Recent content by Brentwales

Yeah, contact the club or see if they have a Facebook page. All of the Bristol channel clubs are very welcoming. I was very much in your position a few years ago. I bought a cheap boat to start off with, learned the basics and have now moved up to a bigger boat. Axebridge reservoir had a...

Portishead Sailing Cruising Club is one of your closest clubs, should be lots of opportunities to crew on a members boat and learn as you go.

The Boat Yard at uphill is under new owners and they are great. They are investing in the yard and campsite with a new boat lift recently purchased. They are due to improve the pontoons but understand this work has been delayed due to Covid. Outside of the yard, there is common ground where...

If you can dry out, then you can stop at Weston, most of the moorings belong to fishing/work boats. But you're right, it is exposed and not somewhere I'd want to leave my boat unattended. Weston yacht club has a visitor pontoon but it dries over a steep mud bank which can be awkward getting...

Forgot to mention, bleed the fuel system to remove any air

Change oil and filters, check belts, coolant, take impeller out or replace and lubricate before running. You should be able to crank the engine to circulate the new oil before starting.

I bought a 1984 boat that wouldn't sell because it was found to have osmosis. I got an absolute bargain and a lovely boat fitted with so much brand new kit. On having the boat lifted out myself for the first time I can see some small blisters about as wide as my thumb. The hull is solid and...

Not worth £800. I wouldn't pay anything for that. What a state, they must be chancing it asking £800 for that.

That's cheap for a reason. Are you happy to replace/rebuild that engine along with the interior cabin, plus electrics. I wouldn't.

I sail on the Bristol Channel, tides are the biggest limiting factor, you can't just go out when you feel like and you have to get the tides right to get back into your mooring. Not to mention there are few harbours on the channel and those there are dry out when the tide goes out which can...

There are 2 yacht clubs outside of Bristol on the English side of the channel close to you. Weston Bay Yacht Club has river moorings at a cost of £200 pa which includes mooring licence and full membership. Burnham on Sea also operate similar with £200pa full membership which would include your...

People do it, if you do, have a portable VHF or mobile phone with you at all times. Channel currents can get really fast in places, swimming against it would be hopeless. Don't forget that some coastal parts have miles of thick deep mud when the tide goes out, never try to land on this mud...

It's strange as before I went under the boat I was putting it in forward and reverse and the long line in the prop was being pulled and twisted. When I went in the water there was zero visibility and I could definitely feel the prop. Would sufficient rope still around the shaft affect the...

Thanks, sounds like best course of action is to get her on the drying posts for a good look over.

It did look like the shaft was spinning, no slippage at around 2000rpm