Ten Days of Hard Work — The First Refit Push

QUEST LOG · 17–26 JUNE 2026 · LAGOS, PORTUGAL

Ten days after signing the Bill of Sale, the quiet boatyard had turned into a full working site. With a group of friends, I began the first serious phase of bringing Lancastrian back to life.

Everything out, everything checked

We emptied the yacht, cleaned every accessible area and worked through the equipment piece by piece. After four years ashore, the aim was not simply to make the boat look tidy, but to understand what was present, what still worked and what would need attention.

Below the waterline first

The first major technical task was the inspection of every seacock and through-hull fitting. Hoses, clamps, valves and connections were checked closely because these small components form part of the yacht’s most important safety barrier.

Some installations were immediately accessible; others required working deep inside lockers and technical spaces. The inspection created the first reliable picture of the plumbing, tanks, pumps and onboard systems.

Electricity and batteries

The electrical installation was inspected and new batteries were fitted. Distribution panels, cable runs and connections were documented as the starting point for the larger electrical refit still ahead.

Refrigeration equipment, wastewater tanks, compressors and the interior installations were also included in the survey. Nothing was assumed to work merely because it was still installed.

Six coats below

The largest single job was the underwater hull. Six coats of antifouling had to be applied across the complete surface. That task alone occupied several days and demanded patience, repetition and a great deal of physical work.

A beginning, not a finish

After ten demanding days, the work was far from complete. But the yacht was cleaner, better understood and already moving in the right direction. It was a hard first push — and a very good beginning.