We sailed our catamaran, Manuka, for several years between Phuket and Langkawi, with plans to sail further afield when Arne retired. Then there was COVID, which like many, put a halt to our cruising plans.  After an extensive refit in Chalong, we left Thailand for Malaysia and are now sailing around Borneo. I hope this report on our experience in Chalong with a number of boatyards, will be helpful for others.

BOATYARD: CHALONG BOATYARD SERVICES (CBS or “coconut yard”)
[email protected]

This boatyard is aimed at catamarans; they are put on a trailer at high tide then pulled with a tractor. This means depending on your water draft you’ll have to come at spring tide.

Their accommodations are comfortable enough but basic, so one can envision staying and living on board.

They have in-house workers, and they don’t easily accept other workers if they are providing the same service.

The price/ service ratio was not very good, and we were disappointed with an anti-fouling paint that didn’t last one season.

BOATYARD: M9
[email protected]

Just next door after CBS.

This boatyard is also aimed at catamarans and they also put the vessel on a trailer at high tide then pull it up with a tractor.  This means that depending on your water draft you’ll have to come at spring tide.

The operation is safely controlled with ropes along the path, where sliding moorings help keep the yacht properly oriented.

Inside the boatyard there are not enough facilities for staying and living on board.

The management is available and attentive to your needs, but they don’t have in-house workers and they charge 100 THB per worker per day.

2022 prices for our 48 ft catamaran:

1. Haul in + out 22,000 Thb.
2. Parking 18,000/month.
3. Worker charge 100/day.
4. Electricity charge 100/day.

Plus 7% VAT if you pay by card.

BOATYARD: SUN 89

In 2019 major jobs were performed by (the boatyard) Latitude 8 under their supervision (yard no longer operational). The mast was removed with a crane, mast pillar redone, mast put back in place after some little jobs on it by Dynamic Solutions (doesn’t exist anymore). Job securely done (wing mast is 20 meter high, carbon 700 kg at least).

The jobs performed on the cockpit and inside the boat went very well. Latitude 8 proved to be very competent, respectful of our plans and were very helpful. Unfortunately, the Manager passed away in 2020, so in 2022 I was advised to have the boatyard Sun 89 Phuket take on the jobs that needed to be done. They are located just after M9 Marina and they advertise fiberglass/epoxy resin/repair and all painting jobs.

Translating tasks

I had a list of tasks to perform including mechanical maintenance of the sail drives, plumbing, fiberglass epoxy job (shelves) etc. The list was sent out to the Manager, Kuhn Kaew and he had it translated in Thai – good start, everybody would be on the same page. He gave me a quote for the manpower, the materials would be bought and paid after presentation of bills. I agreed.

The painting job

It was quickly apparent that the Manager was only interested in the painting job and under some pressure I eventually accepted to have the deck repainted with anti-slide paint. I shouldn’t have. The deck was in need, there were several places where you could see the epoxy and at least several patches would be needed. I hesitated as the deck was not sliding at all and it was monsoon season. As a result, Kuhn Kaew, was focused on the weather forecast, refrained from starting any other job until the painting was done and 10 days were lost with no work at all on the dry!

After complaining several times, finally one plumber/refit man showed up, who was supposed to do most of the list I had submitted the very first day. One man, only! Then this poor man cut his finger, three days to know if he could work yes or no, finally no, so time to find another plumber.

There was no job except painting and hull polishing done by Sun 89, everything else was subcontracted.

Mechanical and plumbing work

It happened that the mechanic, Kuhn Lee, was good and did the job in a professional way after a quote which was respected and on time.

The new plumber/refit man, Kuhn Anon, came with two young workers, and started. The beginning was slow and after a few days, I realized there would be no chance the job would be finished before the next spring tide. At least we could talk, as his English was way better than Kuhn Kaew’s and he could read and write.

I showed him the list which he hadn’t been told of! Information is power.  He came the day after with more people, more experienced, and things were going well. We were at the yard at all times, available for discussion if needed. We had to postpone the relaunch for two days, but they made it.

Good Manager, good workers, good team spirit. I strongly recommend them. Kuhn Anon is able to distribute and control work from several people in parallel, while working himself. He is working most of the time at Royal Phuket Marina or at Ao Po Marina.

Back to the painting…

It happened the deck was more slippery once painted than before the painting. There were places with no anti-slip at all. The narrow bands between the anti-slip panels were left as they were, in great need of paint. Nothing was done beyond the anti-slip areas. The yellow patches are still visible here and there. It didn’t look good nor was it effective. I complained about the lack of anti-slip. I was given no choice but to pay extra to add more anti-slip stuff. It wasn’t evenly spread out, the result was less effective than it was before painting. Especially on the roof there are some places where you can’t walk bare feet anymore without holding on to something. And as the paint was fresh, many places went dirty with all of the workers going back and forth. A very bad result.

I would sum up the job of Sun 89 with a no-good painting ability and an average ability to find and get workers for all other jobs he subcontracts (as he takes 10% on labor of them). Even with a friendly attitude, the competence is not there.

• Sun 89 Phuket – Kuhn Kaew Ph: 089 909 4166 – painting & polishing (as per above information)
• Kuhn Lee mechanic Ph: 084 6300 801 (lots of experience on Yanmar)
• Kuhn Anon Ph: 065 3957 329 (fiberglass, resin epoxy jobs, plumbing)

Getting in touch

Most of the people we were dealing with use a cell phone application, named Line, which works like WhatsApp. Free to obtain.

Canvas work

I strongly recommend Kuhn Pla of Canvas Creation. She speaks and writes very good English. She is very competent in her domain, listens to your needs, builds on your ideas.

Job delivered: a transparent windshield, between roof and bimini, a sunscreen at the rear of the cockpit, 2 rain curtains on both sides of the cockpit plus a large awning covering the front net.

• Mrs Pla Ph: 081-787-5952, [email protected]

Fridge repair

Siam Cooling Systems. One fridge was not working. Just a call, the same day somebody came to check the problem, came back the day after with necessary gear to repair, fixed the problem.  Very effective, professional. Check their website.

Accommodation: Aochalong Villa Resort & Spa

With four weeks to go on the dry and limited facilities at the yard, we had to find a place to stay. We booked a room at this hotel which we already knew about. I must say this happened to be an excellent choice and our life was made much easier and comfortable. The staff was open, friendly, full of little attentions every day, we felt at home. The hotel was conveniently located, as we could walk to the boatyard, one and a half km, by going down the pool to the beach,  crossing a little creek and following a small road to the yard.

The Ratio of price/quality was very good. Breakfast was simple but good enough, for dining the days we were staying at the hotel the choice is not very large, however on some days we enjoyed specials that were delicious.

The two pools are beautiful, well maintained. The rooms clean, beds really good. The view of the Bay of Chalong was very enjoyable. Make sure to book a room (or be upgraded for free) with a view of the pool.

What is incredible is that you feel in a special place, surrounded by plants, flowers and trees, fields all around, even though you are only a 15 minutes walk away from the busy Chalong roundabout!

Other Services

Other useful addresses still active in 2022:

Chandlery

• Boat Marine Chandlery, Patrice Atger, 17/4 Moo 9 Chaofa Road Chalong Muang Phuket , www.chandleryhardware.com , close to the 2 boatyards above
• AME, 20/48 Moo 2, Thepkrasattri road , T. Kohkeaw, A.Muang , Phuket (Boat Lagoon)
• Wayne’s World Phuket,  Ko Kaeo, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000 (second hand stuff)

Scuba diving gear

• Scuba Market Thailand, Kata Beach, 51 Patak Road – Karon Muang, Phuket

Stainless steel work

• Sophon Peunruk (or Mr. Pon), on East Chaofa Road, not far from the Chalong roundabout, 076-381 637, 089-873 1511 , a bit pricey by now, but reliable

Insurance

• Poe-Ma, Christophe Georges, +66 76 280 088, +66 (0)92 542 0505, Poe-Ma Insurances Group, 48/11 Moo 9, Sunrise rod, T. Chalong, A. Mueang, Phuket 83130

Yacht Club

Phuket Cruising Yacht Club, Brent McInnes, + 66 (0) 862 697 138, http://www.phuketcruisingyachtclub.org/

I should have started with this business first as it is the ideal place where you’ll find information as well as fresh beer and food.

Dominque Cabarroque
SV Manuka

Read Dominique’s subsequent report from Malaysia and repairs they had done there.

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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Noonsite.com or World Cruising Club.

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