Bassplayer
Well-Known Member
An Eventfull Week - Now with added pics and more rubbish
Off to the Thames last week. Boat all sorted apart from depth thing not talking to plotter. So a nice 20kts on Tues pm in the Estuary and suddenly the boat stops..... Ooops run aground on the sands near Grain. Check depth with boathook, top tech gear, and looks like about 1M or less. So, sit there for about an hour and off we go again. Again a nice 20kts and arrive at Imperial Wharf. Good place to stay is that. Grub/beer and to bed. Next day take folding bikes and have a cycle around Chelsea etc, damn good breakfast and sit in the park off New Kings Road.
Went to an Indian in Imperial Wharf which was Ok but expensive.
Thursday, a quiet trundle up river to Kew and turn around for home. Only got shouted at twice for something someone pointed at..... dunno, I was doing 5kts .
Those new high speed ferries are a bit scarey, no idea about anything except going v fast. Oh broke the VHF aerial under Hammersmith Bridge, always knew here was a reason for haaving it tilted back at an angle...
Once past Grenwich or so, the river was much quieter. Quite a relief - so different compared to my last visit 25 years ago. Off at 20kts and one engine stops. Odd, so have a quick play with it and all seemed OK.
Once into the Estuary, both engines stopped. Hmmm, not so good. Rather deep, so probably not enough chain to drop the hook. Had a bit of a play, radio up the CG and tell them what was ocurring. They were so pleasant and helpfull and stood by on CH67 while I tried to sort things out. Told SWMBO to keep a lookout (know my colregs,see) then there was a loud bang. She hadn't been looking to port and we drifted into a cardinal bouy! Red it was - still got the marks on the hull. Got me out of the engine room a bit quick. Swore at her and decided to have a go at dropping the hook, which worked in holding us.
Found a fuel blockage, pre Racor, which had caused both engines to draw on one tank, emptying it. cleared blockage, bled engines and we are running!
OK, let's pull up the hook. Funny, windlass running slow - oh we've snagged on a massive steel hawser. Drop hook a bit and try to motor free while SWMBO has a go at lifting it. Not successfull as she just leant on the footswitch and burnt out the motor. After much hauling up by hand, managed to free off the hook and go back to Gillingham. Cold beers etc.
Friday, she picked up her boy from his school trip (£650 for a week????). After usual checks, off to Ramsgate on Saturday. Great trip with no dramas and a good meal in the evening.
This morning sat drinking coffee and watched the Red Arrows flying over. Back to Gillingham at a more sedate pace - 15kts and 4mpg - superb trip. Got into the lock and the stbd engine died every time it was in gear. Increased the idle speed to no avail, so got a push/tow back to the berth - it is tight enough on 2 engines, but 1...... While we were struggling to tie up temporarily, somone shouted at me that I was going to drift into his boat. No can I help, or fend off with a boathook. Thanks a bunch - didn't get near it anyway.
Engine is knocking and very sick
Washed boat down and unloaded usual stuff. After all this, about an hour, started stbd engine again and it was misfiring and knocking. Classic blocked injector noise. Then it cleared. Better replace the injectors.
So, the final reckoning must be about £400 for fuel, £650 for new windlass, £350 for exchange injectors, mooring fees £100, VHF aerial £50, food £100, one (new) fender lost, and lost the Forum Burgee
etc.
Good things? The inverter worked well. The portable a/c was a boon when it was hot when moored up, the Garmin GPS750 is brill as is the Yeoman, winding up Watson1959 the other afternoon whilst moored, a/c on, and drinking beer (priceless!) Ramsgate has to be one of the best destinations too. Seeing David from East Farliegh boatyard for the first time in 25years at Ramsgate.
So I will try and sort it all this week so we can go out again at the weekend. Amazing how many boats never leave the marina and miss all these dramas!
Off to the Thames last week. Boat all sorted apart from depth thing not talking to plotter. So a nice 20kts on Tues pm in the Estuary and suddenly the boat stops..... Ooops run aground on the sands near Grain. Check depth with boathook, top tech gear, and looks like about 1M or less. So, sit there for about an hour and off we go again. Again a nice 20kts and arrive at Imperial Wharf. Good place to stay is that. Grub/beer and to bed. Next day take folding bikes and have a cycle around Chelsea etc, damn good breakfast and sit in the park off New Kings Road.
Went to an Indian in Imperial Wharf which was Ok but expensive.
Thursday, a quiet trundle up river to Kew and turn around for home. Only got shouted at twice for something someone pointed at..... dunno, I was doing 5kts .
Those new high speed ferries are a bit scarey, no idea about anything except going v fast. Oh broke the VHF aerial under Hammersmith Bridge, always knew here was a reason for haaving it tilted back at an angle...
Once past Grenwich or so, the river was much quieter. Quite a relief - so different compared to my last visit 25 years ago. Off at 20kts and one engine stops. Odd, so have a quick play with it and all seemed OK.
Once into the Estuary, both engines stopped. Hmmm, not so good. Rather deep, so probably not enough chain to drop the hook. Had a bit of a play, radio up the CG and tell them what was ocurring. They were so pleasant and helpfull and stood by on CH67 while I tried to sort things out. Told SWMBO to keep a lookout (know my colregs,see) then there was a loud bang. She hadn't been looking to port and we drifted into a cardinal bouy! Red it was - still got the marks on the hull. Got me out of the engine room a bit quick. Swore at her and decided to have a go at dropping the hook, which worked in holding us.
Found a fuel blockage, pre Racor, which had caused both engines to draw on one tank, emptying it. cleared blockage, bled engines and we are running!
OK, let's pull up the hook. Funny, windlass running slow - oh we've snagged on a massive steel hawser. Drop hook a bit and try to motor free while SWMBO has a go at lifting it. Not successfull as she just leant on the footswitch and burnt out the motor. After much hauling up by hand, managed to free off the hook and go back to Gillingham. Cold beers etc.
Friday, she picked up her boy from his school trip (£650 for a week????). After usual checks, off to Ramsgate on Saturday. Great trip with no dramas and a good meal in the evening.
This morning sat drinking coffee and watched the Red Arrows flying over. Back to Gillingham at a more sedate pace - 15kts and 4mpg - superb trip. Got into the lock and the stbd engine died every time it was in gear. Increased the idle speed to no avail, so got a push/tow back to the berth - it is tight enough on 2 engines, but 1...... While we were struggling to tie up temporarily, somone shouted at me that I was going to drift into his boat. No can I help, or fend off with a boathook. Thanks a bunch - didn't get near it anyway.
Engine is knocking and very sick
Washed boat down and unloaded usual stuff. After all this, about an hour, started stbd engine again and it was misfiring and knocking. Classic blocked injector noise. Then it cleared. Better replace the injectors.So, the final reckoning must be about £400 for fuel, £650 for new windlass, £350 for exchange injectors, mooring fees £100, VHF aerial £50, food £100, one (new) fender lost, and lost the Forum Burgee
etc.Good things? The inverter worked well. The portable a/c was a boon when it was hot when moored up, the Garmin GPS750 is brill as is the Yeoman, winding up Watson1959 the other afternoon whilst moored, a/c on, and drinking beer (priceless!) Ramsgate has to be one of the best destinations too. Seeing David from East Farliegh boatyard for the first time in 25years at Ramsgate.
So I will try and sort it all this week so we can go out again at the weekend. Amazing how many boats never leave the marina and miss all these dramas!
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