Cabo Rico
was selected by Sail Magazine
as the ultimate blue water cruising boat.
It was love at first sight.
We first met Dream Time on April 22nd, 2000. She was out of the water looking wet, cold, lonely, and out-of-place. Her clipper bow, teak decks and classic lines suggested she belonged somewhere far away, somewhere tropical, warm and romantic,
not stranded in a car park in Brewers Marina, Glen Cove New York.
At the time we had no idea who designed her or where she was made, but we knew, just by looking at her, that she was the right cruising boat for us. We made an offer that day, bought her three weeks later, then after just six weeks, to get acquainted, sailed her from New York to Bermuda for a shakedown cruise.
We quickly discovered that Dream Time (then named Salty Dog) was as solid as her reputation. Unfortunately, however, we did experience a few 'minor issues' on our 1,260 nautical mile round trip journey from New York to Bermuda; Ol' smoky - the Perkins diesel engine died during our return passage, the refrigerator, airconditioner, main bilge pump and autopilot all decided to stop working too. The worn genoa ripped down its entire length in a squall and the forward fuel tank spilt over 20 gallons of diesel into the bilge due to a fracture down one of the seams. We made it back to Jones Beach, New York (with a little assistance from SeaTow) and dispite our minor problems and set-backs, we were estatic with our achievement and, for the next seven years, dedicated much of our time and energy to fully restoring Dream Time for our world circumnavigation.
Below is an overview of Dream Time's project and restoration work while preparing
her for our journey, along with ongoing work performed during our world cruise.
Click here to read about Dream Time's deck restoration project
in Cruising World's June 2008 issue.
Replaced Perkins 4108 diesel engine with a new Yanmar 4JH3E (50hp)
Replaced forward diesel tank with new 25 gallon aluminum tank
Installed stern-mounted Ampair Pacific 100 wind generator
Installed new Adler/Barbour, air-cooled refrigerator with large vertical evaporator
Installed new 12,000 BTU Mermaid air conditioner
Installed new 3-burner Force 5 stove, Wilcox Skipper II toilet with all new hoses, valves & solenoid
Installed new Furuno radar, Garmin chartplotter and B&G wind system
Installed new Edison 'off-shore' grade pedestal & steering system
Removed old cockpit teak, cut-away fiberglass & balsa core. Layered new foam/epoxy core,
fiberglassed, & installed new teak planking
Removed/inspected all chainplates, removed & rebedded rubrails, painted hull with Interlux Awlgrip
New lifelines & complete new deck hardware (cleats, deck fills, padeyes etc.)
Fabrication and installation of new stern railing with seats
Complete deck restored: removed old teak planking, cut away fiberglass & removed old balsa core. Removed bowsprit. Installed foam/epoxy core, new fiberglass top-layer (solid fiberglass at bow for deck cleats & windlass installation - no core), installed new teak planking with no fasteners
Removed bow sprit, inspected and rebedded
Replaced all thru-hulls
New suit of North Sails – main, yankee, 135° genoa
All new Lewmar cockpit winches & sheets fitted
All bronze portlight removed, cleaned & rebedded. Teak hatches removed & revarnished
Coachroof stripped - 2" core holes removed from each fastener fitting, epoxy applied.
Coachroof painted with Interlux Awlgrip. New hardware installed into epoxy core
New fiberglass 60 gallon forward water tank installed under cabin floor
Salon floor stripped, sanded & revarnished
Installed new Lewmar V4 windlass with 300’ of 5/16", high-test anchor chain & primary 60lb CQR
Installed new B&G autopilot RAM & serviced old RAM for spare
Installed new Garmin 3206 color chartplotter
Mast & spars stripped, sanded & painted. All new stainless wire stays & turnbuckles
Rudder removed, core reinforced with steel plate
Installed two 85-watt solar panel
Installed Catalina 150 Spectra watermaker
Installed new iCOM IC-M802 SBB radio
Installed new Iridium 9505A satellite phone with externally mounted antenna
Insulated fridge and improved compressor air ventilation
New set of Sunbrella bimini, dodger & sun awnings. New cockpit cushions
Stripped caprails, installed new headsail tracks. Raised bootstripe 4"
Full osmosis treatment under waterline with epoxy vinylester coating system
Installed two new 225 amp gel house batteries
Installed new wiring & master breaker panel
Fitted new glass in all portlight windows
New sun awnings, sail covers & salon cushions
Removed, sandblasted and painted main traveller
Serviced liferaft & new hydrostatic release
450 feet of new 9mm DIN766/A anchor chain (primary & secondary anchors)
