Recent content by schilde

Thanks Brian. The whole exercise started because last year the saltwater seal on the driveshaft failed and allowed water into the oil sump. It was a while before I could get the engine out - as it is a saildrive I had to get the boat lifted, and I had to wait until I knew I would have a few...

Thanks Trevor! At our house we rgularly heat oil close to the point where it smokes, then we lob in wet bits of potato and usually get away with it! Lots of people do! But you are right, it's not the same kind of oil. I did have to be a bit careful and I did have one splash that ignited...

Each time I have removed my saildrive i have had the boat lifted. I would be very surprised if the boat didn't sink with a big hole in the bottom. I know there is a rubbery seal on some saildrives that smooths the flow of water round the leg and the hole, but this will not give a watertight...

Is there an oil expert out there? I fitted some clever valves so that I could flush my sea-water cooled inboard engine with fresh water. When I tested it I left the water running after the engine stopped, and filled the exhaust with water. I realised what I had done overnight but by the next...

I might be wrong, but here's what I think. Your exhaust and water have to go uphill to get out of some part of the exhaust. This is so that the water gets taken out and so that the water silences the exhaust. When it stops the water in the uphill section runs back toward the engine. Seems to...

Well I have just completely rebuilt my volvo MB2A, no special tools but perhaps a little bit of common sense and have worked on some car engines. The engine failed when at the end of last season I got a little bit of water in the oil, the emulsion blocked the breather pipe so the engine pumped...

Thanks Many thanks to all for the information. In the end we (well Cap'n John really) decided to make a reduced offer on the boat, and it was accepted. When we take delivery, I think the plan will be to do some more investigations and hopefully to see what a bit of thrashing will do for...

Thanks Many thanks to all. I think I will get them to carry on as at present, ie manage with the full rig and stay in if in doubt. If caught out we can drop the jib - although it is so small I don't know what difference it makes anyway! They can always drop everything and get a tow with the...

Is there a good way to reef a Mirror? The one the kids have has no reef points on the sail. I can't remember seeing them on other mirrors either. Many thanks for your ideas Steve <hr width=100% size=1>

I was looking at a gaffer mast today, off the boat. There was a noticeable amount of pre-bend, an inch or two, curving sternwards at the top. Is that ok? All the stays go to the same point, so I can't think how they could have induced a curve. Also in the same mast there was a crack, well an...

I have been to view a boat with a non-running volvo 2001 diesel engine. Apparently it was running the other day, but not today. It had a flat battery and no manual winding handle was available. I turned the engine over by hand with the crankshaft pulley. I was surprised I could. Does this...

The skipper has just bought a 9 foot dinghy. The story that came with it is that it was in a boatyard at Walton on the Naze, which was being cleared out for redevelopment, and it was rescued from being burned by the builders / demolition / whatever who actually burned 70 similar ones (???). The...

Did you make it? Steve Isis III <hr width=100% size=1>

I think you guys are making a lot of fuss about nothing. Mark your dipstick or your measuring pot as accurately as you can and get on with it! three of one to eight of the other is easy - use spoonfuls, ladles, jam pots, whatever. If you really want to be accurate use medical type syringes...

The only slight problem we had was that the mast wore through the padding where it was tied down to the pulpit rail. The mast now has a slight sore, not really very deep, but if it was near the spreaders or gooseneck or if it was deeper it might be a worry. Our padding was sponge and carpet...