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andyandsallyb
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Posts posted by andyandsallyb
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Hi Everyone,
We just thought we would share today's dreadful experience with you. We have just got back from Potter Heigham this evening after visiting our boat "Evening Star". We have not been to the yard in 5 weeks since she was fully winterised at the begining of December. Taking a first look at her, it was imediately apparent that her bow was sitting in the water a lot lower than usual as the front fenders were actually in the water! Very concerned we boarded her only to find to our complete horror that the forward cabin floor was under 8 inches of water! Lifting the inspection panel in the saloon floor revealed the water level 2 inches below the floor! Oh My God! Checked bilge pump, on automatic. Problem seems to be exhausted domestic batteries, opened sea cocks and started engine, bilge pump fired up straight away and took nearly an hour and a half to pump her out. Cant understand what has flattened the domestic batteries? they are all new and the engine battery was fully charged. Going back on Wednesday to meet with Herbert Woods engineer, I wound up the greasers for both stern glands, ran the engine for 2 hours to get some charge back in the batteries but had to leave to get home - have to work tomorrow. We both felt physically sick - what a mess. WIth a bit of luck she will have dried out a bit by Wednesday. Ill let you all know a bit later what damage she has sustained....
Andy & Sally
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Hi Dan,
It does not have a light, but it does have a 240v supply for the handy spark ignition! Another usful feature is the addition of the bottom pan drawer!
!Andy
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Hi all,
Not much been happening recently with our "little" project as we have been out and about on the river enjoying her!
Those of you who have followed this thread will know that early on we changed the galley sink and worktop arrangement in favour of a round bowl and separate round drainer, both in stainless steel. "ES" was fitted with a 'vanette' four burner hob and separate grill / oven in cream, both of which are now obsolete. I was scouring the pages of ebay a few weeks ago and came across a seller who had a new 'vanette' hob in stainless steel - one of the last few to be made. So a quick click of the buy it now button and it was soon delivered. Now what to do with the oven? It was never manufactured in stainless, although they do have a replacement unit in stainless finish but it is a single combo oven and grill and therefore not the same size. After 1/2 an hour Googling the subject I stumbled across another LPG appliance manufacturer 'Spinflo' who make an oven and grill unit to the same dimensions as the older 'vanette' one, and yes its available in stainless steel
!Andy
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Hi Everyone!
Well as many of you may know, since taking ownership of our boat, "Evening Star" we have embarked this year on a refit that has seen a fairly major transformation of the interior. I have now had the opertunity to turn my attention to the galley appliances.
I have seen the combination oven installed in ES as a commonplace install in many hire boats. The appliance that is fitted is manufactured by "Stoves" part of the "Glen / Dimplex" Group. Spares are quite sparse now as the oven has not been manufactured for some years. Our oven is past it's best to be honest, and I am particularly worried about the boat safety test (ES's is due in March 2011) with respect to the installed gas appliances.
So, no chance of finding a replacement from Stoves then? Although they do still make an LPG Combi oven in the same width but it does not have the separate grill and so the height is less, leaving an unsightly gap underneath. Here lies the problem....
After many hours Googling I came upon a small manufacturer ("SPINFLO") who make a range of LPG fired appliences for Caravan and Boat installations. They have a specially resized version of thier Midi-Prima LPG oven that has been manufactured as a direct replacement for the STOVES GG7000. The Model is:
SPINFLO MIDI PRIMA 72000 LPG
It features a separate grill and oven with 12v spark ignition and an itegral pan draw. The RRP on the oven is £550.00 inc. VAT. I couldn't believe my luck last week when scouring ebay I found an online chandler who had seven in stock at £ 275.00 each plus £ 9.95 Delivery ! So guess what I will Be installing at the weekend ?? Perfect, available in stainless steel to match the new hob, back splash, sink and drainer unit.
Some pictures to follow next week on our refit thread....
!Andy...
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well i still come to the conclusion that if its not broke dont fix it & since they sold it off i think its gone right down hill
Jonny
Hi Jonny,
What makes you say that "since they sold it off i think its gone right down hill" My personal experience of the HW yard (which is extensive as I am there nearly every weekend) is that things have improved on a large scale since it has been taken over. Certainly from a private moorers view point, our berths are being upgraded over the winter with water supplies and shore power hook ups. The private moorings are very well maintained and this year the service road has also been subject to a fair amount of maintenance. Having spent a lot of time in the yard earlier in the year (Preparing ES for her internal refit) I witnessed 90% of the HW fleet being taken out of the water and Hulls re painted or polished and antifouled. in adition to that at least 45 boats had complete new upholstery.
Obviously you have your reasons for the "its gone right down hill" comment, could I be so bold as to ask what they are?
!Andy.
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Hi All,
Just back from the broads, taken "ES" out for a couple of days over the weekend after having the timing chain, sprockets and tensioner replaced. NO SMOKE at all !!!!!
Starts after 20 seconds of heat from cold on the button !! and unless I am mistaken she's a bit quieter? HOOOOO-RAY !!!! - Well pleased....
!Andy
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Hi Col,
To be honest, when we brought our Lowliner we had the choice of "Twilight" 1 or 2 as both were beining offered for sale. The main difference between them was the engine. "Twilight 1" had a Nanni and "Twilight 2" had the BMC. We chose the BMC because although it is much older technology, by it's vertue it is simplistic and much more economical on the wallet when it comes to parts and servicing. I have had a quote from Calcutt Boats to rebuld my engine and Herbert woods to remove and then refit the rebuilt unit. The total cost is likely to be around £2800.00 inc. VAT. I have looked into the option of a modern replacement but of course it's not just the engine itself, engine mounts, gearbox adaption or renew, wiring loom, instrumentation etc. will all be required, and in my view the cost would be totally prohibitive. Noise has never been a problem on our boat as the engine room is very well sound insulated, in fact when you are cruising at around 1700rpm there is barely any noise at the upper helm.
The new timing chain, sprockets and tensioner are being fitted this week so hopefully will see an improvement, but if not I am gonna go down the rebuild route and Calcutt boats seem to be the most experienced in this.
!Andy
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Hi Steve,
I asked the yard to fire it up at lunchtime and they tell me that the smoke is not blue, but white. ???
When previous maintenance has been carried out the breathers have been checked. This smoke problem only seems to manifest itself off load and at idle speeds or just above. On load there is no noticeable smoke. As I said, the fault is not apparent when you advance up the pump timing but that brings on a considerable diesel knock. I have been advised (by several sources) to renew the timing chain, sprockets and tensioner, which I intend to do. what are your thoughts??
!Andy
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Hi Steve,
Thanks for your reply. The valve stem oil seals were replaced last year when the head gasket was done. she dosen't burn any oil so I'm assuming the smoke is excess / unburnt fuel? The timing is back where is should be as excessive diesel knock is less desirable than a little smoke.
!Andy
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Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to know if any of you have had any engine work done by Calcutt Boats? They seem to be highly recommended, I spoke to one of their guys today and he certainly made all the right noises. I am considering having my BMC 1.5 rebuilt next year and have spoken to a couple of the broads based yards but the cost differencial between them is crazy. My engine sounds sweet enough and starts very easy but has a problem running off load by where it continually puffs blue smoke. The only way to cure the problem has been to advance up the pump timing but the downside to that is the inducement of a hideously loud diesel knock - equally undesireable. It has been suggested that the issue could be with the timing chain and sprocket gear being streached and excessivly worn, but Herbert Woods have very little service information for our boat and so this is an unknown. I am planning though to renew the chain, sprockets and associated tensioner as this is a fairly low cost option. If it proves to be unsuccesful then maybe the rebuild rout is the answer? - Any thoughts??
!Andy
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There has not been much to write about recently, but have just got around to one important (in my view) finishing touch. ES has an opening butterfly roof, not that it has had much use this summer! But it's not the prettiest thing to look at fron the inside. We wanted to tidy the appearance up but not effect the functionality of the roof. I approached a local blind manufacturer who has recently developed a style of conservatory blind that simply fixes to the existing upvc window frame and the design is equally well at home mounted horizontally. This firm manufacture to order / size. What do you think???
Andy
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Hi Neil,
thanks for your comments, if you do away with the quarter berth there would end up being a fair bit of wasted space behind the engine compartment, if you have ever seen the layout of "Megellan" (Lowliner 44) you will know what I mean? And in any case my youngest daughter loves sleeping in there. I have seen a few different fit outs of this type of boat, HJII for example has the quarter birth as a separate compartment, maybe that might be a plan for the future.
!Andy.
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Carpets and Floor vinyl fitted - Job Done !!
!Andy
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Hi everyone, and thank you all for your kind comments.
The carpets and vinyl flooring to the galley were finished today and Brian says they look fantastic.
We will be out on the river this comming weekend so I'll take a few more pictures of the finished article. But will it ever be finished.......
If any of you are on the water at the weekend, please give us a wave! we will be heading for Reedham on Saturday afternoon.
By the way, the post that most of you seem to have seen (forward cabin) is the last of several I posted at the same time with pictures. If you go back to page 6 there are some before and after shots of the saloon and aft cabin...
!Andy
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Forward Cabin AFTER...
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Forward Cabin BEFORE...
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Rear Cabin AFTER...
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Rear Cabin BEFORE...
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Saloon Seating Now...
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Saloon - New Seating "port" side (Old sideboard) AFTER...
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Saloon - New Seating "port" side (Old sideboard) BEFORE...
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Saloon seating area "starboard" side AFTER...
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Saloon seating area "starboard" side BEFORE...
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Ok, so after the dissapointment of not being able to attend the WRC Meet after a last minute work commitment on Friday. I decided to put the rest of the weekend to good use and finish the electrical work on the ES refit. I made the journey up to Potter on Friday evening with my daughter (youngest who actually was surprisingly helpful !) I managed to find the light fittings I liked in brass with LED lamp fittments, so ultra low energy consumption! All the interior panel had been trimed and fitted so just required the installation of power sockets, lamp switches and the lamp units themselves - simples!!
Well maybe not quite so ...Just waiting for the carpet and vinyl floor covering to be fitted on Monday (tomorrow) and the transformation will be complete. I must say IMHO the result is stunning. It has turned out to be all we had hoped for and more. Here are a few pictures, I'll post some more next weekend after the floor coverings are down.
!Andy.
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OMG! Just In Time To Save Her!
in Broads Chat
Posted
Hi Everyone, and thank you all for your kind comments.
John from Herbert Woods phoned me this morning and I asked him to have a look over our boat. Half an hour later he came back to me with the not so good news that she is in fact taking on water from a damaged area near where the prop exits the hull. This damage could have happened a while ago as we used her so frequently last year that the batteries would never have become discharged through the bilge pump running frequently. We are going to have her lifted on Wednesday so I am taking a day off work to go up to potter and have a look over her. It seems the internal damage is going to be limited to the forward cabin carpets, so I am glad we visited yesterday when we did.
Andy