Recent content by joliette

Joliette was handed over to a new custodian this weekend, thanks to the splendid services of Richard Gregson at Woodenships. Under-the circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to continue masquerading on here under the name of a former much loved boat, so I have decided to leave the...

The depth is not displaying on my ST30 Bidata. The display itself appears to be working fine. It is flashing 00. Does anyone know if there is a way to test the depth transducer? I've cleaned up the two terminals and crimp connectors for the depth transducer on the back of the display but that...

Having just acquired an iPhone I recently downloaded the Imray Chart app to test out the accuracy of the inbuilt GPS for navigation and it seems to be spot on! The problem now is that I can't find any detailed charts from Imray to download. Are Imray missing an opportunity or haven't I been...

Buy a Fein, they're brilliant! I've had mine for a couple of years now and it's one of my favourite tools for the boat. You can use one of the saw blades to remove old deck caulking (sikaflex) by cutting along the edges of the seam. You don't need to buy the special caulk removal tool they sell...

Thanks for the replies. Now it's out I'm going to replace the impeller, housing base plate (which is scored) and fit new gaskets. I wasn't aware it could be tested like that, so I'll give it a try. I think the outlet tube was lined up ok with the one in the upper housing, but I'll look out for...

My counter rotating drive isn't picking up cooling water from the flush muffs following the service I did. Nothing getting through to the engine. Standard rotation drive is fine, so I got that right! The manual calls for the impeller blades to be curled counterclockwise, so I thought this was...

It probably makes sense to bring compulsory licences in for the "bungalow" sized high speed craft. However, this is Britain - where we are supposed to be fundamentally libertarian (and don't we Rule the Waves)? - so I for one wouldn't want to see us going down the European route and setting a...

The boat's been laid up for the last two years so has some old diesel in the tank. I treated it with the Starbrite anti-bug stuff before lay up and the engine started first time, but my instinct is telling me to pump the tank and put some fresh fuel in. What would you do and, if you pump the...

I don't think that the diesel that's currently available at the pump in the UK contains ethanol. The problem is just with petrol. GRP tanks are still good for diesel.

There are many older boats about with GRP petrol tanks. GRP petrol tanks were fine until the introduction of ethanol into petrol. This is currently at a 5% concentration and will double to 10% this year. Ethanol degrades GRP tanks as it reacts with and dissolves the resin in the fuel tank...

I may start another thread on this issue as there is a point in exploring the liability issues, to get an idea of the current position that surveyors and insurers are taking on GRP petrol tanks and how that may change as ethanol concentrations increase (double for 5 to 10% this year).

Yes, there are some products out there that will - in theory - do the job. The problem is applying them under the correct conditions as recommended by the manufacturer. One product I found required the surface inside of the tank to be abraded and then the whole thing had to be baked after...

Yes, there are certainly some problems that will need to be resolved on many older petrol boats, when insurers /surveyors consider the looming risk. I considered getting a custom flexible bag made up for the integral (grp / ply) tanks in my Settimo Velo but couldn't find a supplier that would...

It's a good boot top on a sailing boat. It's a hard antifoul so it's mostly used by power boats on the hull, although I've also used it on my tender with success and would recommend it as it scrubs off very well.

Better to hove to, set a riding light and retire to the sleeping cabin, a la Hiscock!