Recent content by paulsmith

Small UK charter company needed I've just sadly had to sell my Westerly Griffon due to lack of freetime, and the limited sailing available on the North Devon coast where I am based. So instead I'm going to bareboat charter on the south coast instead. I dont need anything too fancy just a good...

Thanks folks I've spoken to our local marine engineers who reckon they can 'tease' it back into shape. it won't cost much so if it doesn't work I suppose it's not the end of the world. Then it seems to be either another the same as the old one. (better for sailing) or a 3 blade one (better for...

I have a 2 blade 13x11 prop on my bilge griffon with a VOLVO MD7b engine . I've hit a log and bent a blade I reckon it can be straightened either by myself (big hide mallet) or by someone who can do it properly ie guages and stuff. or do I buy another. It's always seemed small next to every...

I built a large cederstrip open canoe a few years ago and used Balcotan rapid it's very user friendly and quick drying so progress is unhindered whilst building. Also I used just straight cut strips rather than the concave /convex stuff it saves hundreds in material costs unless you can make...

I was checking out my anode connections and discovered that the connection from my P bracket to the main anode had been intentionaly disconnected (By a previous owner) and the end of the wire taped over with insulation tape as you would with a live wire. Can anyone explain why this would be done...

It's a couple of years old but I've only used it a couple of times as it's a spare. It's never been dropped or anything. It still functions ok, but can it be topped up? there doesn't seem to be a refill hole with a screw in it just a small 'stub' as if its filled and sealed. Any thoughts? Paul

What a response!. To answer some of the raised points. it's in the way of the swinging circle and if it is used as a mooring its within the range of other swinging boats. so it's got to go. We tried a couple of years ago with barrels but it stayed on the bottom and the pressure crushed them. I'm...

Allan I should of added our website which is ...www.ndyc.org.uk paul

I want to lift a very heavy old anchor of the bottom (dries at half tide) as its in the way of a mooring. It's an old second world war one used to anchor trots of barges I am told. I reckon it weighs about 3/4 ton. Access is no problem at low tide and I thought of tying fenders etc to it to lift...

I'm a member of NDYC. The club doesn't have control over the moorings. It's a sort of free for all arrangement for most of us. There is a local marine business that will put a mooring down for a fee and in some parts there is a cost (payable to the local land owner who owns some of the...

I'm thinking of fitting a TEK-TANK in my boat to replaced an old rusty steel one. The old tank filler pipe was vertical from the filler nozzle in the cockpit sole straight down into the tank a distance of about 300mm. As the TEK-TANK filler is in a different position I will need a flexible fill...

I'm basing the £100 on a previous post. But having taken the unit apart,the cable and inner are detachable at the dial end but the inner cable appears to be bonded into the prop end. So it seems that the whole lower unit has to be replaced each time the cable goes. Hence I suppose £100. As...

I said I would report back so... The inner cable has parted about 2 inches after it emerges from the tube inside the hull. As there is plenty of freespace around the inner cable I'm going to clean both ends of the cable and araldite a small length of flexible tube over the join and put it all...

Re: Totally agree with Boatman ... I wasn't having a go at fishermen. Perhaps it's just me but I assumed that their huge engines and fuel tanks (reletive to mine) could perhaps cope with stuff which would bring my setup to a standstill. I wasn't suggesting that because it wasn't from a marina...

I'm on my way to have a look.I'll report back. I too find replacement part costs beyond belief sometimes. As suggested it may be best to replace the whole lot. Thanks Paul