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LondonRascal
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Posts posted by LondonRascal
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It can go really well, or terribly wrong. I have had both happen the most spectacular messing around was last year on Bronze Gem at Ranworth, where I successfully moored side on across the dinghy dyke!
But you can help mitigate against such by taking some pointers firstly what way is the wind blowing and roughly how strong is it blowing? Then you need to take account of your own boats 'prop walk'. It can help you as much as hinder, so get this on your side and you have a helping hand.
If you have a cross wind blowing you to the right for example, then make your turn 'to the left' of you intended final position, as more of the cross wind 'see's' the side of your boat, its effect will grow and will of course take your boat sideways with it. So by making the turn before your slot, letting the crosswind take you a little all that is left is to pick the right moment (and only trial and error over time will really tell you when that will be) to go astern into the slot.
At Christmas when on Broad Ambition we came into moor at Ranworth, it was pretty breezy so to counter that I had to come in rather quickly to give some steerage way and then a few feet from the quay a blast of ahead to a stop and Shelia was off with the lines.
Letting your crew know things helps too - if the cross wind was blowing right to left then they want to get a line on the mooring post on the starboard side of the boat sharpish to counter the bow drifting to left once you have come into the mooring. The reverse applies if the crosswind is coming from the left.
I have had very little experience so far of mooring Independence, but I will say this - the larger and heavier the boat the better things seem to be. Sure if you did hit something the damage will be greater but things tend to happen far slower smaller lighter boats may seem easier to handle but they tend to be effected far more by the wind. Small lightweight planing boats are just a bag of laughs like Brinks Sonanta which simply wanted to go wherever the wind was blowing.
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I have just been in touch with Norfolk Yacht Agency Service Centre. Very helpful was Sean to deal with and I feel things are now on course for being sorted.
I have a large list of items to go through and will be meeting him on Monday to show him around the boat and they are going to attend to the leaking heater stand pipe from the centre tank and look into the vent hose issue which, if such is found as a result of the heater installation. then I will not be responsible for the costs to resolve. I will let everyone know how that goes. But, I think all being well we will be seeing another 'leap of progress' made both in due time with service items being attended to and upgrades.
These include:
Needing the anodes looking at and changing on the engines, especially in the Turbo/Oil coolers which I doubt have been touched for years judging by the bolts looking so pristine. I was also told in Plymouth to have these dealt with so preventive care is always a good course of action.
I am going to replace the batteries, and having decided to go with Victron 200Ah GEL batteries and replace the charger with a Victron Quattro pure sine wave combined Inverter/Charger. This will provide 3Kw of 240v and provide up to 120Amps of charging power. I suspect the fully working and new fit Mastervolt 80Amp battery charger could go on Broad Ambition as a bit of an upgrade to her charging system.
Other small items would be changing some hoses on the engines that look like they are reaching time for a change, tension up the belts on Alternates etc, and rectifying a small leak where coolant returns to the engine having come from the hot water calorifier.
Once this is done I won't need to rely on shore power or running a generator for smaller electrical loads, and will have complete confidence in her engines once more and then I can look in the spring to the external cosmetic issues and finishing and sealing the Teak decks etc. I feel like I have a bounce in my step again
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Well after a long conversation with the Tolls Office I have now got another two week visitor toll - their opinion has been that if I have not got the works sorted before its expiry and I am not able to have the boat out of the water to contact them again and that something 'should be able to arranged'.
I have to say, that they have actually been very helpful people to deal with, and when they say they would call back did so and have genuinely been trying to deal with matters and not just been 'too corporate'. I know the B.A gets a bit of a hard time sometimes, but so far they have been easy to deal with and have liek wise thanked me for being in touch with them.
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Today I have the Broads Authority Tolls office in a spin over the short visit Toll. I called to renew it for a further two weeks, since the BSS examination did not take place as expected yesterday and there will be a week of nothing much taking place until this coming Saturday when the examination (I hope) does take place. Once it has taken place, and I have the list of items to rectify, I need to get such put right and I am hopeful that this could happen at reasonably short notice, not to mention also sort the issues with the heater stand pipe leaking from the fuel tank.
The question I put to the Authority was; what would happen if the items that needed to be sorted (of which I know not what they may be currently) was not to be rectified by the expiry of the second two week visitor Toll? They said I could apply for a '50% toll' (which I think is where you get an annual toll but it effectively is a six month toll as you are paying for half of the year). This is because they could not issue me with any further visitor Tolls but I am also getting very close to the end of the current year (April to April) so my visitor Toll payments made so far would be deducted from my 'six month Toll' that in fact would only be valid for a couple of months before I had to spend for a further full annual Toll.
This is all making sense to me, until I pointed out the issue of lacking a current BSS certificate and how can I be issued with a six month Toll if the boat has not got one? Ah Urm .. And with that I was told they would to discuss my case at a senior level and I am now waiting a call back to see what will happen.
It is also interesting the amount I paid over the phone at the side of the river when I had the Ranger stop by in his launch was incorrect by £43.50.
Now moving on from the current situation on the ground, so to speak:
This thread I know irks some that follow it (and indeed who engage in it) that either the thread is wandering off away from the likes of the above (whereby I share what is what and currently going on) to those who reply and are involved with the discussion and are kind with their offers of help or advice. They may feel I ignore such advice proffered and then feel a bit off with me over it.
With respect to anyone who has given advice to me, or may wish to in the future, please don’t be miffed if I either don’t take it or do something contrary to it. I am not snubbing anyone personally and I am sorry if anyone feels I may have or am, but I am simply wanting to do things in my particular way. This may lead you to read and look on in horror and pull your hair out wondering why I am doing something in the manner I am, but I need to do this and I need to make my own mistakes and cost myself my own money and learn and experience such things – just as I have all along with this project.
You see this is as much a test of my own self resolve and character to do this than anything else. To decide to go for it initially and buy the boat without doing the usual and proper checks such as having an out of water survey, a sea trial and so on. The way I negotiated the price, the manner in which I was sharing the progress of such in my posts and videos right up to now where I am dealing with local engineers, examiners and the Broads Authority. Nobody is telling me “What you need to do Robin is...” or “Now, if I was you I would do this...” I am doing it in the way I see fit to, which may be about face and a right faff about and cost me double what It might have done but I really need to do this and I simply wanted to share this as I went along.
By saying the above it might seem as some kind of heartfelt emotional response to recent opinions others have shared, when actually from my point of view it is the opposite. In short, what I do will be what I do and that is for my own reasons and I will continue to chart the progress (or lack thereof) I make so what others may feel or say I can’t allow to bother me because the moment I do or I begin to take heed of what others may be saying then I am no longer being true to myself, and making my own choices (and mistakes) which as I say is what this is all about.
I know that may be hard to understand but that is what the current situation is, this is an outlet as other platforms are for me not to tell people this is what to do, not to ask for people’s assistance, but to simply share what it is I am doing. That said when people have sub-discussions about something this is great because it may be someone learns something that may help them with an issue quite unconnected to my own - so I am not saying do not reply, do not offer advice to me, but please don't be offended if I do something contrary to it.
If nobody replied further here or elsewhere and I was simply posted updates to a blank wall, I would continue for nothing else that I like to read over things myself as almost a diary and record of a time and experience that took place. I've given myself 12 months with the boat to see if I love her, if this time next year I am not then it will be a case of saying I came, I tried, I did and now it is time to move on so I ma very much not being lead by my heart in this project but none the less I am enjoying each twist and turn, even if sometimes I might get a bit low when you find and solve one problem and another pops it's head up right after.
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I did ask advice on the YBW to begin, you know out of being polite as a first time poster when I was looking at buying a Fariline 50 from the 1990's - but to be honest it was not out of contempt for peoples views and opinions, I soon found that what was being said was very much inline with the accepted way of doing things - and I did not seek to follow that well trodden path I wanted to make my own (complete with my own mistakes) but none the less share the journey.
As you will see, I was all up for new engines,internal fit out, all sorts was going to happen but the general consensus was 'why on earth would you do that' it would add no value and cost so much to achieve. I was a bit disappointed so went away for a bit and changed my mind. Go larger and newer and cut out the refurbishment work.
So I returned and this time liked the idea of a Fairline Sqaudron 55 from 2002/2003 and then upped that to Squadron 58 from 2004 which had some new larger 'square' port lights and additional packages plus I really liked the radar tower up on the fly bridge. As a result I came very close to buying this one: https://www.theyachtmarket.com/boats_for_sale/1417209/ - which I see is still on the market today.
So during this phase no advice was sought, but the updates continued. I went right off at a tangent suddenly and got into Traders and so after figuring out that was the way I really wanted to head in and finding the right model it took one visit and 20 minutes looking around to put in an offer and the rest is history and so here and there the thread charting my time with her began and continues.
Edited to add: Generally I am not looking for advice or help because it is very rare that I will learn something I never knew before (on a given subject) - so let us take batteries. I could come and ask people what they thought about the best way forward was for my battery bank replacement. People would come and share their own views, personal experiences and you may even get those working in he field add their practical wisdom.
But the thing I most enjoy is spending often days almsot to the point of obsession reading up on, learning about, emailing companies getting data and so on the products and services that are out there - and this (if we stick to batteries) took me away from automotive and marine to renewal energy companies and a UK based company who produce their own bespoke to order systems. I found out so much more, but I also enjoy the journey to learn it myself.
Now I was all set for a large lithium battery bank which would be custom made for the boats power requirements with a new switch panel and remote web based monitoring - the problem was in the 12 odd days of being in Norfolk I have come to the conclusion if I went with such a system how much actual use would it get? I am on shore power and if I am not I would not be 'away from base' too long - even if I was or was to visit a Marina without a shore power connection, I can call upon 13Kw of energy at the touch of a button. Hmm not really going to need all that Lithium technology...
So I am going to get AGM batteries instead, slightly increase my domestic amp hour capacity in the process, so I know the battery technology I want, I know the brand of battery I want, I know the brand and type of integrated charger and inverter too and I could go and buy all of this and get my long suffering Stepdad to drive the bunch of stuff the boat and we would do our backs in lugging about huge 200Ah batteries in and out of the engine room. Or I could just get a local boatyard to do this for me and pay them instead of doing my back in. It is a tough call..
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2 hours ago, Ricardo said:
Even I had a tiny diesel leak the other day , I found that a spanner solved the problem much quicker than a phone
I got out the spanners too - but despite getting a third of an extra turn on the nut - no joy at stopping the leak.
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3 minutes ago, psychicsurveyor said:
Hi Robin,
I had a wander round on saturday while I was up, what can I say,
Independence is bl##dy huge.
You should have come over for a coffee..She is just a bit bigger than what most sensible people have on the Broads lol.
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Eastcoast IPA wanted a link to the smart sockets: http://amzn.eu/fvQJCwx
I am just back and sadly no BSS Examination took place as the gentleman had suffered a bad back problem,the early call to me was appreciated and we have re-booked for next weekend.
I also have found a second fuel leak, this one from the fuel supply to the new heater - email to Esper in Plymouth Sunday night, phone call from them this morning. They accept fault and are willing to pay for a third party to repair it, the other fuel leak from the vent hose from the centre tank (now seemingly stopped as centre tank is isolated and I have been using as much fuel out of it as possible running engines and generator and heating) they have said may be their responsibly when running the ducting, but I need to get a local yard in to asses if they feel it is and call Esper - who will then either authorise payment to repair or come up to Norfolk and effect repair themselves. I have to say very pleased with the service and approach they have shown to this.
Other than spending most the weekend in the engine room cleaning up, there has not been a great deal to report but I am building a list of new items to get including a combined Inverter/Charger and a suite of new batteries. I am not going down the Lithium route after all because having thought more about it I would mainly use the boat where there is either shore power or where I can generate my own 240v. So am going for something like two 200Ah AGM batteries for the domestics, one 200Ah cranking battery for both engines, and a 110Ah for the generator. This is almsot what is in situ currently but will give me some more domestic capacity.
Stuart - my pressure issues are a lot better since fitting a new water pump, still rated to 30psi but with a 20 litre per minute flow rate. This was identical to the previous one and indeed to the first one a Jabsco model which I found the manual for onboard and would have been fitted as new. While I could go maybe to 40psi I'd prefer not to push things too far especially if the boat always had 30psi pumps from build.
Hmm what else - not done any updater videos though did do something on mobile which I was going to upload to the Facebook Group but don;t have very good data with O2 at the mooring so may do that later and share here too. I am find taking the rough by the way with You Tube, but I post the videos not for attention but frankly because people seem to like watching them. As with the hire boat videos much of the time I would rather not take time out the day to record and later edit them, as it is a bind on time but once you have it is nice to have a record to look back over - as for the YBW Forum as I have said here I think before, that is the side show to things and I pop over there to see what is what when I have a moment, the fire burns stronger there than here so needs more fuel at times.
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Good to see you here and while you may have missed the boat in Plymouth, you can still follow along with the adventures on my Blogs..There is a real difference between the Broads and the 'salty' marinas but what I did find was a really sense of a community in Plymouth and I have been so spoilt by the facilities at Sutton Harbour - really friendly staff, keeping the pontoon clean, salting them when frosty nights were forecast, spotless warm toilets and showers and really good washer dryers too. Short walk from the centre of town and the historic Barbican - but all this at a considerably higher cost than on the good old Broads.
What I think is nice about the Broads is you haev lots of cruising and changing landscapes and then two entry points to the sea meaning if you want to explore the east coast it is easily done. For my part I guess the familiar area and having some friends from here who can help at times makes perfect sense to keep Indy in Norfolk not to mention easier, cheaper and less travel time to get to from London
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So, its seems this is a new policy decision (based upon insurance) at Richardson's now effecting solo hirers too.
I've read over on one of the Facebook Groups that a regular solo hirer has been called to say that his holiday is cancelled due to the fact he was a solo hirer and he has accepted a refund.
This is a great shame as I had planed a couple of trips with Richardson's myself as their classic fleet are cheap and cheerful and ideal for a quick break - while Barnes Brinkcraft accept solo hirers still, they don't have the same range of budget boats.
I can only assume that something may have happened at some point that has caused Richarson's to take this move perhaps based upon a risk assessment or to ensure premiums are kept reasonable for their insurance (or just because there was once a claim) who can say, but sure is a real shame.
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I don't want to go on over fires and extinguishers, but at the end of the day I was on my own and did what I did and it has been talked about at length at the time. People can say that lifting the engine hatch was a terrible move, for if there was flames there the in-rush of oxygen would have fueled the fire even more. I had nobody else on the boat with me, I was not close to others at the time (open water) and elected to more at the island to asses things not leap off and run.
I might have changed my plan if there was visible flames, or a lot more smoke - but the type of smoke and smell told me a lot about what may be going on. I have seen boats on fire and how rapidly the resin in the GRP layup fuels such fires but even so you've still got time to make a choice - grab a life jacket say, take your phone with you to call for help. But I was not in that position. It of course was a big worry at the time - water coming into a boat you have time to see - how much is it, where does it look like it is coming from, but smoke and fire on a boat makes you feel much more vulnerable until you are able to get to dry land.
I think this is another good example where I was ok with myself at the time and would not change anything if it happened again I get what rules are about and 'best practice' but in the situation as it unfolds you do what you do and I did what I did and was pleased I recorded it.
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42 minutes ago, Hockham Admiral said:
Did you all discuss that sudden drastic heel you mentioned at 25 mins 45 secs and what was the assumed reason, please?
So what happened was...We had come out of the worse of the Race - and indeed were making our turn to port (to heard towards Weymouth Bay) and things were calming, when all of a sudden a rather large rouge wave caught us beam on and and flung the boat right over. At the time this was pretty alarming because it just kept on going over, then paused and went back the other way and carried on.
Before I bought the boat I had read numerous people who owned these boats how bad they roll in beam seas, even slight ones. I had also been told I should invest in stabilizers to stop this being so apparent - especialyl because of the additional weight loading I have up top of the sun deck. However, such a system would cost north of £70,000 to have and nobody could tell me it was 'safety critical' but 'comfort related'. Just because she is rate RCD A 'Ocean' does not mean she has been tested in such conditions but might 'meet the criteria' but delivery trip proved even if the crew were thoroughly worn out and tossed about, the boat took all that nature gave and came out the other side with remarkable little issues to put right. She is a sturdy, safe boat but there are some very bad design issues like having a sliding window that has a 240v socket situated beneath it and a bilge pump where the float switch is higher than the bilge pump base.
Right after this had happened (Simon was on the helm) I went over to him and noticed that the aft and engine room bilges pumps were active and a quick open up of the engine room door showed a bunch of water ion the central bilge area (which was soon pumped overboard) which meant the list into the swell on our port side was enough to have caused water to flow up and into the air intake vents on the side of the hull, come down behind the fuel tank and enter the bilge area.
Fast forward to when she was heading to Great Yarmouth from Dover, the north easterly and swell on her starboard board moved as she crossed the Thames Estuary and continued on her journey to an easterly with the swell adn waves right on her starboard beam. Charlie reported "You know that rouge wave when we were coming round Portland Bill - well, we have been having moments like that every few minutes" this continued hour after hour which is why it was so wearing on the crews legs. As far as the boat went however - well the fact she took that hour after hour says it all.
I had a lot of cleaning up to do in the engine room with salt water in some areas which do not readily drain into the bilge and certain areas covered with salt marks - I have got a wet vac on order now to make all this easy to suck out in future and also make short work of carpet cleaning.
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" That sounds to me like an electrical fire and given that GRP is likely very close to the said over heating cables / components etc , if you have ever seen just how fast a GRP boat can go up then I doubt very much you'd be doing anything with a camera..."
Ahh, but that is just what I did...
Just as I was cruising past 'Ranworth Island' there was this terrible burning smell, initial reaction hit record on camera and leave it rolling. I first thought it was a passing boat but seconds later released it was indeed my boat. I quickly checked the obvious - was it the hob or oven - even the fridge compressor? No. The engine was running perfectly fine and there was no warning lights but the smell was not that of a mechanical/rubbery/oily smell it was a deeper plasticy or resin burning smell.
Then smoke began to come into the saloon, low level creeping along the floor coming in through cracks and ventilation holes - despite being told since how bad a move it was, I lifted by a couple of inches the engine cover which was in the saloon but despite a lot of smoke it did not seem that it could be the engine. The smoke grew more and the smell too - really unpleasant so with heart racing, adrenaline pumping I had to moor the boat. Despite it all, I still did things as should for some odd reason I did not want to speed too much to the shore, and I stern moored the boat - which was all done rather rapidly and in a cross wind. A chap was on the shore and gave a hand and you hear me say "I have a problem with the boat" and he is replying about the wind blowing the boat.
Engine off, I lift up the hatch which is outside the accommodation and where the fuel tank and batteries are - smoke now pours out - but it does not smell like batteries overheating, but being electrical I want to isolate everything I can but I was not told and cannot see where the battery idolators are so in a bit of a panic I close the trip switches for all the 12v loads at the helm (I later found the idolators for the batteries under the hatch just next to the batteries). Clearly something serious had happened, insulation melted off of wires leaving them bare - it was the Victon Energy Argo FET that had gone - spectacularly. It is designed to isolate charge to where it is needed from one Alternator and you do not connect the actual batteries together, they go to the unit instead. Equally, if you run down your domestic bank it will prevent you also running your engine cranking battery flat too. It is a bit more fancy that a diode based idolator in so far as it has virtually no voltage loss. Somehow it had diverted the high amperage output from the Alternator not down the large gauge battery wires but down a far small gauge wire which had soon overheated, melted off its installation and then created a dead short on the unit which in turn had 'exploded' bending the mental of the unit and melting the potting compound inside which then oozed out. It also knocked out the expensive Victron inverter since current was able to flow down cables connected to it 'the wrong way' so I was only able to have 240v when connected to shore power.
I am pretty sure that had I kept going much longer with the engine running supplying all this 'fuel' in so far as amps to continue heating all these cables what was melting and smouldering would have finally ignited. It did not, but it took a good 24hrs for the smell of the smoke to subside inside the boat. Despite it all, I never felt like jumping off the boat or once moored rushing away from it - neither did I feel the need to immateriality grab a fire extinguisher.
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Just a note on extinguishers: I have two fire blankets in the Galley and 4 powder fire extinguishers in the accommodation areas but I think it would be nice to have one in the saloon, and area between the forward and twin cabin. I have fitted two smoke alarms and a CO alarm.
I have been on a boat when it began to spew smoke out from under the floor - and at the time I did not know what was causing it but smelt electrical, my first instinct was not fire extinguisher but turn on the camera and then get the boat moored up and find out what was causing it, all was ok then but if it had suddenly ignited I dont think I would have just let it burn without giving things at least a go at putting out the fire I like to think that while that was going on you would have the sense to know when enough was enough.
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I don't see the issues because there are lots of people out there talking about these, taking them apart and so on showing just how much they share in common with Webastro warm air heaters - then you could also ditch Chinese clones and go for a Russian cheap version with a UK distributor.
The main issue with boats is the fact they need some work to make them sealed and safe so combustion air is drawn in and exhausted safely and no risk of this exhaust gases entering the boat. Using this on a vehicle is usually fine as this part of the unit can be outside mounted in a sheltered location.
I am likely going to get one for Independence as a cheap solution to heating the semi-enclosed outside space that is the sundeck which spending several thousand pounds on a branded system would not be worth while. I went for a dealer installed Eberspacher D5 which did cost several thousand to have done but I really wanted something sorted in a week and they could and so it was that need for heat which took me down that route over 'will it burn my boat down' worries. I note these cheaper systems tend to use a little more amps when running, they also tend to use a better brushless motor however.
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Sooner than planned...
Here is the first leg from Plymouth to Weymouth:
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I wonder if you can have Foam and CO2 extinguishers and not just dry powder? If so, I would get a commercial sized version and strap it somewhere as a 'proper' extinguisher capable of actually doing something for longer.
I found a different extinguisher, £1.00 more but Kitemarked to EN3. http://amzn.eu/9SPV5Pe
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I think you said you needed fire extinguisher's? I've used the following and they are one of the best and cheapest I have found by quite a margin.
Thanks for the link - but they come in at £14.70 with VAT and then delivery is is £8.95 on top - however, good old Amazon can have one for £16.00 delivered. http://amzn.eu/gECkV3Z handy to know.
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Well after a bit of a scare to being able to get a BSS sorted, Tim Waters is the man and I've got a date I can meet with him and get things rolling
In my opinion the BSS stuff is going to be small fry because it will be a very clear and known quantity that has been established as needing rectification. I will have a list I can act upon. I am sure too that between the various yards in Brundall someone will be able to take on the work and get such items sorted within a reasonable time. Once that is done it is a simple re-test and (hopefully) certificate issued and then I can get a proper Toll and registration numbers and be sorted properly.
All the other items are not so easy because as with the heating, what you think will happen and be needed may very well turn into more - lets just take the Cushions, that is pretty easy on the face of it but I need all new so that will come into the thickness, the type of foam, the choice of material too will all effect price . With all due respect to Alan, it may be the case that pretty things add a nice look and 'value' but I loath most of all this expenditure because it is very much 'for show' and once you have it then you've got to be ever so careful not to ruin it. I might turn into one of those types with the 'normal every day' and 'best for special occasions' and keep the new seating stored away only to be used when it has to be lol.
Anyway, reason I popped on is I have some bad news - the first part of the delivery trip is finished, and it is really poor. The sound is way off, and later days have big gaps in them so I know the Forum has got so behind this thread and the passage to Norfolk and I just wanted to say I am really sorry to have not captured the trip very well. Getting used to a new camera, microphone, boat and so on I just seemed to have let the 'videography' slip.
That said this was some footage of us as we passed Dungeness - put together in a small clip to show some of the conditions. Tomorrow evening the first part of the Blog will be live too.
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3 minutes ago, Stranger said:
there are dyes available for colouring the hydraulic oii
Great tip which I will look into if the issue is not readily obvious. Thanks :)
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12 minutes ago, grendel said:
dont you have the manual levers down by the engine to test with?
Yes but you have to reach over the gear box to reach them, then you can't look under and around to see any leak. I also thought of using a camera to achieve the same but that could not see enough detail - this is not a gush of oil its going to be a small amount over time so you'd be looking for a weeping point and I can't see how that is possible without a second pair of eyes looking about with a torch light.
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A general overview of things to sort onboard and those which I am leaving for the time being:
The rubber 'gate' over the Thruster controls can stay perished as it only effects the inside helm station, and they are £500.00 direct from the manufactures!
I sorted the fly screen for the hatch over the forward double - took it apart, and keep it in the open position - so long as it is not touched it is fine, and it is highly unlikely I would ever use that in the summer being open and have the need for the fly screen to be in place - it is thankfully watertight as proved by the vast amount of green water that was coming over the bow and deck during her passage.
I do however need to obtain a new upper helm command station (throttle controller) - I might bite the bullet and get two but not in chrome, matt black powered coated finished over bronze so there can be no pitting of the Chrome in the future. I need to sort this because the upper helm 'fly by wire' commander is not able to be trusted as it will either not work at all, or work for a period of time - it seems over an hour's use things go a bit wonky and without anything being touched it sends rouge commands to increase or decrease revs on the port engine (and sometimes starboard one too). It is open under the base to the cold damp upper helm moulding - so any replacement I would cover with a suitable circuit board sealer to prevent moisture ever being able to get into the circuit board and the wire loom from the engine room where it is terminated to the board.
I need to identify a possible hydraulic leak that I believe is coming from the take off pump from starboard engine that powers the thrusters. Since there is no leakage at idle it suggests that this is a gasket seal that is leaking when under high pressure e.g when the thrusters are being operated. Only way that can be discovered is one person in the engine room while another operates the thrusters. I also need to find what type of hydraulic oil to use in order to top off the large tank. I would guess this holds perhaps a 100 litres of oil judging by its size.
I have found a fuel leak - which is not thank god a supply line leak or tank, but a vent hose. The centre tank is lower than the two wing tanks, and is fed by gravity from those tanks unless isolated. The centre tank therefore will be full but the pressure of fuel from the wing tanks (coming in from the balance pipe) will force fuel up the vent hose from the top of the centre tank until it reaches the level in the wing tanks. This is approximately half way up the vent hose from the centre tank. In order to prevent this leaking I have isolated the wing tanks from the centre tank so the tank cannot have any fruther fuel enter it and last weekend had the heater on high (it draws from the centre tank only) and that will have taken some pressure out the system even if just a couple of litres. The vent hose runs behind the exhaust hose and new ducting for the heating system. It may have been moved slightly when Esper installed the heater ducting, I have therefore emailed them to raise their awareness to this pending clarification as to what the cause is because naturally, if it was their work that caused the two hoses to chaff after being moved, they can jolly well pick up the tab to put it right. All this is behind the large metal hydraulic tank and is not accessible. In order to rectify the issue I am almsot certain the hydraulic tank will need to be emptied and unbolted from its mount, all associated high pressure hoses removed and the entire assembly moved - once that is done one can replace the vent hose. However, due to the fact this is a 'once in a lifetime' (one hopes) task I will also replace the exhaust hose which is 2002 vintage and may have suffered some wear from chaffing on the centre tank vent hose itself. Once complete devise a solution to ensure the two hoses can never again touch and chaff.
I need to obtain suitable fire extinguishers for the wheelhouse and forward cabin which coupled with the one in the galley and aft cabin should sort that out as far as BSS goes. Engine room fire suppression is powder based and not Haylon etc so that is ok, but a new remote monitor/alarm is needed for the upper helm as it shows 'alarm' when there is no alarm in engine room or lower helm station.
I need to really address the whole upper helm with some replacement gauges to since some have suffered with some water condensation though poor seals. In time, along with the lower helm, new speed and depth sensors and associated screens need to go in, a new plotter for upper helm and lower, replacement anchor winch controller and chain counter (measure anchor chain and calibrate). The largest expense will be this because the equipment alone makes shopping at Apple seem like a day out in Lidl.
Various other smaller issues from the side sliding window seals, latch and paint work, more new sockets to go in new batteries (I am going to stay basic here after all now and go for AGM ones) but will need 4x 200 Ah and 1x 100Ah to just replace what is in place now. It is clear my domestic battery bank is less than healthy having taken it off charge for a period (take over night at Yarmouth without shore power) they were almsot flat come the next day and all they had to run was a few 12v items since the boat has no inverter (another thing to address).
So as you can see a rather long list that does not include things like lifting the bot out, doing the anti-foul and new Anodes, gel coat polishing and repairs, new cushions for upper helm and sun deck table seating and possibly all new sun deck canopies which now I have had a closer inspection of are not in quite the condition I had first thought with many loose stitches, zips and fasteners that are well past their best. I know it looks nice, but the fabric these are made out of is not as easy to keep looking nice as cheaper and less 'classy' looking vinyl.
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engineers speak engineerese,
Great line that
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Seems a PAWL is, well a hook that engages into the Ratchet.
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Independence - Updates | Maintenance & Care
in General Discussion
Posted
What has gender got to do with anything? Trust me not all men are as keen on the ins and outs of boating, it works..great, it is broke fix it do not need to know what it is, how it works, what broke it but please for the love of God make it work again lol.
I have already made some changes to save some costs - take the batteries, the Victon GEL batteries come in at £528.00 each. I know..I know..That is eye watering to the average boater used to a 110Ah lead acid battery that may cost from £70.00 to £100.00 each, but this is far less than the £1,899.00 I was going to spend on each Lithium battery.
The Gel batteries are able to be placed in any orientation as the are totally sealed, have a longer cyclic life, and a lower self discharge rate and a longer warranty period too. I am consuming lots of watts on my battery charger to just keep the current batteries alive - take them off charge for an hour and it will take several hours to get them back up showing how knackered they are. I need to have this sorted come what may, so have opted for something better than flooded lead acid cells, but not as costly as Lithium.