Step aboard the ever-evolving journey of Bagabonda, where the spirit of adventure meets the reality of maintenance and innovation.
Any sailing vessel, like our Amel Santorin, requires a continuous wave of care, upgrades, and transformations that far surpass the demands of a traditional home. Here, we share the milestones of our upgrades, blending necessity with dreams and showcasing the dedication behind keeping Bagabonda afloat and ahead of the curve.
A boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by polyester, in which you throw money.
Let’s peel back the deck and dive into the nitty-gritty of transforming Bagabonda. From the essential to the extravagant, each upgrade and tweak is a chapter in our adventure on the high seas.
Completed changes and improvements:
Starlink and Router (on 12V)
Remote for the anchor windlass
The main anchor on our Amel Santorin can be controlled from the cockpit and the anchor windlass. We now added a remote so we can stand anywhere on the boat to position our anchor just right.
Complete overhaul of Electricity
Lithium batteries
Victron management system
Separation of starter and house batteries
New cushions in the cockpit and sundeck
New cushions, comfort in the cockpit, and added a sunbathing area.
New toilet in aft head
After being very happy with the experience of the new toilet in our V-birt, we decide to make a similar change in the aft head.
New Eno Stove
Takacat & Torqeedo
The new dinghy has style and is electrically powered.
New toilet in the fore head
New safety raft
When it turned out that the maintenance on the existing safety raft was about as expensive as buying a new one, we installed a new six people / 24h safety raft onboard Bagabonda.
Changing the cockpit porthole
Most of the light in the saloon comes from a window on the deck that had started leaking. So, we changed the porthole in its entirety.
Arch and Solar
New Electronics
A complete new Raymarine System: read more
New Autopilot
Major Refit
New standing and running rigging.
Hull cleaning, sanding, and painting: read more
Anti Fouling
Upcoming boat projects:
As we navigate the continuous journey of upgrading Bagabonda, it’s important to remember that the sea of improvements we dream of doesn’t always align with the immediate tides of reality.
However, these projects often find themselves in the planning phase, not for lack of vision or desire, but as we patiently await the arrival of necessary parts or the right expertise to weave these dreams into the fabric of Bagabonda.
Moreover, embarking on these upgrades isn’t just about having the right tools and knowledge. It’s also about ensuring our piggy bank, much like our vessel, is sufficiently stocked for the voyage ahead. More often than not, we find ourselves replenishing our resources, gathering the wind in our financial sails before we can set off on the next phase of our adventure.
-
Changing our main sail and the head sail
-
Adding a code zero sail and a bowsprit
-
Replacing the downwind poles
-
A new anchor and anchor chain
-
Adding a second fridge or freezer
-
Changing the upholstery on the inside
-
Adding lights to the arch
-
Changing inside lights
-
Adding red lights in the cockpit for night sails