Winter 2024

 Hi all,

It's been ages since I've posted anything, largely due to there's been nothing much to post!

But as always winter comes and there's always something to do.  As I was lifted out of the water, the Copper Coat that Skipper applied last year over the keel having removed the old filler and re-filled, looked to have worked well.

Just the usual Medina mud slime except for the flat surface at the base of the keel where weed growth has taken hold

However, one thing that wasn't right, was that the inner section of the anode shown below and the four bolt heads had been worn down by 5mm halfway across the heads. After contacting the prop manufacturer Flexofold, they suggested a washer was missing, a washer that Skip had never seen before in all the years of removing and cleaning, but was clearly there. A nice shiny new one sits in its location at the back of the shaft.  Something else to keep an eye on next year.

Skip, also noted that the Marlec MPPT, which diverts the power from the solar and wind generators to the batteries, appeared to be playing up, solar would only generate when the wind was also.  Another e-mail to the manufacturer and it was decided the best option was to send it off for inspection/analysis.  Let us remember that the Rutland 1200 wind generator and the MPPT, are one of the first for which Skip negotiated a deal following the burn-out of my previous model.  It was released following the Southampton boat show years ago and so the software in the MPPT has remained unchanged.

At the cost of under £70, plus P&P of course, Skip was informed that the software had been updated together with the replacement of 'some' components. The likelihood is that the only original part is the outer casing!  Still, whilst all this was being sorted, the Sterling shore power charger was put into action and the batteries went through another phase of bulk, absorption, and trickle charging.

The wind generator has been un-tied and the solar panel put back, putting the Sterling back to rest, glad to see that working as intended.  Boat electrics live in one of the harshest environments and as such you never know from one day to the next what may go wrong.

So, when Skip turns up and decides to empty the anchor locker having lowered it and all the chain to the ground, leaving a mess of rust on the floor, he collects the hose nozzle and connects it all up to the deck wash pump fitted last year to wash it down.  Would the pump draw water, were the tanks empty, was there an air leak with a joint?  Turns out that the main water pump was leaking, allowing air in, (the second time this has been an issue), and so the job switched to taking the pump apart and servicing that instead!

That took two attempts, as it was discovered that on re-building it didn't quite go back together properly causing the electrics to trip. Once re-assembled now the pressure appears too high causing the relief valve on the hot water tank (clarifier) to blow water out instead! One step forward one back.

Another unforeseen job came when Skip raised the companionway to expose the engine, which lifted so far and then stuck.  On lifting it, to its usual position, it pulled the bracket off from the underside of the steps, on the righthand side leaving it attached to the air-sprung damper.  It took a couple of chats on the Hanse forum before locating replacements.  Today (12th March), the bracket was glued and screwed, whilst the companionway was supported by block and tackle from the boom and the dampers fitted.

With the warmest but wettest February, only the gel coat on the top sides has been washed down, ready for polishing so it may be that I may only have one side of the hull done leaving the other side to be done when back on my pontoon.  See how time goes.