Recent content by Trilogy

Thanks all for your thoughts. The mains earth does not appear to be connected to the negative side of the battery. On the engine (Volvo 2020) there is a yellow sticker with the earth symbol and a red line through it which I took to mean do not earth. Any thoughts ?

I've just installed a 1KW 240V immersion heater in my existing hot water tank. It's wired directly to the yachts original mains panel which has a dedicated water heater switch (It's a Westerly Ocean 33). I've tested the earth connection from the tank to the mains outlet...0.00 Ohms. The boat...

Experienced crew consisting of Yachtmaster Offshore (Commercial), Yachtmaster Offshore, Coastal Skipper and 2 x Day Skippers are seeking the right yacht to fulfil their ambition of crossing the Atlantic. As a boat owner myself (Westerly Ocean 33), the importance of care and consideration for...

Depends what you are looking for in your flotilla holiday. If you're after lots of socialising with other 'billies' you may be better off leaving it until late May. If you're really after the sailing and the opportunity to explore the area without tripping over loads of holidaymakers, then go in...

Thanks for your help. Exchanged emails with a very helpful man at Trimite. It is indeed a two pack lacquer but is sprayed on and apparently not safe for use outside the factory environment. They suggest using a standard satin varnish diluted with white spirit for DIY use. Nick

I ran a flotilla of yachts in the med for a year. All had Teleflex Morse controls which were generally very reliable. I only recall one problem when a drunken billy stepped on a handle and snapped it. You can download a full spec and fitting instructions from www.teleflexmorse.com I prefer...

Can anybody tell me what finish is applied to the teak veneer below decks on my Ocean 33 ? I guess it's some kind of lacquer ? Thanks Nick

We serviced our Volvo 2020 saildrive ourselves for the first time this year. Had a quick chat with a very helpful engineer at Peters in Chichester who advised filling the saildrive via the dipstick tube as it was a lot quicker. Worked fine with a small funnel and length of plastic tube. They...

I understand that the Ocean 33 was the last 33' yacht that Westerly produced (I've got Ocean 33 No 3). Mine does have a fractional rig (more like 15/16ths). I'm not too familiar with the Storm so can't make a comparison. If you've got any specific questions about the Ocean 33 please feel free...

Re: Question to Nick Correct. If you can find a fairly soft plastic bolt, the 'springiness' prevents it from rattling loose. Good luck Nick

I had the same problem with a flotilla of Jenneau yachts in Greece. In the case of the smaller boats, the gate was only about 10cm's above the boom and you only needed to open the gate to remove the sail. The quick fix was to drill a 3mm hole just above the gate and slide a stainless steel...

The scrubbing posts at Itchenor in Chichester Harbour are about 3 hours away from you. It cost me £12.50 for a day last year, and if you time things right, you can fit in a nice meal at the pub. Nick

Sounds like something round the prop to me. I had exactly the same experience a year ago. Luckily it was a bit warmer so I went swimming to have a look. There was nothing visible. If the engine seems OK now, I would just keep a vigilant eye on the oil (engine & gearbox) and any unusual...

It doesn't even need to be a digital meter. Even a cheap analogue volt meter will show polarity as long as your switch it to DC volts. Nick

Thanks Keith (and everyone else). Can you expand a bit about the plastic ball ? Where exactly should it be, and what does it do ? Thanks, Nick