andyandsallyb

A little more playing..... Trial fit of semi recessed basin.... ! Andy

Last week ordered FORMICA laminate and marine grade ply to remake the entire panelwork, All now laminiated and ready to refit. Hoping to get a couple of days up on ES next week so will post a few more piccys then. ! Andy

On a slightly different note....... I have been reading a little regarding the effects of electrolysis on boats using sure power. HW are planning to install 240v and fresh water supply in the marina apparrently some time soon, So we will be able to leave ES 'plugged in' over the winter months for charging batteries ( we nearly lost her to the depths last year due to bilge pump exhausting the domestic supply!) Anyway, I have overlooked this important issue when fitting my shore power installation, and have seen the devastation that this problem can cause. While I was up at HW today I was speaking with the head engineer who recommended a "Galvanic Isolator" to be installed in the Earth cable between the shore power conector and the consumer unit. So ordered one today! Will be fitted on next visit.... ! Andy

Well, second trip to Norfolk to continue work on the rip out of the en suite. Now have all removable panels safely back at home to begin cutting and laminating the new ones.... ! Andy

Well decision made...... Next area of attention - Master cabin en-suite. Rip out and renew. 18 Months ago I replaced the wash basin and found a couple of areas of damp timber, so always been nagging in the back of my mind.... Went up to Potter today (Sunday) to completly rip out the existing installation. (Will post a couple of piccys later) Off now to make templates for new panels..... ! Andy.

BINGO!!!!!! Just back from a weekend on the north side.... Re-tuned all 3 tv's and get full services (114 TV + RADIO) everywhere full signal strength even through salhouse (High trees both banks) where previously had nothing. Perfect reception on the move as well, signal strength only dropping to 80% Happy days!!!!

Hi Everyone, Now that the tacholneston transmitter has completed the digital switchover, has anyone had the opertunity to test freeview on the broads? "Evening Star" has a STATUS 315 Omni-Directional ariel and was able to get most freeview chanels on the northern broads but very patchy on the south. ! Andy.

! Andy

We wanted to extend the use of Evening Star to be able to cruise after dusk and so to the navigation lights..... In addition to the required illumination we decided to install the addition of a 100w spot lamp as the entrance into Herbert Woods yard in the dark could be quite tricky without one...

Hi Everyone, Fuel consuption in my experience is not all about how far you travelled but more how fast did to get there? Evening Star is fitted with a BMC 1.5 and if we take a leisurely criuse from Potter Heigham to say Oulton Broad with revs averaging at around say 1400 - 1500 then the return journey can use a little as 20 Litres but if you run the same journey in the same tidal conditions at say 1900 - 2000 then the fuel consumption can be more than double, but the speed less than 1.5mph more! When we first had Evening Star, over three years ago there seemed much more urgency in our travels, nowadays we have calmed down and take things a lot more leisurely. We do notice a dramatic increase in fuel consumption in the colder weather though, running the diesel fired Webasto warm air heater. I'm sure it uses more fuel per hour than our old BMC !! ! Andy

Hi Everyone, Just a quick question. Has anyone had experience of nylon ropes rotting in the atmosphere? If so what causes it? The ropes I have used as fender lines on "Evening Star" have all gone powdery to the touch and are weak to the point where you can break them by just lightly pulling, and they are only a year old, any ideas??? ! Andy

Thanks for your kind comment, and yes, it is a double pole breaker. ! Andy

Well, how much have we used Evening Star this year? As of this afternoon our engine run time has been 342 hours criusing since February! So a fair bit then? Finally got around to a couple of jobs that I have wanted to do for a while.... Firstly After a fair bit of mechanical work last year I wanted to give the old BMC a freshen up with a coat of paint.... Much improved.... Secondly, when we had her in pieces last year refitting the interior, I ran the cable to provide a shore power hook up to our inverter and a battery charger. Just needed to finish the job with a suitable power isolator and external connection. I have opted for a "proper" marine grade fitting, unlike the typical ones I have seen around the HW boat yard. More expensive but worth it I think? ! Andy.

Hi Clive, We will keep a look out for you as we are going to be on the southern rivers on our boat "Evening Star" from Thursday through to Tuesday next week. BTW where are you from? If you are a Palace supporter are you local to Selhurst Park? I am originally from South Norwood.... ! Andy

Firstly may I appologise if this causes offense to anyone on this forum. The following is just my personal feelings and first hand account of my experience attempting to pilot my motor criuser from Wroxham through to Potter Heigham on Saturday 4th June. My feeling is that the rule of "power gives way to sail" is interpreted by many as "powered vessel = second class citizen" and to succesfully and safely pilot a powered vessel you must somehow posses the ability for telepathy to guess what the sail you are giving way to is going to do next, or not? I always make my best effort to be curtious to, and understanding of other river users but Saturdays events left me the most stressed and annoyed that I have ever been. I would say that in my life I have not met such a group of inconsiderate and unaccomodating individuals. When I arrived in Horning there were 2 broards authority rangers giving advice on how to deal with what lied ahead. Basically keep speed to a minimum and stay hard over to the right. Seemed simple enough? I assume that others with similar sized boats to ours have similar limited control issues at very low speeds, and add to this the fairly high winds..... What I witnessed from participants in this event was in my view a total dissregard for the safety of non participating river users, and in particular inexperienced hire boat users. Often using abusive language to the other party. I was hit by no less than 4 sail boats in this short criuse the third of which glanced my port-bow loosing control and finally ditching himself in the reed bank only to proclaim the entire incident as being my fault! a female member of the crew rather vocally describing me as a F***ing C**k !!! in front of my 2 young daughters !!!! I witnessed several hire criusers being struck and then being pushed into the reed beds. Finally a hire criuser being ordered to reverse up unfortunately straight into the bow of "Evening Star" So far the worst experience on thr broads...... Andy

Hi Jim, Attaching photos on the HTC Desire S should be no problem as you can browse the file structure of your android phone. If you cant preview a thumbnail of the photo in your web browser, connect to android market and download the "File Expert" app, this is the best one I've seen so far and its free. File Expert will allow you to open the photos on your phone via their filename and should make identification easier. ! Andy

Just a few pictures from the meeting at the weekend.... Sally & Andy + 8 crew.....

Hi, we have a status 315 omni directional and amplifier and to be honest there are not many places that we are not able to recieve a good digial signal. ! Andy

Hi Col & Neil, It was fantastic and ES did handle extreamly well. Unfortunately we dont have any other footage but we all got totally soaked! ! Andy.

We were also crossing Breydon yesterday (2-5-11) ! Andy.

Oh Dear, So I am now a BassHead? I have to confess that this may have been true 20 years ago But nowadays I simply enjoy music and good hi fi, a bit of an 'audiophile' you might say. Rest assured peace and tranquility lovers... ! Andy.

Upgrade to audio visual system, to include Blu-ray playback capability to all 3 LCD HD panels, full DOLBY 5.1 surround sound with 8" sub-bass speaker built into the base of seating unit, and Alpine audio for CD/MP3/Ipod/USB and FM playback. Proper home from home I'd say. ! Andy.

Not much been happening over the winter... But this weekend I gave in to a couple of jobs. Firstly, the horn. a pitiful squeek rather than a horn, with the sounder burried away at the back of a cupboard in the front of the bow! Much louder inside than out. Problem now solved...

Usually 3 hours from Crawley West Sussex 169 Miles... Andy

Well I have returned from Potter Heigham Tonight a very happy man! John from herbert woods was on board yesterday and has managed to provide a temporary fix to the leak which has now stopped. Also he has had the front cabin carpets washed and dried, no stains or damage. I went on board today and swapped over the batteries for my spare set and all seems well. She was sealed up yesterday morning and when I arrived today the bilge was virtually dry so all seems well. We are going to schedule her to be lifted out after Easter for the full repair works to be completed, we are planning to have a bow thruster and antifoul at the same time. Thank you Herbert Woods Regards Andy