Winter II - 2023

Winter has finally arrived since the New Year, with temperatures dropping as low as -4C here in Cowes, a lot warmer than lots of places, but it doesn't make it too comfortable for those that want to work outside.

Skipper being one of them, as he has his list of winter jobs to get through.  The work to the keel is a unique one on the list this year and is progressing well, with the port side now having all the old anti-foul removed, just a few awkward bits that need to be finished by hand.  Still have the pin holes to fill in the filler and rub back and then it should be ready for the application of Copper Coat, once there's a bit more warmth in the sun.

Portside rubbed back exposing the old Copper Coat, which glistens

around the lead bulb where the mix slumped previously

(the white bits are the original keel).

Next, his attention was to clean my teak deck and then taking four recommendations over the years, purchase and apply 'Wet & Forget' over the wet surface. It's surprising how grubby the deck gets, but he does a good job and hopefully, the product will keep them clean throughout the season.

Work to clean the teak did mean that a hot water bottle was required

in the evening to ease the back muscles.

Day two and he learned to keep his

back straight.

I think the next is to ensure that there's a good electrical contact for the manual anode, as some corrosion appears to have stopped it from working judging by the state of the anodes that were renewed when I came out to replace the prop.  Whilst he's in my rear storage area, he can try to locate and seal all the tiny leaks that enable rainwater to enter and requires sponging out.

I know there's a valve to be fitted up by the anchor locker to enable the hose to be fitted such that the deck wash pump can be installed together with its switching valve, fresh/sea.  Whether the pump itself will be fitted or just the deck fitting as power is needed to drill a hole, the rest can be done whether on the hard or not.

Usual engine service and filter changes, and then the wash & polish, that should sort his back out!

Skip has also just completed a three-day refresher plus course on Astronavigation, tailor-made by Stokey, the guru, to match his requirements.  Back in 2005 he took the RYA course but opted not to take the exam as it was wasting his and the examiner's time.  He's always wanted to be able to use one and keep the skill of doing so alive and spotted two in a shop in Cowes, but um'd and r'd as whether to purchase or not.  Eventually, the one he preferred went from the window however, a few months later it returned and so having negotiated a price bought it.

Stokey took a look at it and adjusted the mirrors to take out the Instrument Error (IE).

Sip is now able to take a sun, planets, and star sights including Polaris, and plot his position in the Northern hemisphere, (he can do the South too but needs different stars). The next is to meet up with Stokey for a day in February to undertake a sun run sun sight for real using his sextant.