Delores,<br>Sorry, I neglected to answer your
query about the storage spaces under the steps. I can't
easily up load a digital pic from here since we're using
a slow GSM cell phone connection. Let me briefly
describe them.<br>I've seen two options. Small drawers
hung under each step, shallow enogh to leave plenty of
room for our foot on the lower step or, as we have
done, a removable board across the step set back far
enough so the step is useable, behind which you can
store items and they will be immediately accessible. We
have 10cm (4in.) high boards that slide into grooves
mounted on either side. I store my tool bag under the
bottom step, the other two we use for daily kitchen
items like aluminum foil... Quite convenient.<br>Hope
this helps.<br>Charlie<br>S/V Malaika II

Silvercloud,<br><br>Thanks for tip. I believe you
are talking about the new cd rom manual for the 2000
Maramu. I did get a copy from Vito (a member in this
club)who I bought my boat from. It is very good and
informative. However, as we all know, Amel made some changes,
Watermaker, charger, batteries, heat etc. It is these areas
that I know will be the 1st to present problems for
me. All the same I am grateful for the cd info. Such
a great boat anyway, these little problems will be
a joy to deal with. Moved up from a 37ft Tartan, 22
yrs old so I know all about fixing stuff!!<br>Sitting
out here in Oyster Bay NY, probably the only person
on his boat tonight, 46 degrees outside but nice and
warm inside. Making the most of the last sailing days
in the North East.<br>Bob<br>Hi Vito :)

Hi Everyone,<br>We have 15MB of storage space
allocated by Yahoo for posting digital photographs, so feel
free to upload any photos that may be of interest to
the members. We can create 'albums' by yacht type and
by area to keep things organized. Let me know if you
need help posting any pics.<br>Rich<br>Xanareva

Vito,<br>I will return to the US for a month or
two to see family and friends, then back aboard in
February.<br><br>I have an SSB, but since I installed the Raytheon
RL80C combined radar and chart plotter the SSB is
installed in the left hand section where the separate chart
plotter would be. So I still have the Amel
logo.<br><br>The hanging locker shelves are across the back of the
two large lockers. Two shelves in each locker. The
other shelf is over the foul weather gear locker and
makes an excellent place to keep small items without
cluttering the chart table.<br><br>One other items I forgot
to mention is a place to store charts. It is
installed in the companionway flush against the wall
nearest the fuel tank and only sticks out about 4cm (less
than 2 inches). The top third opens and allows easy
access to the charts. It holds a surprising number of
charts. I have about 75 in there now and it isn't
full.<br><br>Charlie<br>S/V Malaika II

Dolores - s/v Stargazer Hi. Unfortunately M.
DeHaro lives and works in France (La Rochelle, near the
Amel yard) and only speaks French. I can give you his
phone number if you wish. I think your best bet for
advice on varnish work would be to contact Amel, either
directly to M. Selo, After Sales Deptartment or via Joel
Potter.<br>Your woodworking friend is probably right that it is
best not to touch Amel's varnish work. When we sold
our last boat (1982 Maramu) she was 19 years old with
40,000 blue water miles and her varnish looked new. But,
as you've experienced, her headliner was falling
down!<br>Now, get the refurbishing done and sail. That's what
Amel boats are built for.<br>Fair winds,<br>
Charlie<br> S/V Malaika II

Great Site. The best Amel site I have seen,makes me want to untie the dicklines now.

<a href=http://www.bayc.org.uk/crusader target=new>http://www.bayc.org.uk/crusader<;/a><br>This is Ian
Shepherd's photo-illustrated log of his voyage (thus far)
since taking delivery of his Amel Super Maramu in 2000.
Many great insights to be gained in the operation of
the SM.

Thank you for your reply. Will you live on the
boat during the winter or are you coming back home. I
too am in the process of winterizing my boat. I have
only owned it since July. She is hull # 283. The
shelves over the hanging locker is a good idea I have
been thinking of doing that. Did you mount an SSB on
you vessel. Did you mount it under the Radar? This is
where Amel recomends it be mounted, but I realy like
the Amel logo that is in that space. I was thinking
of having it mouned over the hanging locker next to
the nav station. I would have a cabinet
bult.<br><br>Thanks<br><br>Vito

Amel now supply a really first class printed manual in English - and also a CD in all languages. Maybe Amel will send you one, (it's copyright)or maybe they would agree to you receiving a copy.

Hi Charlie aboard svmalaika ...<br><br>I was
wondering where M. DeHaro is located. In the US or
France?<br><br>Although we have a skilled cabinet maker here in Columbia,
SC producing funiture quality pieces ... getting him
to work on our boat is difficult. He did custom mill
for us 3/8" ash tongue and groove which we have
installed in our main cabin ceiling. It is gorgeous! Now we
wait for more tongue/groove which all he has left to
do for us to spray vanish on it before we install
it. <br><br>Just to let you and the other Amel owners
know the older Amels vinyl lining had foam insulation
and through the years the foam disintegrated allowing
the vinyl to fall off. There has been no success
regluing back on so we resorted to covering it up because
even trying to remove it is difficult as Amel
installed the vinyl BEFORE installing many wood
pieces.<br><br>Joel has been of great help to us giving us
information concering our refurbishing of our 41 <br>Sharki.
So he informs us when we inquire of how other Amels
owner have dealt with improvements.<br><br>Getting back
to our friend the cabinetmaker ... a personal friend
... he stays incredibly busy with his custom
woodworking shop. His work would rival anything Amel does. He
is a master craftsman of wood.<br><br>So I was
wondering about seeking another woodworker for some pieces
I am interested. Sometimes there is only so much
one can ask of a friend who will take no payment for
his work. <br><br>I do like the idea of the storage
space beneath the steps. Are you able to provide a
digital pic for me to see? If so, I would like to
see.<br><br>I would also like to communicate with M. DeHaro has
I have some questions concerning the finish on the
Amels. Maybe he can enlighten me. Our 15 year old boat
is in need of some varnish repair and my woodworking
friend says not to touch the finish as there is no way
to duplicate what Amel has done.<br><br>I look
forward to hearing from you!<br><br>Delores<br>s/v
Stargazer

Vito,<br>See my note to Gary where I described
the modifications we made. <br>After our trip we are
very satisfied with Malaika II and have NO plans for
further modifications. In fact, this is a very strange
time for me. Ruth returned to the US a week or so ago
and I stayed on to get the boat ready for the winter.
In the past this always was a busy time doing long
put off projects. This year, nothing to do. Only
project was getting a full boat cover made. Partially
because she's a new boat, but also because she is as
close to perfect as I can imagine.<br>Charlie

Gary,<br>The only non-Amel options we have
installed are a bit of cabinetry made by M. DeHaro, an Amel
recomended cabinet maker. He made us a couple of bookcases,
some shelves in the hanging lockers, drawers in the
galley "liquor" cabinet and some storage spaces under
the steps and we changed from the standard Amel
electonics to an integrated Raytheon radar/chartplotter/gps
with a second, smaller unit on the bridge. Very
useful. We kept the standard B&G and autopilots. We are
VERY pleased with the boat. She is a delight to sail.
Very easy and manageable by one of us.<br>Charlie

Hi Charlie & Ruth: It is good to hear from you.
Thanks for the advice about the crash bar. Joel Potter
responded also and indicated that Amel has the bar
available for 273 euros installed, perhaps less over the
counter. I will be contacting Olivier. Any other options
that you have found useful? Kindest regards. Gary

Hi Charlie<br><br>What other modifications did you make to your SM2000 and after your trip what modifications are you considering.<br><br>Thank you<br><br>Vito Ciaravino<br>SM2000 # 283

Eva & Donald-<br>Hope you find your Sharki soon.
We have tentative plans to head to New Orleans next
spring - we'd definately like to get together. Likewise,
if you visit the Clear Lake area, let us know. Dahna
& Pat.

Gary,<br>I'm Charlie of Charlie & Ruth Cronheim
on MALAIKA II which was just up the dock from you in
La Rochelle. We are now in Turkey preparing to
winter here.<br>I had the same compliant 18 years ago
with my Maramu and had a bar fixed. Therefore when we
ordered our new Super Maramu 2000 we requested and Amel
fitted a crash bar. As usual, once they do something it
is excellent. They told me they are considering
making it standard, a move I'd strongly recommend. I'm
sure if you ask them to send you a crash bar like the
one they fit on Malaika II they would. It would be
very easy to self install.<br>Our trip to Turkey was a
joy and Malaika II performed flawlessly. We plan to
spend the next several years in the Med, then probably
head stateside.<br>Keep in touch.<br> Charlie

Hello everyone. My name is Gary Silver. My wife
and I purchased an Amel Super Maramu 2000 through
Joel Potter in May of 2000 and took delivery July 2,
2001. We are extremely pleased with the boat, the
factory, the Amel team, and Joel. Just after delivery in
LaRochelle my family and I sailed across the Bay of Biscay,
down the coast of Spain and Portugal and on to the
Canary Islands. During those passages we had at least
one episode where a crew member was thrown into the
stove (unlit fortunately). All other boats I have
sailed on in the past have had a bar of some sort (aka
Crash Bar) in front of the stove. Does anyone have any
ideas why Amel chose not to do so? Has anyone had
experience with fitting one? Other than this item we
couldn't be happier with our new Maramu. We are looking
forward to meeting many other Amel owners. Sincerely,
Gary & Mary Silver Liahona Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Rene,<br><br>Glad to see your English is about
1000% better than my French. I had a schoolboy capacity
30 years ago. Hopefully I will get to re visit
France in this wonderfull French boat. You bet I will
study hard then! Thanks for the offer of help, I am
sure to be contacting you.<br>Bob<br>p.s Buying a boat
at the end of the sailing season hurts.

If you don't want to learn french, try to buy a good dictionary (English-French). If no solution at all, we will try to help.<br>Ren Ortmans<br>SM 204 Fare Nui

We never used storm sails. We prefer to stay far
from storms, using weather faxes by ssb. Till now, we
succeded and had no real dangerous storm in 13 years...We
think a storm sail is dangerous to rig in rough seas,
unless you install it permanently on a furling system. (
risk of man over board...) The standard sails of the
Supermaramu are sufficient in 99 pc of the
situations.<br>Fair winds to you<br>Ren Ortmans<br>SM 204 Fare Nui