Recent content by Dockhead

The usual issue with pontoon mooring on the Hamble (especially there) is the tide. It is basically impossible to get into a downtide berth under control when the tide is near peak flow, especially at springs. Some people don't ever seem to learn this. I moved from Swanwick Marina to a...

Indeed -- 90/180 OUTSIDE of the Schengen country of your residence, but I don't plan to violate that (heading across the Atlantic already in early January), and anyway with a European residence card, they absolutely don't care and don't check, as long as you're not getting close to tax residency...

Indeed, but what about customs? I have a European residence card, so 90/180 is not an issue for me.

Does anyone know what is the procedure now for clearing in and out of Gib from Spain? Do you even do it any more after the recent changes?

And I use svb24; it's a good firm. But it would be quite an advantage to be able to ship from the UK VAT-free and receive duty-free, as a vessel-in-transit, as we were doing in the Faroe Islands a few years ago.

Now that the UK is no longer in the EU, what is the procedure for shipping parts to European ports? When we shipped parts from the UK to the Faro Islands a couple of years ago, we were able to purchase them VAT-free and receive them as a U.K. vessel-in-transit with no duty imposed by the...

Indeed. I've seen a lot of ball valves, and never seen stainless balls except in stainless valves. In bronze valves, they are normally chrome-plated brass, better ones chrome plated bronze, or in the cases of the newer, more expensive Maestrini ones, bare plastic. The run in PTFE seals, so...

Yes. Passive radiators are much nicer, but you need surface area -- where will you put them? When choosing fan coils ("blown-air matrix heaters") pay attention to sound levels. Some of them are annoyingly noisy. Like mine for example. :( Nevertheless, hydronic is the way to go on a boat...

That's likely to be a bit small. I need luff length of 22-23 meters; at least 20. Do you know the luff length?

Want to buy an assymetrical spinnaker -- something like an A2 -- with luff length of approximately 20-21 metres, in good condition.

I sold mine on here less than 2 years ago, and now I need one again. I shouldn't have been in such a hurry. Anyone have one for sale?

Keel cooling has a number of advantages, and I've looked into it for the design of a purpose-designed yacht for high latitudes which should be capable of dealing with some ice. Ice can clog a conventional cooling system so you see a certain number of high latitude boats with keel cooling and...

You can buy the motor directly from any Mahle jobber. Lewmar part no. is 60000192; equivalent OEM IM0226, 11216503, AMJ4506, MM279, 11212878, AMJ4706, made by Mahle subsidiary Lektrika (formerly Iskra). Here for example for €214...

The voice of a professional. Why not RG214 instead of RG213? I'm using 214 because of the double shield and silver coated conductor. It's more expensive. If you have room in the mast for a fatter cable, I think this is a good way to go. I wouldn't use LMR400 for marine VHF (although I use...

Is one no longer allowed to anchor in the river at Fowey? It's been a few years since I've been there. but I can't imagine why it would make any sense to pay £25 for a mooring. We always anchored at Salcombe, as well, although there we had to pay harbour dues.