[Heaters]

In the winters of 2009 and 2010 I left a data logger on the boat at Broadsedge over the winter. In 2009 it was on the table in the saloon and in 2012 it was sitting in the engine. The winter of 2009 was pretty cold and the temperature on the table dropped below zero several times. If you remember 2010 was a particularly hard winter but as you can see the temperature on the engine only dropped below zero on two short occasions. For winterising we always empty the water tank, disconnect the pipes from the pump and leave all the taps open, have the holding pumped out check the gravity of the engine antifreeze. With the seacock closed pour a strong mix of antifreeze into the weed filter with the engine running till some appears at the exhaust.  We do this every year and have never had any problems.

Regards

Bob

Temp Scans Winters 2009 & 2010.doc

[Wind Indicators]

We have burgee's on flag poles one on each of the cabin top grab rails they are different sizes and weights so we can tell the direction of the wind and assess its strength.

 

[Stupidity On Boats]

In September last year we were moored at How Hill near the down stream end. During the afternoon we chanced to look back up stream and spotted a plume of smoke coming from a boat. I was worried and together with another chap from the next boat we ran down in case help was needed. As it turned out the smoke was coming from a Richo's bathtub and the hirer had lit a disposable BBQ inside. The smoke was unbelievable, so bad the hirer got his wife to carry it out of the boat (still alight) and put it in the pathway. The poor woman was left gasping for air from the hot smoke  and the bloke soon followed, not to see that she was OK but to bring a folding chair and sausages.

When politely asked why he had even thought that it was a good idea to light a BBQ in a boat the reply was that it must have been a duff BBQ because they don't smoke that much in the garden at home. I wasn't worth continuing the conversation so after checking that the woman was OK we left them to it. (Richo's were informed).

 

[Diesel Scrappage Scheme For Boats?]

I have long felt that like any other statically derived information the diesel / petrol debate as presented can and is biased to the particular agenda of the person / agency's aims. There is a very interesting four page report in the April issue of Which magazine about the relative merits of petrol Vs diesel engine including their use in real life situations as apposed to manufacture test results. For myself I will not be trading in my diesel car or BMC 1.8 on the boat any time soon.

Regards

Bob

[Keeping Warm At Night]

Ditto for us on Miss Lisa. Fleeces hot water bottles in the bed etc. If only the two of us close the door to the front cabin and heat the centre cabin (living area) and the rear cabin (beadroom) either with the Ebber  or two fan heaters if on hook up. We never run the Ebber all night but occasionally run the fan heater overnight. We use the Ceramic Core type of fan heaters which are usually more compact and incorporate a thermostat and a cut-out system in case they get knocked over etc. If using fan heaters you have to watch the total electrical loading especially if you are on the standard 16amp set up don't forget other items that you may have connected at the same time.

[Winterising]

Hi. Richard (Viking23)has made the point that internally boats out of the water get colder thane those in the water. I believe this to be true, in both 2009 & 2010 I left a data logger running in the boat over the winter, both of these winters were severe with the Ant and Broadsedge marina freezing up for some time. For the winter of 2009 the data logger was left on the dining table i.e. above the water level and in 2010 it was left sitting on one of the engine mountings i.e. below water level. As you can see the cabin temperature dropped below zero several times but the engine only once. Of course to be definitive both areas needed to be recorded at the same time but I believe that the results do highlight the potential differences that are possible.

Regards

Bob

 

Temp Scans Winters 2009 & 2010.doc

[Co Gas Detection]

Chris B.

Thanks for the general info on the CO alarm mounting, of course I would follow the manufactures instruction if I had bought a unit. Your comment about the manufactures  'cube' assumption is well made it was an issue with the placement of a smoke alarm when we had our loft extension done.

As well as an Ebber our boat also has Thermx gas heaters which we tend to use if moored close to others because of the exhaust noise and the possibility our fumes drifting, so the positioning will probably be fairly critical. We have lots of fixed vents in the roof and cabin doors but for the cost of them the alarms will be a good addition to our safety.

Regards

Bob

[Co Gas Detection]

Possibly a stupid question but are these units best mounted on the ceiling (cabin roof) on an upright surface.

Regards

Bob

[Sikaflex]

Further to my earlier posts the 3M's part number for the clear Dual Lock that I used is SJ3560

Regards

Bob

[Sikaflex]

Hi Baz

I can't remember the part number but the tape that I use has double lines on 18 projections across the 25mm width which works out to around 270 per 25mm square. As I have already said the installation was an experiment so I just ran the cables along the hand rail an into the cockpit and straight into the regulator. If you do this you must use a proper all weather cable (you may have got some with your panel).

Best Regards

Bob

[Sikaflex]

Hi Baz.

The Dual Lock tape sticks like sh.. well you know .... I have used miles of it in various applications at work and have never had a failure. The tape is 25mm wide so is just right for the corners. Its construction is probably best described as double lines of slightly flexible 'mushrooms; that when pushed together interlock, it takes real effort to separate them (unlike Velcro). I used the clear version and as I fixed it to the 'inside' edges of the corners you cant see it. Another advantage for me was that the tape lifts the corners by around 5mm which helped to maintain the correct clearance between the panel and the curved roof.

[Sikaflex]

Hi Baz

We fitted a 100watt solar panel last year. To an extent it was an experiment and I did not want to make anything permanent. The panel originally came with metal brackets but I did not want to make any holes in the glass fibre so I purchased a set of four ABS solar panel corners from e-bay and used strips of 3M's 'Dual Lock'  to stick them to the roof.

[First Wallop Of The Season]

Hi Liberty.

Yes it was a hell of a whack not only did the hire skipper speed up instead of stopping but turned into us as well. He hit so hard that his bow rose up over our side deck and went through the window, quite a feat since our Seamaster 30 has a metre of freeboard !. I think that we were saved from more serious damage by the big D section rubber rubbing strake (a legacy from her French Canal days)

Regards

Bob

[First Wallop Of The Season]

Last year we were hit by a Rico boat on the lower Ant which smashed both windows of the rear cabin on the port side. The other boat did not stop but I immediately phoned Richo's to report the incident, as it was a Sunday afternoon  the office was closed but the details were taken by a pleasant woman on the phone. As the weather was closing in we stopped, covered the hole with bin liners and proceeded to our marina. When we took another look in the cabin the bed and floor were covered with glass and window fittings so we were obliged to check into the Wayford Bridge Hotel for the night. Next day we went into Rico's office who took all the details again and asked us to take the boat to Moonfleet, they also told us the hirer had not reported the collision. As ever the boys at Moonfleet were excellent taking all the bedding and mattress out and everything vacuuming twice. They also arranged to do the repairs if we left the boat with them on the way home and they would return it to our mooring when repaired an arrangement that we were happy with, Rico's also refunded the hotel bill.

Regards

Bob

[Tempting fate.]

We use Fuel Set in out Seamaster 30 and have done for some years. It is used a lot in America but not so much in the UK, it was well rated by PBO and is quite cheep to buy and economical to use. It is not a biocide, it absorbs any water into the fuel and breaks down any bug so that it all passes out of the exhaust. (Try Googleing Fuel Set for a full explanation) They recommend doubling the dosage for the first application. Of course we keep the tank filled up for the winter but there is no way of knowing what had been done in its hire boat days much of which was in France 

[Crew Places - Broad Ambition]

Wow, no takers. We would have volunteered but we will be taking Miss Lisa to the Seamaster Club meet at Beccles  on the other side of the marina. Woodys and Seamasters in the same place, living the dream.

 

Best Regards

 

Bob & Karen