Allan
Well-known member
I agree with all that has been said. For us sailors another thing to remember is that we are not going much faster than the debris. In all my sailing, I've hit nothing major.
Allan
Allan
Ah, that'll be because I sent it to tatali0n, sorry for the confusion! Now forwarded on to you.Okey dokey... don't seem to have received anything though. You can find an email on the blog (in signature link) if that suits better.
Ah, so I'd have to take care if going out on the first high water after a storm or bad weather. Good info .A huge amount of junk comes down the rivers after it rains. Not unusual to see huge tree trunks etc out at sea and you usually see some bits of wood on any journey. What always worries me is you only see this stuff when it's calm or calm-ish, never anything when the sea state is up, but it must still be there somewhere!
Looking at the video you posted on your blog yesterday, how does visibility work on Calstar? From the helm seat it looks like you can't actually see directly in front of yourself without the odd standing-up... or is it just the positioning of the camera?Vodzurk, smacking into something hard or sharp is always a worry, so you do have to keep your eyes open and drive at a speed appropriate to the conditions. However, perhaps the more pertinent risk is of all that crap risks getting sucked up into your cooling system, blocking the filter and overheating your engine.
Cheers for the tip... I think once I'm on the water, I'll have to scour through this whole thread and make a list of concerns until they're second nature .In reality though it doesn't cause too much of a problem. The big stuff is easy enough to avoid, though you do have to actively alter course to avoid it sometimes, and the small, filter clogging stuff mostly floats on the surface, or is too big to go up the intake, so making sure you regularly check and clear the filter out as part of your routine maintenance seems to take care of that.
Cheers . The guys at work have already tried getting me worried about things that aren't likely around our way, such as fallen-overboard cargo containers floating juuuust under the surface... so good to know it's certainly not a common thing .I agree with all that has been said. For us sailors another thing to remember is that we are not going much faster than the debris. In all my sailing, I've hit nothing major.
Allan
Looking at the video you posted on your blog yesterday, how does visibility work on Calstar? From the helm seat it looks like you can't actually see directly in front of yourself without the odd standing-up... or is it just the positioning of the camera?
The guys at work have already tried getting me worried about things that aren't likely around our way, such as fallen-overboard cargo containers floating juuuust under the surface... so good to know it's certainly not a common thing .
Apologies for yet another question... and not specific to the Bristol Channel...
If looking at a boat just after it's massively pee'd down rain....
1. If an engine compartment has half-height dividers for extra storage port/starboard of the engine... and If there is a couple of litres of water one of those... then the broker explains it as "the canopy cover hasn't been 100% attached over it's rear clips, it needs a new elastic fitting to stretch it to fully cover the starboard transom, don't worry, we supply them and they're cheap". Does this add up?
I would have thought that the cockpit area would have run-offs for any water that leaks through an ill-fitting canopy. For it to somehow bleed into the bilge storage seems potentially concerning to a newbie.
2. Is it standard for old (but seemingly good condition) canopies to spatter the cockpit floor, making it rather slippery? Again, is this safe if left unattended (will it usually run-off)?
3. Starting the boat after the pee-down... and after a few minutes the broker says "ahh, there we go, that sound is the bilge pump kicking into action, so you know it's working". Ummm... is that a good thing??? Does that mean if I left the boat tied up, un-powered for a few weeks that it'd be sunk as water shouldn't be collecting inside?
Gorjus!
I know her' seen her skulking around the floating harbour ��
Happy to offer up any advice or info you may need, locking out of Bristol to Avonmouth the first time is a great experience, happy to help of required.
Congrats on the purchase
Gorjus!
I know her' seen her skulking around the floating harbour ��
Happy to offer up any advice or info you may need, locking out of Bristol to Avonmouth the first time is a great experience, happy to help of required.
Congrats on the purchase
Just spent a pleasant 20 mins or so reading this thread..reminded me of myself from years gone by!.......We have just taken ownership of a new boat after selling our tried and tested Colvic "The Grumpy Uncle"...we now have a lovely Merry Fisher 530HB. We wanted to go up a few knots (a lot actually!) but with the ever increasing marina costs we also wanted something to fit on a trailer for the winter. We have a mooring at Dale for the summer which is very cheap so thats not an issue.
Part of the wifes remit was something we could overnight on, and although about the size of a dome tent for sleeping in, it fits the bill for us. Currently on our drive over hear near Chepstow, our first trip may well be a little jolly from Bristol harbour up to Bath for a night stop then back the next day sometime in early spring so you may well see us about...look out for "Time Drifter" and give us a wave, or even tag along!
Enjoy your boating, but heed this warning, the one that no one has yet told you and IMO, the biggest danger of all.....its bloody addictive!
Cheers! Will give you a wave if we see you!
We considered a Merry Fisher... but they certainly seem to lean towards fishing over anything else. What's your main intended use? With us, the wife wanted a speedboat, but I reckon it'd limit our range, so Gorjus was the compromise. Also, we needed cheapness in case we bugger it.
The update so far... parking and departing in wind with a current and with a boat in front and behind is interesting. We've now got 6 fenders on it. Am dreading the day we have to reverse park, but aim to get some practice in before we move/get-thrown-out of Bristol in March/April.
Next up: Windows resealing, VHF licence and engine servicing. Other bits and bobs double-checked too.
Then... THE BRISTOL CHANNEL OF DOOM. Uh oh! (At some point in March).
Congrats on your purchase of Gorjus.
Is she a Sealine 195? Does she have a single engine and an outdrive? The outdrive is that single or dual prop?
I ask as how she is set up will affect her handling particularly close quarters and the forum can give you some handling tips if that's of help?
Happy to help with your first Channel outing if required, have to spoken to Advance Marine in Portishead about the servicing?
Fishing is indeed our (my!) main interest, so you are right in saying that the MF530 is more of a fishing boat than anything else.....decent little cabin to kip in though, and space for a porta potti and a cooker
First part of any crew briefing on our- and many many other- yachts is how to use the marine toilet, no matter how old the crew are, so don't worry about that. They are mostly the same and I am guessing it is a jabsco?
Good to see such thorough prep for life as a boat owner, by the way.