Recent content by anthonyyearsley

Re: There are 2 solutions Many thanks for all the suggestions. I believe that I should be able to prevent the resonance starting, so will have a careful look at and possibly reshape the blade edges when the boat comes out in October. The gearbox is kept in astern to stop it - in ahead it would...

Last winter I replaced the cutless bearing on my 1989 Fulmar as wear had reached the limit. At the same time I fitted the Volvo cushion drive plate to the gearbox indrive on the 2002 although there was negligible wear on the splines at 1500 hours. Now when sailing at over 5.5 knots with the prop...

Does anyone have comparative figures for QM2 against QM1? I have only seen gross tonnage, i.e.volume, 150,000 tons and length 1132 feet. QM1 was 81200 gross tons, 90000 tons displacement, length 1018 feet, beam 118 feet and draft 39 feet. Although the QM2 is said to be the beamiest ever it could...

Re: What\'s a shackle? (big ship anchoring) BR 827 'A Seaman's Pocket Book' of June 1943 states 'The length of a shackle is 12 1/2 fathoms' on page 64 in the chapter on 'Anchors and Cables'. It goes on to say that it is usual to have 12 shackles of cable for each ship's main anchor and that...

At the start of the season I was suffering low voltage on charge, about 13.6 volts which is not enough to pull in the relay to charge the auxiliary battery. The regulator on the alternator, some 13 years old, was faulty. This was changed by local car electrics shop to restore 14.5 volts. After a...

The three Westerlies that I have owned since 1980 have all had stainless keel bolts. It has never been suggested that these should be drawn for inspection although they are not exposed to air and may be reached by salt water. What is the experience of corrosion causing wasting of the bolts...

Re: Well I bought a Sailor... Mike. My earlier post about speaking to an unknown vessel on collision course has not been satisfactorily answered. In fog in daylight 'a red at the bridge' is not an option. One cannot broadcast on 13 and 16 together. Earlier posts have all confirmed that...

Beware the green plastic scourers and stainless steel as they scratch it badly. I have a notice over my boat sink only to use stainless scourers!

At the end of July I returned from Brittany to North Wales, encountering thick fog, visibility 2 cables or less, while crossing the exit from the Ushant southern shipping lane. Ushant traffic control was warning of the fog and also frequently calls up ships by position who have not reported in...

Have just pulled the 2002 gearbox off my 1989 engine to inspect both the splines on input shaft and flywheel at 1100 hours plus. Some corrosion in the non-contacting parts, original machining marks on outside diameter evident. Discussed with local Volvo agent who agreed OK to reassemble with...

Westerly Owners' Association Spring and Winter 2001 journals have sections with experiences and a solution to the 2000 series gearbox spline problem. I examined mine two years ago at 900 hours on my 1989 2002, and will do so again this winter at over 1100 hours. It is very expensive to replace...

My 2002 had the white smoke problem in 1999. The cure was to remove the cooling water pipe connecting the block to the exhaust injection bend and scrape out the hole in the injection bend which was corroded up. The corrosion product had reduced the hole to a size that restricted the water flow.

My 1967 Seagull 40 Plus has always been flushed out at the end of the season in my dustbin - rubber 18 inch diameter by 23 inches tall. A brick in the bottom to support the leg keeps the prop clear of the bottom. Provided the water level is high enough, the water always circulates at a little...

The beta light in my excellent Sowester hand bearing compass is very weak after four years. Sowester no longer supply them and I cannot locate the makers, Yachting Electronic Services in Crowthorne, Berks. For my previous Opticompass, the tritium source was replaced free by Offshore Instruments...