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But got a little lost crossing the Thames Easy done around those banks if you are not ofay with the area, as they do move

How much for Oil Analysis Must be a Volvo price. I am sure there are Oil Analysis and Oil Analysis but probably no substitute for a competent Dealer inspection report. From Insight (Steve Truss) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oil Analysis Tests: Engine oil analysis is not new and a lot of you may be using it to try and understand what is happening to your engine. The system that has been developed and currently used by transport operators is now being made available to the leisure boat industry. In the past the oil analysis was used in more of a ‘knee jerk’ reaction, you took a sample and when you got the results back from the labs with all the different amounts of metals and pre set type comment, did you fully understand the information and implications, and have you really had value for money. The way oil analysis is being driven now is extensively as a long term prediction tool. With the old adage of 'knowledge is power' the wear trends of your engine can be plotted and measured, feed in to this information on the amount of oil top up you are using along with the amounts of fuel being consumed a very detailed picture can be built up of the condition of what is a very expensive asset. With the pending changes in fuel costs this service could help towards covering the extra costs. 'How much of your fuel ends up in the engine sump' because of excessive idling or poor fuel injection. If you instruct Insight Marine Surveys Ltd to carry out an oil analysis test on the vessels engine, it could highlight potential engine and equipment problems before any serious damage is done to the unit and provide added security to those purchasing a vessel. Once I have taken the oil sample, the turn around time from receiving the sample to you obtaining your report should be 48 hours. This report can be e-mail posted. Having an Oil Analysis Test can give you peace of mind. Oil analysis can: * Identify at early stages mechanical problems, which may in future cause engine or equipment damage and failure leaving you with a failed boat and expensive bills. * Help with warranty claims. * Provide added value to any boat sales by giving the clients engine condition on top of any service details. * Oil Analysis may help prevent expensive repair bills. The service Insight Marine Surveys Ltd is offering is set around taking an oil sample from the boat you are considering buying and then providing a detailed analysis, which will allow the owner to take remedial action before any damage takes place. The in-depth analysis identifies all the different metals and place them in groups to understand if there are bearings, piston and liners or valve gear problems. If the engine is repeatedly showing amounts of metals that are above average then action can be taken to avoid an expensive repair. A monitor on the oil additives and viscosity from the sample add to the information. The data and information will be supplied in the form of a confidential report to the customer in the form of an e-mail or by post. The basic cost of a sample would be £90:00 this will include VAT and all handling. The analysis will also show: * The actual wear pattern of the equipment. * The condition of the fuel injection equipment. * How well the maintenance has been carried out. * In a twin-engine set-up we can run a comparison between the two Installations. In addition to preventing damage and expensive repairs by taking early action, a clean bill of health via oil analysis would also add value to any customer wanting to buy or sell a boat. A report maybe used to demonstrate that the boat has no long-term problems or any nasty surprises months after purchase.

I forgot about our resident 'Volvo Man' Sorry Neil. Better a few quid spent now Simon than repenting at leisure and you can always use anything found providing it is not major as a negotiating point.

Excellent suggestion David. MBM gang will give you some personal recommendations but here are a couple - not sure where in the principality the boat is located. http://www.marine-engineering-looe.co.uk/ http://www.challengermarine.co.uk/

Having been based at Broom for while smoking engines were a hazard of life with some of the older models. You would hear the engines cranking and then they would fire up with a huge cloud of White smoke which I was told by an owner was perfectly normal. Evidently Volvo fitted an exhaust break solenoid on elbow to try and keep smoking down, if that was keeping it down lord knows what it would be like without I am pretty sure HLB on MBM forum has these fitted in his Princess 35 which he nicknamed 'Mucky farter' the smoke it exuded on start up is evidently legendary. Smoke colour is a good start point but understand your problem; was anyone else with you that could differentiate colours? Or you could look at having an Oil analysis done. Smoke Diesel engine exhausts should be clear with the possible exceptions of: # Sudden acceleration or extra loading. The engine may give off a little black smoke for a second or two until it settles down. # Idling or running under low loads. The fuel pump may have problems metering out the minute quantities of fuel needed, resulting in an uneven idle and a little smoke. Diesels should not be idled or run at low loads for prolonged periods, as they tend to carbon up. If the engine must be used for battery charging, calorifer heating at anchor or dockside, buy a high-output alternator to keep the time to a minimum and, if possible, switch in other loads (e.g. refrigeration) or put the engine in gear. Give the engine some work to do. Generally, any other smoke is a sure sign of problems. The colour of the smoke is a useful guide to the source of the trouble. Black Smoke Black smoke results from inadequate combustion of the injected diesel. This can arise from a restricted air flow through the engine. (plugged air filter, defective turbocharger, or blocked exhaust);too much fuel injected (generally due to overloading-the governor responds by opening up the fuel rack and pumping in more fuel). Or improper fuel injection (an injector fails to atomise the fuel correctly, dribbles fuel into a cylinder after the main injection pulse, or injects to late). Check the air filter first. If the engine has a turbocharger, check all the ducting for air tightness. Remove an inspection cover and check the compressor assembly for carbon build up. If you find build up, clean the assembly, making sure it spins freely with no binding. Open up the exhaust line for any kinks or other restrictions. If the air flow is deemed adequate, what about overloading? Is a line wrapped around the propeller? Are you powering hard into a head wind. Has any extra load been placed on the engine recently, such as belt driven auxiliaries equipment, a high output alternator, or a new propeller? In the case of faulty fuel injection, remove the defective injectors and send them in for servicing. Make no attempt to work on the injectors yourself. Blue Smoke. Blue smoke comes from burning oil. There are only a few paths by which oil can find its way into the combustion chambers-up past the piston rings; down valve stems; through defective turbocharger seals; and out of crankcase ventilators, where there is high crank case pressure as a result of defective piston rings. White Smoke White smoke is indicative of one or more cylinders misfiring, water or air in the fuel, or water in the cylinders (most likely from a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head). If the smoke occurs on start up and at light loads but clears when the engine warms, it maybe due to condensation or water vapour formed in combustion and is acceptable, but then again one or more cylinders also may have a compression problem and be failing to reach ignition temperatures until the engine warms up. If the smoke develops during normal operating, generally accompanied by erratic misfiring, the engine is running out of diesel or has water in the fuel. Misfiring Most diesels run unevenly at idle speeds, even though not “missing†with a fair amount of knocking and clattering. This is normal. Under load however, the engine should run smoothly. Rhythmical misfiring indicates one or more cylinders missing all the time; erratic and random misfiring, a generalized engine problem. If the missing is more pronounced at high loads, the fuel filters are probably plugged; if it is accompanied with black smoke, the air filter is also likely to be plugged. In the case of rhythmical misfiring, the offending cylinder(s) can be isolated by loosening the injector nuts in turn (with the engine running) until fuel spurts out. If the engine slows or changes its note, this cylinder is ok. If no change occurs (or no fuel comes out) this cylinder is missing. NOTE: Don’t do this with a Detroit Diesel; fuel will flood out

And while on the subject this site is full of useful information. http://www.leesan.co.uk/tech_help.php/

On my return from a wander I found David up to his eyes in a normal boating problem - I think you may guess what He had a recall on a certain part of Kingfisher which gave out before the replacement could be fitted - the clue is in the disposable gloves

Leave some for us - that's where all the Bass have gone

On its way out

A bright but breezy Sunday

With the wind being very strong we had a marina weekend to catch up on a few jobs. Some planned some unplanned and those planned going not quite to plan I can warn you on the basis of two relatively new boats with different engine manufacturers serviced by dealer agents for the last two years under warranty agreements - check your fuel filters. When we serviced Kingfisher we were amazed that clearly the engine filter had not been changed and this weekend when I looked at Kiki's (serviced June) it clearly had not been changed as the paint was unmarked and uncracked on the fittings. Kiki's primary filter had showed significant sediment in the glass bowl and made me more than a little nervous of sea work without a filter change. While the Separ primary is very well engineered it is incredibly fiddly with four screws that have to depress a spring mechanism which in itself is bad enough but oddly on Kiki which largely has been well thought out with quality fittings this was a weak link as it has only 2.4cms between the top of the filter and the floor above. I would not like to have changed that at sea - correction I could not have changed that at sea. A poor and fiddly seal meant we changed the primary and engine filter to find that air was getting into the system, luckily my tutor (David) diagnosed some grease around the seal and and some serious suction with a Pela (what wonderful tools these are) a spray of Diesel or two in the engine room and we were back in business. We emerged from the engine room having 'sprayed it all over' (Diesel not Brut) and retired to The Shipwreck for recuperation I intend fitting a Racor or something similar with a T Bar single fixing for quick access, I am not going through that again. Apologies for the poor Photo's - point & squirt time

It will be quite some Antenna you have Ian. May as well go for an up to date compact model

Very nice to see you and Shirley Rod. All sorts in that bonded locker The one you tried was a nice light summer beer:

Its a tough job but we do it out of a sense of duty to keep the wheels of the local brewing industry turning The Shipwreck normally has 5-6 guest Real Ales but we heard a rumour that it may turn over fully to Adnams on real ales, can't find yet whether that is the case. While Adnams do some fine ales I do like to give the taste buds a change and try a revolving range of real ales. The argument against this goes if you find one you really like it will be gone the next time you visit. My answer would be 'make hay while the sun shines'

Hi Boycee, Just to report that Rod & Shirley did make it and a most convivial and cordial evening was had by all. Unfortunately The Shipwreck was wall to wall Adnams but the Explorer seemed to go down well It was however a very 'steady' evening Nice to see you Rod & Shirley and thanks for popping in to see us.

Thanks for the pictures GCB - we like pictures

Hi Rod Would have been happy to give you a lift from Halfpenny Pier it looked pretty busy across there, Felixstowe Ferry looked to be doing a good trade. Thanks for the background on St Nick I was quite surprised that while chasing the Water Skiers they were using their horn (which was for the boat quite disappointing) and when that appeared not to work resorted to shouting - surprised there was no hailer. As always Rod I am always interested in your 'work' tales. This was also interesting http://www.harwichhavenshipsandyachts.c ... 240d48a64c We will be down this weekend, where we get to will depend on the weather but if you ever fancy a pint The Shipwreck has circa 6 guest real ales on at a time with a good turnover of new ones to try. It keeps us happy

Two stragglers

Lovely shots Simon, Thanks for posting them. Sorry to hear Susan was not feeling so well. I can recommend Scopoderm Patches which have transformed SWMBO from someone who just looking at water felt queasy to someone who would willingly do the Fastnet

What happened? Don't answer if this is part of your 'report'

It is a tidy ship Simon but then so is yours. It just shows what is possible as this has been to the Channel Islands, Holland and along the south coast in recent years. Sorry if the pictures made you Green, they were just posted for interest they look a bit odd I don't know what has gone on when I uploaded but hopefully it gives an idea of the area.

Yes Howard your observant eye was correct. I normally only have bottled ales in the bonded locker but did purchase some cans of Tanglefoot as they would lighter to ferry across in the tender than bottles. David & Rachel had bought some when we were on holiday I was surprised that it was not bad at all - for cans. We did make up for it on Sunday with some pints of Chris Evans

No problem Jill, I did say I would continue to post if there was interest. Boating does not get much better than this weekend

BTW Simon Seems like Seajay had just come back from an MBM Cruise see last photo day 13 http://www.mbmclub.com/mbm/blog/cruising_club_blog.html And here - http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur ... f%26sa%3DG

Thanks Paul, I downloaded the photos last night at home and posted them, they were OK but on my laptop on 'the move today' they look a bit washed out - better check my laptop settings! Your Brandy would look great in one of those and those charged with filling your glass would always be sure where to find you after dark Not sure where Rachel got the glasses I have never seen anything like them.