For Services and Resources in French Polynesia
The Tahiti Cruisers Guide is brought to you by Julien Desmont from Xperimental and Chuck Houlihan from Jacaranda. Starting as an idea based on the very successful Panama City Cruisers guide, it has evolved into 200+ pages of information on vendors and services throughout French Polynesia. In January 2018, we added GPS coordinates and links to Google Maps to assist in locating businesses.
Downloading the guide and GPS map coordinates will facilitate using the guide offline. The coordinates will work for either Maps.me (best for Papeete) or Google Maps.
Especially thankful to John (SV Mary Ann II) and Steve (SV Ocean Star) for their huge effort in supplying a vast amount of information for the guide.
The guide is a community effort. Updates and new additions are greatly appreciated. If you find the guide useful or find something that needs updating please drop us a note at tahiticruisersguide (AT) gmail.com
Last update: 10 Dec 2024
Diesel Mechanic
Sail The Way – Rudy
2022-02-16 19:37:56 UTC
Island: Tahiti
Sail The Way – Rudy
Cell Phone: 87 300 864
email: rudy@sailtheway.com
languages: English, Dutch, German
Location: Papeete
Diesel mechanic: Everything what can go wrong or needs maintenance in the engine room: oil- filters, fuel filters, fuel lines, air filters, anodes, mixing elbows, exhaust plumbing, alternators and (external) regulators (12/24 V), starters and relays, starter battery, V-belts, injectors, dripless seals, stuffing box, raw water- and fresh water pumps, water hoses, bilge pumps, head gasket replacements, valve adjustment…
2-22 SV Matador I have seen many satisfied customers after Rudy has successfully solved their problems. I can recommend his thorough approach, tidy work and great ability to think problems through, resulting in correct diagnosis and permanent solutions. I would not hesitate to recommend his services.
1-22 SV Wandersurf I limped into Nuku Hiva on my Vagabond 39 after a long journey from Panama. Transmission shot and mast track popping off in a section where the wood rotted away. Rudy helped me pull my transmission, diagnose the issue and put me in touch with a company to order a replacement. He also guided me through the process or repairing my mast. He is extremely knowledgeable and helpful with all things Marine related. He was just someone who helped work on my boat he became a friend. I highly recommend his services. 12-21 SY Mary Ann I want to send a recommendation regarding Sail The Way, both for electric/electronic work, and as a diesel mechanic.
We can highly recommend Rudy to our fellow cruisers.
2018 SV Pavo Real I would highly recommend Rudy-Sail the Way for those in need of electrical, diesel and general boat repairs. When sailing in Panama my vessel, a Lagoon 410 catamaran, was struck by lightening. It was a direct hit to the mast and the electrical damage was extensive. Nearly all the electronics on the boat were damaged. Navigation, radar, radios, charger/inverter, vessel lighting, engine sensors and helm gages were fried. I hired Rudy of Sail the Way to do the repairs. He did an amazing job. Rudy advised me to work together, to repair all the damage. The best way to learn about your boat and trouble shoot the things by yourself. Most of the boat needed to be rewired. He discovered many wiring issues beyond just simple repair and reconstructed the entire system including the electrical panel and breakers. All my systems now work better than ever.
When we were hauled out he discovered some issues with through hull fittings and removed old no longer used valves and repaired the hull. Once back in the water he was able to get my two Yanmar diesel engine running in top shape. Rudy advised me to work together, to repair all the damage. The best way to learn about your boat and trouble shoot the things by yourself.
We were truly lucky to have Rudy available to do the work. He was very busy with repair work on other vessels, including removing and repairing a keel on a large sailboat that had run aground. Fortunately, he committed himself to our job and installed systems as the arrived in Panama from the US. He is now in Tahiti and sailors there are lucky to have such an amazing individual available to their vessels.
Cell Phone: 87 300 864
email: rudy@sailtheway.com
languages: English, Dutch, German
Location: Papeete
Diesel mechanic: Everything what can go wrong or needs maintenance in the engine room: oil- filters, fuel filters, fuel lines, air filters, anodes, mixing elbows, exhaust plumbing, alternators and (external) regulators (12/24 V), starters and relays, starter battery, V-belts, injectors, dripless seals, stuffing box, raw water- and fresh water pumps, water hoses, bilge pumps, head gasket replacements, valve adjustment…
2-22 SV Matador I have seen many satisfied customers after Rudy has successfully solved their problems. I can recommend his thorough approach, tidy work and great ability to think problems through, resulting in correct diagnosis and permanent solutions. I would not hesitate to recommend his services.
1-22 SV Wandersurf I limped into Nuku Hiva on my Vagabond 39 after a long journey from Panama. Transmission shot and mast track popping off in a section where the wood rotted away. Rudy helped me pull my transmission, diagnose the issue and put me in touch with a company to order a replacement. He also guided me through the process or repairing my mast. He is extremely knowledgeable and helpful with all things Marine related. He was just someone who helped work on my boat he became a friend. I highly recommend his services.
He also worked on my boat to relocate a day tank and did a superb job.
Lastly, as we had to leave the boat while on the hard undergoing various jobs, Rudy took over the management of all contractors, and when I returned, all was done - and well done.
Rudy is a calm, organized and thorough man who knows what he's doing.
Very highly recommended.
7-21 SV Harmony - Outremer 5X - Rudy’s extensive knowledge of marine diesel mechanic was impressive to say the least. There is no job related to diesel engines that I wouldn’t trust Rudy to tackle. His attention to detail and going above and beyond with preventative measures to ensure engine longevity was greatly appreciated. I highly recommend Rudy in this field and trust his skills, knowledge and character to get you moving forward under power quickly.
1-21 SV Juffa Rudy is an accomplished electrician and mechanic who managed to repair our Dometic freezer when others failed to do so. His fees are reasonable and he is an experienced cruiser who understands our needs and is a pleasure to work with.
When our Yanmar 3YM30 blew it’s cylinder head gasket he again undertook the repairs and got us going in an efficient and well organized manner.7-21 SV Harmony - Outremer 5X - Rudy’s extensive knowledge of marine diesel mechanic was impressive to say the least. There is no job related to diesel engines that I wouldn’t trust Rudy to tackle. His attention to detail and going above and beyond with preventative measures to ensure engine longevity was greatly appreciated. I highly recommend Rudy in this field and trust his skills, knowledge and character to get you moving forward under power quickly.
We can highly recommend Rudy to our fellow cruisers.
2018 SV Pavo Real I would highly recommend Rudy-Sail the Way for those in need of electrical, diesel and general boat repairs. When sailing in Panama my vessel, a Lagoon 410 catamaran, was struck by lightening. It was a direct hit to the mast and the electrical damage was extensive. Nearly all the electronics on the boat were damaged. Navigation, radar, radios, charger/inverter, vessel lighting, engine sensors and helm gages were fried. I hired Rudy of Sail the Way to do the repairs. He did an amazing job. Rudy advised me to work together, to repair all the damage. The best way to learn about your boat and trouble shoot the things by yourself. Most of the boat needed to be rewired. He discovered many wiring issues beyond just simple repair and reconstructed the entire system including the electrical panel and breakers. All my systems now work better than ever.
When we were hauled out he discovered some issues with through hull fittings and removed old no longer used valves and repaired the hull. Once back in the water he was able to get my two Yanmar diesel engine running in top shape. Rudy advised me to work together, to repair all the damage. The best way to learn about your boat and trouble shoot the things by yourself.
We were truly lucky to have Rudy available to do the work. He was very busy with repair work on other vessels, including removing and repairing a keel on a large sailboat that had run aground. Fortunately, he committed himself to our job and installed systems as the arrived in Panama from the US. He is now in Tahiti and sailors there are lucky to have such an amazing individual available to their vessels.
1-19 SV Rosa dos Ventos I (Edwin Bovill) am writing this email to give an assessment of work done by Rudy S’hut on our Brewer 44 Cutter (1989) Rosa dos Ventos in 2018 at Shelter Bay, Panama.
Electrical: Rudy S’hout installed a new Raymarine EV400 Sail Pilot system in our boat Rosa dos Ventos. Putting this state of the art system into our 28 year old boat was a challenge given the age of our boat and the complexity of the new system and fitting it together in an antiquated wiring system etc. Rudy S’hout did a superb job. He is incredibly knowledgeable about on board electrical systems. The system has performed flawlessly up to the present time. I give him my highest rating (5 out of 5) for the work he did for us and will point out that my rating was echoed by many other cruisers in Shelter Bay.
Mechanical: We also had some problems with our Onan 6KW generator with which he helped us. Again he did a superb job trouble shooting and fixing both mechanical and electrical systems (5 out of 5).
Electrical: Rudy S’hout installed a new Raymarine EV400 Sail Pilot system in our boat Rosa dos Ventos. Putting this state of the art system into our 28 year old boat was a challenge given the age of our boat and the complexity of the new system and fitting it together in an antiquated wiring system etc. Rudy S’hout did a superb job. He is incredibly knowledgeable about on board electrical systems. The system has performed flawlessly up to the present time. I give him my highest rating (5 out of 5) for the work he did for us and will point out that my rating was echoed by many other cruisers in Shelter Bay.
Mechanical: We also had some problems with our Onan 6KW generator with which he helped us. Again he did a superb job trouble shooting and fixing both mechanical and electrical systems (5 out of 5).
Also see Marine Electronics for more on Rudy