Removing Rust Stains on Deck

Due to ongoing drought conditions in recent years - there have been strident admonishments from my marina's management to avoid any unnecessary use of water - and so, there have been long stretches between washing the deck down.

In the interim, a spattering pattern of orange rust stains appeared on the bow of the deck - possibly caused by the anchor and/or chain - but also possibly caused by insect & spider droppings (apparently) - and I discovered some kind of a nest under the bow roller platform.

Using a stiff brush, II tried scrubbing with:

• Soap & Water  (result: no improvement)
• Vinegar (result: no improvement)
• Oxi Clean (result: some improvement)
• Star Brite Spider and Bird Stain Remover - (result: Much Improved)

Another product that I may try in the future:




I would be very interested in hearing what others have found to work - please post your comments below.

Jean-Jacques Savin Completes 128 day passage across Atlantic Ocean

"Jean-Jacques Savin, a 72-year-old former military parachutist and pilot who just completed the voyage from the Canary Islands (off the coast of Morocco) to an island in the Caribbean"

"His barrel was made of resin-coated plywood, built by two French barrel makers. The measurements worked out to 10 feet long and 6.8 feet across"

" his voyage lasted 128 days,"

"he landed on St. Eustatius."

https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/a27396168/frenchman-crosses-atlantic-ocean-in-barrel/

Michael (Mike) Wilson of SV Tortue - Eight Bells

https://www.noonsite.com/report/mazatlan-cruisers-guide/#comment-5522

 2019-01-24, @Bloomer: "Sadly, Mike Wilson passed away late last year and is no longer able to maintain the Mazatlan Cruiser's Guide. It has been taken over by Ray Watson of Mazatlan Yacht Sales (mazmarine.com) and is downloadable on the home page of his site." 

His name was Michael (Mike) P. Wilson - a British ex-pat, who lived aboard his sailboat (Tortue) in Mazatlan Mexico. 

Mike, in 2007, Marina Mazatlan, (c) Kelvin D. Meeks

He was a professional marine engineer (Dip. Mech./Mar. Eng. U.K.) - who had obtained additional certifications to perform marine surveys (one of the few surveyors in Mexico authorized to perform surveys for Lloyds of London).  He studied in Liverpool England.

Over 30 years of sailing the world's oceans - during one period of his life, he was a yacht captain for one of Paul Allen's boats.

His services were often retained by insurance companies - after major hurricanes in Mexico - to provide his survey reports for insurance claims.

Mike and Tortue were in La Paz, Baja Sur - in September 2003 - when Hurricane Marty devastated the marina.The pictures he showed me were incredible. Here are some links to details of that event:

• https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/EP132003_Marty.pdf
• https://www.latitude38.com/LectronicLat/2003/0903/Sept26/Sept26.html
• https://www.latitude38.com/LectronicLat/2003/0903/Sept23/Sept23.html
• http://www.svmirador.net/MartyQuestionsAnswered.htm

 

In 1996 he semi settled down and founded Mexicolder Tropical Yacht Refrigeration:

• http://mexicolder.blogspot.com/
• http://marina-mazatlan.com/boatservices.html
• http://svliahona.blogspot.com/2016/04/new-refrigeration.html 

We met in 2004 - the morning I arrived after completing a slow sailing passage from La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico - to the Marina Mazatlan harbor.  In the open air palapa restaurant on the Isla - we bonded over breakfast and coffee.

He was one of those few people that I've met - and known instantly - that he was one of the good guys.

Over many years - and many trips back to Mazatlan - I spent great evenings in his company - either via his gracious hosting/cooking aboard his sailboat (Tortue) - or at my invitation to join me in local restaurants - the beach-side restaurant of Hotel Playa Mazatlan being my favorite place.

As was our tradition with every dinner, we savored a few bottles of wine, and we shared stories from our travels and adventures - we shared stories of laughter and regret, of triumphs - and misadventures, of mostly joy - and yet some of the sorrow that must naturally be reaped through a long life lived to the full - and thereby came to know one another as brothers - and our friendship grew and deepened over the years. 

Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve was the time of year that we usually would catch-up with each other over a Skype call...often, near midnight.

But, in December 2018 - as Christmas approached...he never responded...

His was a quick wit - and a child-like appreciation for silly jokes.

He had little patience for fools - and could be harsh in his judgement of those who set sail upon the ocean without proper preparation and training.  

But, his was a kind heart - and he was a loyal friend.  

He was always quick to help a friend - whether to lend a hand, or  share his knowledge and expertise. 

His partner was Melissa Harter, for the last many years (although I've been told she left him seven months before he passed)...but when I met him in 2004, he was still married to Misuzu Yagi Wilson, until their separation sometime in late 2006 (they never finalized the divorce).

He was my friend.

He is no more.

And the world has grown a bit dimmer - because his light has been extinguished.

These are the links on the web that I have found that were the first clues that he had passed:

• https://www.sailblogs.com/member/sailingmorningstar/455528
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/223414037713454/permalink/1952945368093637
• [My thanks to Tesa Hayashi for sharing with me her photos of Tortue - and for confirming that the boat was left to Simon - who subsequently needed to sell it quickly]

Into the boundless ether, across all manifestations of the multi-verses - I send out this greeting to your soul & spirit my friend:

Michael Wilson,
Wherever ye may be,

Under whatsoever conditions ye may exist, 

Peace Be Upon You, and About You My Friend.

The Memory of Your Friendship is Not Forgotten.

Update: 2019-06-13 Thursday

I've received a response to an inquiry - from Sue Richards (Noonesite.com) - she knew Mike, but was not aware of his passing - and graciously offered to post the link to this page in the Mazatlan section. Thank You Sue. (She also shared that she and Mike, as ex-pat Brits living in foreign lands, enjoyed Yorkshire Gold Tea).

Update: 2019-03-25 Wednesday
I've received an email today from Misuzu Yagi Wilson - and she provided some additional details, that were passed on to her by her friend, Neill Randle. Mike passed away on November 9th, 2018 - from a heart attack. After Mike's passing - his sister (Jane) joined his friends in Mazatlan and held a celebration of his life - and his ashes were spread at sea.

Marina Mazatlan Slip Rates - Annual Costs

I did some quick calculations to see what the average monthly slip rate would be for a 35 ft. long boat in Marina Mazatlan, based on today's prices - and factoring in the long-term discount for a 5 month summer rate:

• http://marina-mazatlan.com/index.html
• http://marina-mazatlan.com/rates.html

Salty John's Sailing Snippets book (free to download)

"Sailing Snippets covers many aspects of sailing from boat design to heaving-to, from sailing naked to anchoring. There are many illustrations."

http://www.saltyjohntheblog.com/my-book