On Splendid, the galley is the center of our home. Both Carla and I are food people and believe the key to health is the food we consume. Many people treat food as just fuel and are more than willing to open and heat a store-bought can of something and consider it food. Not on Splendid!
As you have read over the years we make our own beer & wine, 
bread, pasta, tofu, hummus and lots of other home-made goodies. We even make our own candy.
Carla and I are always baking something, simmering, boiling, or frying. You should try her banana cake, YUMMMMMMY!
Our old Eno stove was down to it’s last burner and barely working at that. I’ve been researching marine stoves and fuels for 
years and have finally decided to get a propane, Dickinson (Mediterranean) 3 burner stove & oven. It’s constructed of 100% stainless steel. It also has an 11,000 and two 7,000 BTU burners, a thermostatically controlled 7,000 BTU oven, and a 4,500 BTU broiler. I’ve had Dickinson products on my various boats over the years and love the craftsmanship. They are built to last, and I don’t have any plans on ever changing our cooker again. 
We are expecting it to arrive in a few weeks and have opened Pandora’s box. We decided to build an entire new galley. Our faucets leaked, the sinks were shot, and the counters we pure evil.
A good relationship is a funny thing. I’m a carpenter among many other things but have never really been a good one as I lack patience. Well Carla has an abundance of patience and together we make a great carpenter.
We went into Colon to look at sinks. We saw many stainless sinks in the $25-$50 range. But there was a dusty one off in a corner that nobody wanted as it was $115. Colon is a very poor city and people don’t have that kind of money for a sink. Well it had been marked down to $75. When Carla saw it she went “Wow, this is a “Tramontina”, a very famous Brazilian brand, and it’s perfect!!!”
She had measurements of our galley and despite the fact I thought it was a little big we bought it. Guess what, she was right, it fits 
perfectly!
I pulled the old Formica off and found the plywood underneath was wet and rotten and decided we are doing a 100% galley restoration. Everything is getting replaced, rebuilt, repainted, and revarnished. That along with an icebox rebuild makes this a HUGE project but one that we will enjoy for years to come.
I found a guy in Colon who specializes in cutting and bending stainless and I’m having him cut us a piece for the countertop.
I must say I feel a little guilty as we are going to have a galley that looks as if it exceeds my income level but what the hell. It’s not costing much at all. Aside from the stove we will probably only have $300-$400 in the project, however it is quite time consuming. Our home has been transformed into a workshop!
Well that’s it for today guys, I’m off to work. Within the next few months I’m hoping to have a new galley, water maker, and a refrigeration system.
I still cant believe I’m getting married in November!
Peace.
– alex
You will have a brand new ship when your done although we all know, your (were) never done. She was beautiful when you bought her and I can’t wait to see, one day, your like new home. You have done an A+ job!
Thanks Jeff. After this, the projects will seem much smaller. We do have a big haul out comming up where I’m changing ofer to all marelon threw hulls, but aside from that its all paint & varnish. If we can pull it off I’m hoping to transit the canal in the next 6 months. We will be in Argentina for the month of November but after that I’m hoping to throw some miles under the keel!
Hey, I never got to try Carla’s Banana cake.
For you readers of Project BlueSphere I can attest to the amazing food that comes out of that galley on Splendid . In fact it really does not matter if Alex and Carla are cooking on one burner or a brand new Dickenson cooker they both produce a meal that would be the envy of any 5 star chef. I am serious. I recently had the pleasure of taking a 5 day charter in the San Blas with Alex and Carla. Perhaps my biggest concern was the food I would be eating. For some reason I had it in my head it would be week of rice and beans. To my surprise it was any thing but. Alex and Carla prepared every thing from flat breads, curries, couscous, chicken, pork, eggs, humus, stews, home made tacos, gourmet coffee, fish and lobster. I don’t think I have ever had such amazing meals in my life. Other then the ones I make of course. lol Nothing was over done and too fancy it was all prepared with love and kindness. Which brings me to my next point. For those of you that have wondered what a charter would be like on Splendid let me say that it would be an amazing time in your life. The warmth and hospitality that Alex and Carla displayed truly made me feel at home and part of the Splendid family. I have posted a short video clip on my web site living aboard boats livingaboardboats.com/ Check it out and book a charter on Splendid . You will be glad you did. Thanks again Alex and Carla for an amazing time. Curtis
Nice galley work. I’m really looking forward to your book. I hope the writing virus hits you and it’s all dashed out in a flash.
Curtis, nice video. We really had a good time with you and hope we can see you again.
Bindlesteff. I seem to write more during the rainy season, and the raine season in just starting :) I’m hoping to get the book knocked out. It’s 90% there just needs editing and love. It’s a big project to manage tho.
I’m in Panama City and just bought some water maker parts and a new faucet for the galley :) heading back to Carla and Splendid in an hour or so. Arrrrggggg, I hate the chicken bus!!!
Do not mention the chicken bus. Nightmares. For those who do not know…..when I visited Alex and Carla I wanted to experience everything. After getting on the chicken bus, I quickly realized I could not handle the closeness and heat. My anxiety kicked off big time. They are quiet the experience. I think I lasted half a mile.
Chuck,
You didn’t do too well on the chicken bus and you even had your own seat. You were climbing out the window, funny :)
t really does suck and my motorcycle is down and needs love and money.
Splendid is totally torn apart. As soon as we put her back together we will make some trips to Colombia and hopefully make enough for a haul out and a canal transit. Carla and I both feel the need to move on. We are both gypsies at heart and it’s time to go.
On a side note Alex. Anchoring hassles in Florida are over.
Courts ruled in favor of international treatys and the law of the sea and against small minded small town politicians.Right to navigation prevails.
Thats the best news ive heard in a long, long, long time. On a number of occasions ive thought to head back to Florida and make some money or something and it was just impossible fighting with the water police all the time.
A step in the right direction for sure!!!!!
You made my day!
Peace
Well guys
After years of scrounging parts, bits & pieces. And spending money on a system I knew would be years in the making, we are making water on Splendid. We fill a 5 gallon jug in 15 minutes which means we are putting out 20 GPH of beautiful fresh water !!!!!
It’s a big day on Splendid!!!!
RIGHT ON!!!!, Alex and Carla::::::STEW