Well, what can be said. Look out for the pirates in Venezuela but
no-one warned us about the crooks on Curacao!
Our yacht was stored in Curacao Marine for
safety and security while we were in Australia for 7 months in 2011. Curacao
Marine were notified by us in August 2011 that we had decided to engage them to
apply Awlgrip paint to the hull as per their proposal, with work to commence on
the 5th of January 2012, the date we were to arrive back in Curacao.
However, when the regular monthly invoice
was presented by Curacao Marine for November it included mast removal. We immediately
contacted Curacao Marine to ascertain why the mast had been removed from our
yacht and were informed that there was space in the paint shed so painting had
begun. Further queries confirmed that the yacht was ready for the topcoat.
This outraged us as we wanted to be present
whilst the work was being carried out. But being a respectable boatyard, so we
thought, we reconciled ourselves that all was in hand and it would be good to
arrive and have the painting complete.
We arrived at Curacao on the 5th
January, and visited the yacht on the 6th. While I held discussions over the following
weeks with Curacao Marine regarding the quality of the paint work (future blog
to follow) I noticed that our mast, which had not been re-stepped, had been
significantly damaged.
See details below of main damage.
When Curacao Marine
was asked about this they denied all knowledge and suggested I talk to the Curacao
Marine contract rigger who did it. He also denied knowledge of the damage. Although he had already replaced half of the
furler drum which had shattered during de-stepping of the mast.
Curacao Marine was again questioned and
told by myself that Curacao Marine was responsible for the yacht, mast, and
rigging, particularly as they had taken it on themselves to commence the paint
work prior to the 5th January, without us being present. Curacao
Marine still denied any knowledge and said they could not be held accountable
and that we were to involve our insurance company (see Curacao Marine terms of
storage).
Further discussions with Curacao Marine led
to them becoming aggressive and threatening, it was clear no resolution was to be had
regarding payment or compensation for the damage caused to our yacht whilst the
paint work was being undertaken. It was
at this point I knew I was dealing with a company that had no integrity.
During
our discussions with Curacao Marine our boat was either on the hard or on a
slip, without the mast. We spent almost 3 months trying to get them to repair
the damage and restep the mast. The
repairs they carried out were rudimentary and unsuccessful and we were of
course obliged to pay the boatyard fees for the time in the yard.
Main damage to yacht while in the care of
Curacao Marine.
Furlex
forestay bent (photos 1&2)
The Furlex forestay was bent. The profile is
made of aluminium and cannot be bent back into position without losing strength
as confirmed by European riggers. Curacao Marine attempted to repair the furler
profile by ‘bending’ it back to the correct alignment. This was not successful
as the profile remains damaged.
 |
| Photo 1 |
 |
| Photo 2 |
Furlex
drum bent (broken half already replaced by Curacao Marine rigger) (photo 3)
One half of the forestay Furlex furling drum
does not align with the replaced half (previously replaced by Curacao Marine rigger,
after it broke into two pieces during de-stepping the mast) Curacao Marine
attempted to realign the bent drum which did not work as the locating lugs
insufficiently hold the alignment and the drum has become misaligned again. The
drum is now inoperable with the protective cowling in place.
 |
| Photo 3 |
Electronic
cable terminals exposed and not protected (photo 4)
Electronic cables and terminals at the base of
the mast were exposed and not protected at the base of the mast. Cable sheaths
were ripped commensurate with being ‘pulled’as they were not disconnected. Curacao Marine installed cabling
heat shrink over the split and torn outer sheaves and positively tested the
wiring. A reduction in the cable core diameters cannot be detected with such
tests, and may result in failure of the cables at a later date. The rectification
work by Curacao Marine is unsafe and unacceptable for important navigation
equipment.
 |
| Photo 4 |
Rigging
lying on ground in dirt (photo 5&6)
The stored mast and rigging was found to be
lying in Curacao Marine yard in dirt. I would not consider this to be best
practice and shows the level of care and attention to equipment by Curacao
Marine.
 |
| Photo 5 |
 |
| Photo 6 |
In
summary, no compensation or payment has been made by Curacao Marine for the
damaged rigging. With the various other scratches on the rubrail, the wind transducer and the mast itself, my conclusion about the
damage is that something went wrong with the de-stepping of the mast such as
cables not being disconnected and/or poor crane operations. I guess I will
never know.
I
would advise all cruisers to avoid Curacao Marine for undertaking or performing
any works to vessels. I consider them to be incompetent, and negligent, in the
works they perform. Curacao Marine have no integrity and when challenged become
aggressive and threatening.
The
above details have been extracted from e-mails and letters sent to Curacao
Marine during discussions. No emails or letters have ever been replied to.
Mark and Marion on S/Y Zenna
