Sailing SV Cordeliavideo
Ripping out the UGLIEST part of our BOAT
January 16, 2026 · 10 min · 899 views · Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Passengers packed inside crowded collectivo bus during transit
What this video covers
Steve and Annette's Venus Ketch is undergoing a major refit at Rio Dulce, Guatemala, after sailing there from the Caribbean five months prior. The immediate project: replacing the fridge surround near the companionway steps, which was visually mismatched with the rest of the boat's woodwork.0:08 Local craftsman Jose arrived to add a small fiddle edge to the existing surround but left with the entire unit dismantled after Annette overruled the partial fix.0:36 Jose built a template on-site, removed all the old material, and returned days later to install a new teak surround with a fiddle edge, smooth sides, a removable top for fridge access, and no front vents — matching the style of his other woodwork on the boat.1:30 The finished result draws clear approval from both owners.7:34 Separately, canvas worker Chloe is quoted to re-stitch the cockpit cover, whose UV-degraded stitching is failing all the way around, and to replace its windows and the mizzen boom cover; that work is scheduled for January or February when Guatemala's cooler months make removing the bimini practical.3:54 A side trip with fellow cruisers to hot springs near Fronteras cost 20 quetzales per person and included a guide.4:47 A collectivo bus ride back provided unplanned entertainment.7:19 Partial fixes on cosmetic woodwork rarely hold up — rebuilding the whole unit produces a result that matches the surrounding joinery.
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