I'm still here!

It's winter. No need to explain more than that....

Some jobs are progressing, slowly.

The damaged (both by me and the weather) part of the self-steering has been re-made. It'll be bolted back on nearer to the time it might be needed. I'm still thinking about building a replacement windvane steering system, this one is big and bulky, not a pretty thing to look at, and the weather keeps getting into the wood.
If the Doc can stop the pains in my back, I might just attempt it this year.

The upholstery replacement is coming along. The new foam for the V berth has come from a kingsize memory foam mattress, it's been cut to shape and the material to cover it has arrived. Ali now has her orders!
This pic is from the first "trial fitting".

I've got hold of some normal foam for the rest of the cushions, they rarely get sat on, so no need for the memory foam there.

The lining of the hull with carpet is spreading around the boat, might be a couple of days work left, but looking good.

Still plenty of jobs to do. The transducer for the fishfinder is hanging off the transom, so needs a screw or two.
The VHF antenna still has to go up the mast, but the route for the cable has been decided, just have to do it now!
The engine control cables seem very stiff, so they can come off for inspection and possible replacement.

I could go on.....

Progress, a bit....

I've managed to make up some bits to clamp the wind generator to the pushpit rail. Plan A was to make a couple of "U" bolts, that turned into plan "B" and a couple of "J" bolts. I figured that they would be plenty strong enough for the job, and a bit less work for me....
The galvanised bits were swapped for stainless at the same time.

The other job I've started to tackle is lining the inside of the hull with carpet. I got a bit fed up with getting a cold arse in the night. The spray glue was "fun" to use, apart from getting high on the fumes, I've now got a pair of trousers which are only suitable for wearing while using spray glue!

  

That's all folks!

That's all the sailing for this year anyway.

It's that time of year again, cold, wet and either dark on the way out or on the way back in again. That, plus my health problems have forced the decision. No more until the weather picks up next year.
I'm supposed to be doing this for relaxation.....

I've been to the boat and taken the sail off, it needs a few repairs, and these are much easier at home than on the boat in winter!

Sometime in the next few weeks I'm going to try and stick the VHF antenna up the top of the mast, it's been OK on the pushpit but any extra height will improve the range.

Not sure what to do about the self-steering. Being wooden, it needs work on a regular basis to keep the weather out. I've not used it much at all this year. I'd like an electric autohelm, but the cash isn't available, so it'll probably get a bit of TLC as well.

I've tweaked the mounting for the wind generator, it's a little more solid now but I still need to clamp the main upright to the pushpit rail. I'm going to get some stainless steel bar and make a couple of custom "U" bolts for the job.
The galvanised "U" bolts I'm using on the support struts will be swapped for stainless in a couple of weeks.

I've taken the upholstery back home, plans are to re-cover it, maybe make some cushions for the cockpit. Also on the inside, the cabin walls are to be covered with some thin carpet, which should make things a bit more cosy.

So, no sailing, but plenty to do!

Most problems in one trip?

Nothing much has been going on lately, my health problems have taken over for a while. At least I managed a long trip this year during the summer and I'm only missing out on the winter sailing.
I dropped in on the boat, just to check things were OK, a couple of weeks ago. Nothing else has happened concerning sailing between that day and the Saltfleet BBQ.
I'd managed to get hold of some stainless steel tubing to use as struts for my wind generator which was still sitting in the shed. My son works in the building trade and told me they use 15mm stainless tube for gas installations, I ended up with two 3m lengths for free!
I cut and made the ends to fit, then the plan was to chuck the lot into the car, drive to Saltfleet and fit it.
Things have a tendency to change.....

I dropped in on my daughter on the way, my 4 year old Grandson, Gregory, heard where I was going and decided to join us!

The fitting went fairly easily, apart from dropping one length of tube into the water. The end was just sticking out and I managed to grab it by hanging over the stern.
The Rutland generator was bolted on the pole, the struts fitted and the rear locker lids just cleared them, only just!

Gregory then wanted to have a ride down the river. That's when things started to go wrong! (apart from dropping bits in the river!)

The tide was still rising, but Grandson was impatient, so I slipped the mooring ropes off a little early. The wind was blowing from the near bank and turned the boat through 90 degrees, but a bit of pushing and pulling got the nose round a bit further, not far enough, but further....

I tried pushing the nose into the opposite bank, hoping the engine would push the stern round. It did, but with the wind "helping" I ended up pinned against the opposite bank. The tide was still rising, so at least I wouldn't get stuck there!
Eventually, after a bit of "forward and reverse" on the engine we shot off the bank backwards - straight towards the club Commodore's boat. I stuck the engine in forward, nothing happened, I got a screaming engine and was still heading for the boat. I cut the engine as I thought it was stuck in reverse and fended off as best I could, the only damage being to my self-steering. That can be sorted easily over the winter.

So, engine restarted, gears seemed to work fine....

We headed off down the river, just to the slipway and back. I stopped for a chat with the Commodore just before the slip, the engine stopping and restarting fine.
As he got in his car and drove away I began to turn the boat to head back to the mooring, that's when I found I'd got no drive!
The engine was running fine, but I'd got no propulsion, forward or reverse.
The big oar was pulled out of the cabin and I paddled it to the visitor's mooring, another member grabbed my rope and helped pull me in.
It only took ten minutes to lift the engine out of the well, where it was soon clear that the shear pin had broken, that's what it's there for I suppose!
It must have been when I was trying to get off the mud a few minutes earlier. There are old mooring chains buried in the banks, amongst other debris....
The more worrying thing was to find that the plastic nut which holds the propeller on was loose, the cotter pin which should prevent it coming off was missing! Could easily have ended up losing the prop.

I had spare shear pin and cotters, so the repair took a couple of minutes.

Coming back onto the mooring Gregory seemed a bit worried I was going to hit the Commodore's boat again, as he was  telling me to stop well before we got to the mooring!

The "spares department" on the boat will also contain a prop and nut in future! 

Rolling at anchor

It's a problem I've suffered from more than once, I'd guess anyone using the anchor has had the same. At best it's uncomfortable, at worst it's throwing things off the worktops in the boat and making me feel sick!

In the venerable tome "Cruising under sail" an answer is described, the "Flopper stopper" as it's called in other places....
A triangular piece of wood, weighted to make it sink and at one corner to make it sink faster! Suspended from the end of a boom out abeam of the boat, the idea is that the weight allows it to dive as it's lowered, but it pulls tight as it's pulled back up with the rolling of the boat. The theory is that it dampens the roll...

I've often heard (from experienced sailors) about nights spent rolling uncomfortably at anchor, and have wondered why the flopper stopper has never been mentioned. Gone out of fashion? Been forgotten? Doesn't work?

I've decided to give it a try. I've knocked one together from some scrap plywood and brass I had lying in the shed.

I'll let you know if it makes a difference.

Just a pic.

Taken by Charles on the trip back from the Skegness YC BBQ.  I thought it merited it's own post.

Another BBQ!

This is a very different post to my last one, another BBQ, but no sailing. This is just a quickie to record the Saltfleet Haven Boat Club BBQ 2011.

As it's my club, I didn't need to sail, just turn up and eat!

I got a few pics of the visiting boats arriving, Alex came on "Runic" from the Skegness Yacht Club and "Will O Wisp" came from Fosdyke marina. "Floozy" was already there, having sailed from Wainfleet the previous day.

The moorings had never looked so busy, boats actually rafted up!

The night went well, the food and entertainment was plentiful, and some new friends made.

I'm already feeling like I want to sail again. Nothing too strenuous, but I really do enjoy being on the water.