the getting was good. I planned on returning to complete the repairs once my 90-day
exile ended. But the trick would be to find a place to go. Guatemala was part
of a 4-country collective which meant if expelled from one, the other 3 were
off limits for the similar 90 days. I had a job back in Canada scheduled for
mid January so I would have to find a place to leave the boat for up to 6
months, which would prove to be a problem.

Where to Run!

The nearest country to which we could go to was Belize which was just a day
away but we had heard that it was difficult to get permits to leave a boat
there for more than 30 days, without renewing. which meant being there in
person. Next was Mexico, 3 to 5 days away but new rules made the check-in
process a bit of a nightmare which could take a week or more. Lastly, for us
anyway was Cuba, about the same distance but again red tape up the yin-yang!

After a great deal of internet searching and making contacts in all the countries, I decided
to give Belize a crack, that is as soon as we could get Maiatla fit and back in the water.

Jackie and I at the Backpackers restaurant , up river from Marina Nana Juana.

Maiatla on the hard at Nana Juana Boat yard.

 

Paint and fiberglass damage on the stern done when the dock blew away on the island of Roatan during a hurricane.

Exposing the rotten wood in the head inside the cabinetry.

 

The rot went through the walls into the aft cabin.

Burnt brightwork on the cap rail, caused by the intense tropical sun.

 

2.5 feet of mizzen boom had to be cut off due to rot. 5 feet off of the main boom.

 

My two shipwright working on restoring the head.

Roberto who refinished and restored all the deck wood as well as painted the bottom.

Head restoration nearing completion

The wall behind the shower stall was also replaced.

The hull freshly painted with the damaged stern and starboard side repairs complete

Booms under repair

 

Refurbished booms

I had all new sail and hatch covers made as well as a brand new dodger made- Canvas work by JESSICA. nice to be able to see out the windows again. All new electronics were installed.

Heading up the mast to install the new set of jumpers my carpenter made. Notice the refinished woodwork.

Launch day. Restoration and repairs 90% complete but with an order to leave the country the rest would have to wait.