This winter my innards have received all the attention so far. All of the walls beave been disinfected, all cabins and heads have been steam cleaned and everything has had a wash down. I'm crystal inside. My engine has had all the filters replaced, the seawater impeller change and all and I mean all the oil removed and replaced. This may sound a simple task but with everything, there's a catch. The Seago pump system that hadn't been used for a few years had virtually seized. That is to say that when the Skipper tried to use the vacuum pump the 'O' ring popped out of its groove rendering the pump useless, so he had to fix the pump first. Now 99% of the old oil is out, but each time he returns there are another few milligrammes of oil that's pumped out. He's getting fed up and will add a litre of new oil and force the remaining oil out leaving the clean oil to drain back to the sump.
More new pulleys have been fitted replacing my older non-bearing type, for smaller, for the same 2000Kg working load. That's nearly all fifteen pulleys replaced. The number one reef line that has a number of chaffed parts is in for replacement, as is the jib line which has always been about a metre short in length, so this minor fault is being rectified too.
New line bag secured to sides - Portside
Starboard side
Now totally out of the blue, the skipper has negotiated a good price to replace my Webasto heater for a new model, meaning that I will be able at long last provide a warm and dry environment within my cabins, saloon & heads. This not only returns me back as Hanse had intended but provides my crew with a warm environment on demand making future trips a more pleasant experience, especially as its Skips unwritten rule to be told to be first to make tea!
The code 0, that skip had made is also going through a new transition, it is having a top-down furler fitted. This is so that the sail can be used more often as it will be easier to handle in crowded waters such as the Solent with only the two of them on board.
Discussions are already afoot as to this summers trip, the Scilly's has been mentioned again but we'll see.
The new running gear for the J3 is ready to be fed through the mast putting last years L bracket on the front bulkhead into use this season.
With the cold spell not materialising as of yet it and work to my interior nearly complete, re-wiring of the Webasto ongoing, it looks like my hull will get the wash and polish soon, which makes me look smart for the remainder of the year.
One of the line-covers that was removed last year to have the star cracks filled and re-sprayed with Gel coat is back on board and how shiny it looks too.
Wednesday 12th February, Work is continuing with the fitting of the Webasto replacement, with the new fuel pump in place and most of the wires and fuel lines lead to the heater. Although the final connection between the pump and heater has still to be made. The new control panel is smaller than the old dial type which leaves the hole cut out for the old one larger than necessary, so the panel has gone up to Dagmar House to fit another piece of carbon fibre same as that used for the control panel on the cockpit for the tachometer etc.
The wiring from the heater back inside to the chart table is well underway, so it soon can be connected up and run. That leaves the central section of 90mm heater duct and insulation sock under the bench seating in the saloon to be fitted and three 60mm heater ducts to be insulated.
You'd expect that the switching of the old exhaust pipe outlet would be a simple case of undoing the three bolts and changing over. No such chance, the PCD's of the holes were different and the new has the manufacturer's name emblazoned across the top, but 30 degrees out. Meaning that if the existing holes were to be enlarged to fit the new bolts the name would be off centre one way of the other!
The new running gear for the J3 is ready to be fed through the mast putting last years L bracket on the front bulkhead into use this season.
With the cold spell not materialising as of yet it and work to my interior nearly complete, re-wiring of the Webasto ongoing, it looks like my hull will get the wash and polish soon, which makes me look smart for the remainder of the year.
Wednesday 12th February, Work is continuing with the fitting of the Webasto replacement, with the new fuel pump in place and most of the wires and fuel lines lead to the heater. Although the final connection between the pump and heater has still to be made. The new control panel is smaller than the old dial type which leaves the hole cut out for the old one larger than necessary, so the panel has gone up to Dagmar House to fit another piece of carbon fibre same as that used for the control panel on the cockpit for the tachometer etc.
The wiring from the heater back inside to the chart table is well underway, so it soon can be connected up and run. That leaves the central section of 90mm heater duct and insulation sock under the bench seating in the saloon to be fitted and three 60mm heater ducts to be insulated.
You'd expect that the switching of the old exhaust pipe outlet would be a simple case of undoing the three bolts and changing over. No such chance, the PCD's of the holes were different and the new has the manufacturer's name emblazoned across the top, but 30 degrees out. Meaning that if the existing holes were to be enlarged to fit the new bolts the name would be off centre one way of the other!
