Recent content by gilesfordcrush

I did just that, and shortened the bolt. I would rather make a proper job of it, but am a little reluctant to buy a broken tap extractor. I only use the tap and die set once a decade!

I retapped the four holes in the pedestal last night, and all was going very well, until the very last turn of the last hole, and the tap snapped off! The lower half of the hole now has the tap deeply embedded within it! Perhaps I'll buy a tap extractor set and see if I can get it out........

Hello Captain Boo, Thank you for the very informative post, much appreciated. I have not used the Helicoils before, but hopefully the tapping will go well. I am pleased you have warned me about further dissasembly, thank you! A potential disaster avoided! My Duralac tube is standing by -...

Hello all, I have searched the forums, and can't specific find an answer to this. I have a Whitlock Cobra steering system fitted to my 1978 Moody 30. I was unhappy that I could not remove the top cover from the pedestal, the four bolts were seized. After several evenings of hard work I have...

I use the side of my soldering iron, which will almost certainly be close to hand when using heat shrink. It is a mains iron, although I am very keen on a gas one, which would surely perform the same function. The trick is not to let the shrink get too hot, keep the iron moving.

Hello all, I watched an interesting drama over the weekend on the BBC about an Australian yacht that came across an illegal immigrant vessel somewhere off the Australian coast. The vessel was disabled and adrift with many people on board, some were ill and all were in need to food and water...

I'm certainly interested! :)

Ah, I missed something off the list 7. If heading for Dover as an overnight stop, call the Dover Port Control on channel 74 when 2Nm away, follow instructions, and expect to call again when 200m from the harbour entrance. 8. If not heading for Dover as an overnight stop, stay well clear and...

I accepted the fact that a battery powered vacuum is always going to be less effective than a mains powered one. I have a vintage Earlex wet and dry vacuum that I use for cleaning up after doing maintenance, when I have shore power. I don't have a generator or inverter. Therefore, for onboard...

I'm very grateful for all the advice so far, thank you everyone. We're going to do some night sailing practice, in and out of the Crouch. An area I know well. Depending how this goes, and how confident we feel at night will have some bearing on the passage planning. Day sails are no problem. A...

I have been keen to do more night sailing, what little I have done (which is usually leaving the Crouch single handed very early on a winter morning) has been fantastic. Certainly some experience building with my crew will be needed, and how convenient that there is so much darkness on offer at...

I like the idea of adding to our combined experience level with an overnight passage, but would the addition of AIS and masthead tri-colour be essential for overnight passages? Surely they are a very good idea. Having had significant expenditure at the end of last year, including new rigging...

Thank you for all the replies. There is some really good information, much appreciated. Certainly getting to Dover on day1 would make a difference. Clearly two weeks would be a much better allocation of time, and give much better flexibility. I am questioning my motivation for this trip, and...

I am hoping to complete a trip from the East coast to the Solent this summer, and would appreciate some tips from those who have already undertaken such a trip. I will be starting and returning to the river Crouch, Essex.. The boat is a Moody 30. I will be sailing with a friend, we both have the...

+1 for Colin Stracey at Premiere Sailing. First class chap, and very good with engines.