DaveRolaves

When the shaft has been connected to the taper coupling at the forward end for many years then its likely to be difficult to separate the shaft from the coupling. Sometimes hydraulic pullers, heat and in the last instance brute force by way of hammers have failed to release the shaft from the coupling.

at sea give way to vessels on the starboard side.

Robbins Timber have a good supply of quality teak for sale which was left over stock from the restoration of the Cutty Sark

Very low tide at St Olaves today. Its the lowest I have seen it - many boats in the marina were on the mud

So sorry Alan our thoughts are with you. Dave R......

I have used Rustins metal lacquer, it works well. two to three coats is about right. It dries quickly.

The ferry is still running to transport people across the river as a result of an agreement with the highways authority. There is now a notice on the bridge to say that it will be closed until at least April next year. The notice states that the problem is with corroded steel supports which hold up the walkway.

The Bailey Bridge over the river Blyth at Southwold which links Southwold to Walberswick is now closed as a result of a recent survey. Its not known how long the bridge will be closed for.

Many of us will remember the trusty Seagull outboard motor. It always started and was reliable . Still advertised for sale on E Bay.

Hi Alan, We got to the bridge yesterday at 8.30 am and it was closed with the information board showing a cross and bridge not operational. Two red flags were flying on the flag pole. We contacted the bridge operator on Ch 12 and was advised that the bridge would be closed for the rest of the day. We eventually got through under the bridge when the tide was on the ebb at 1pm.

oil in the bilge water is a possible cause. Try cleaning the pump and also clean the bilges out.

If you cannot source a replacement rubber washer then there are listings on e bay for Black Neoprene rubber washers with diameter from 20mm to 50mm and with various centre hole sizes.You may be able to use one of those.

It may be better to purchase a new greaser either one that screws into the stern gland or perhaps a remote greaser which comes with a tube and a fitting to screw into the stern gland. (just saw the post from dnks34 along the same lines as my post)

We came past the tree that had been blown over into the river at the weekend. It was not marked then but I see from the photo that the rangers have marked it now. A lot of the port bank of the cut when travelling towards Reedham has got problems with the baskets which once contained stone. The stone has been washed away and the empty steel baskets are well out into the river. The rangers have marked some of the worst obstructions into the river.

I feel pretty sure there is a sign somewhere saying ‘wait until the ferry has docked before proceeding’ or similar. You are right there is a sign which says that. When the tide particularly on the ebb is running very strongly then the ferry is carried sideways a bit and this increased the pressure on the chains.

made a canopy for us - first class work

Hi Robin. You may not have an oil cooler fitted to your boat. On the Beta 43 hp engine (Kobota based) with a PRM hydraulic gearbox then it would have the oil cooler fitted before the heat exchanger. The oil cooler on the Beta is about 7" long and 2" in diameter. Look out for two flexible oil hoses leading from the gearbox to the oil cooler.

Sometimes on a boat there is an gearbox oil cooler fitted and the raw water comes in and goes through the oil cooler and then into the heat exchanger. Beta engines are sometimes built this way. In this case the oil cooler can clog up and prevents a good flow of raw water through the heat exchanger.

Not sure if diesel is available in Southwold.? Diesel is available at Southwold harbour. The pump is close to the lifeboat station. Contact Southwold Harbour Master by phone or on C12 . and he will arrange it.

The resin and csm need to be applied to the gelcoat within a few hours and certainly within 24 hours. three layers of 600 gram chopped strand matt and resin will give a laminate thickness of approx. 5mm thats about as much as you want to laminate in one go. If you apply more layers than that there can be an excessive heat build up. East Coast fibre glass supplies have a good website with good advice on layup procedures.

Does anyone know how many hours in the last year that reedham and somerleyton bridges have not been able to open because of heat expansion of the rails?

The bridges at somerleyton and Reedham could well do with some investment to make them more reliable in the summer months. We have been going through these bridges with an air draught of ten feet which makes it necessary for the bridges to open for us to get through for the last 12 years. 95% of the time the bridges have opened for us with no problems. On those occasions when the bridges have been unable to open then we have reduced our air draught by removing the canopy and the radar arch and have been able to get through without a problem.

Most of the boats from the Brundall navy can still get under the bridges up to approx low to approx. half flood tide if the bridges are unable to open. With the canopy removed and the radar arch down and the upper helm windows folded down then most of the craft then have an air draft of under ten feet with the highest point on the craft being at the height of the compass forward of the aft steering position.

Don't know what Goodchilds are charging for their fuel at present but we have always found them far more competitive than Brooms.

We moor up to the Reedham Quay regularly either to visit the local shops or to wait for the Reedham bridge to lift. We normally moor near the rangers hut and office and without exception have always received help from the ranger there