Recent content by paul

What\'s that cracking niose coming from beneath my hull? For some time now I've heard a noise which sounds like a fire crackling or rice crispies popping under my hull. As I don't seem to have a fire nor do I have any rice crispies on board it must be something else. Any ideas? thanks Paul

Plasticine (if that's how you spell it!) is used by professional boatbuilders to repair moulded deck areas. Take an imprint from a similar area, mask off any nearby areas on unpatterned gelcoat and piant the gel in to the mould. Pay particular attention to the hight/level of the plasticine mould...

I applied 5 coats to my boat last year. The hull was tested for moisture and found to be dry. It is recoomended that the hull is not treated of the moisture level is high (that means above 15 on a Tramex meter). You can apply wet on dry with Gelshield, so you don't have to do it all in one day...

Keeping red might be good for availabilty but it's the worst cost/performance option. White road diesel has more detergent and other additives which make it a better quality fuel with lower emissions. And because it's cleaner it gets an EU tariff concession of 6p a litre - so it's cheaper too...

We're cruising the Med and are looking for a reasonably priced secondhand watermaker. Needs to run off 12v with an output a few gallons per hour. Any ideas? Thanks Paul

If you've seen card readers for sale at £500 you must read different ads to me! I paid £45 for my Raymarine version (actually badged Navionics when I got it). As many people know though you can't copy the cards (not even to the same format cartridge). Not unreasonable as the suppliers have...

I've got a Raymarine ST60 wind instrument which has a sticky wind speed. I've tried cleaning it but I suspect it needs a new bearing. Does anyone know how you remove/reinstall the bearing? Thanks. Paul

My MD22 Volvo engine and 120SE saildrive are electrically connected, according to my multimeter. Another friend with the same boat (2000 Moody 42) has the same experience. As I undersatnd it the engine and saildrive should be electrically isolated via a plastic gasket/ bolt sleeves and insulated...

I have a Volvo saildrive which I understand is supposed to be electrically isolated from the engine (a MD22). When I connect a multimeter between the saildrive unit (the bit inside the boat) to the engine I get continuity. Is this right or should it be isolated? Is it just the bit of the leg...

I had a Bavaria (30) and sold it after 12 months. I found it too light and twitchy in stronger winds. Up until recently I also arranged an annual industry regatta wich included around 20 Bavrias in the fleet. Again I found the (36/37/38 footers) very twitchy in stronger winds. A friend with a 38...

We're on our third Moody (first was a 31, then a 36 and now a 42). Positives: solid, safe, good space, hold price well, great owners site (www.moodyowners.net), last well. Negatives: slow in light winds (less than 10knots), not the cheapest boat, tended to use teak veneer on ply for cockpit...

I sold my 1998 Moody 36 for £95K nearly 3 years ago. It was top condition and spec. I know someone who bought a 1999 model 2 years ago for £87K. It was reasonable condition/spec. It depends on the condition, seller and location. A boat for sale on the south coast will normally fetch a few...

Elan. Don't you mean Hanse?

I'm planning an 18 month trip to the Med and need loads of charts and pilot books (and Navionics Gold cartridges). Trouble is that it'll cost a fortune to buy new and when I've finished I'll have no need for them. Has anyone got any suggestions as to where I could look as a source for used...

I need charts and pilot books for the Med (West to East) plus Navionics Gold catridges for the same. Please e-mail. Thanks Paul