Back to the UK for a winter refit

[jimmy_the_builder]

It looks like it'll be easy to identify whether it's the extended exhaust fitted to the boat as the hose clamp is in a different location

Extended

Standard

It all seems to obvious for this not to be the problem

I'm pretty sure it's the standard horn that has been installed, from the photos I've got here it does look like the fitting for the hose clip is below the horn, not above it. I will double check and take a pic next time I am on the boat (possibly tomorrow, else Friday for sure).

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Wow what a great present! Puts the bunch of miserable flowers you got her from Tesco to shame, eh?

What's wrong with gas station flowers then?

 

[KevB]

I'm pretty sure it's the standard horn that has been installed, from the photos I've got here it does look like the fitting for the hose clip is below the horn, not above it. I will double check and take a pic next time I am on the boat (possibly tomorrow, else Friday for sure).

if the p clamp on the hose in your picture is installed as in the diagrams then I'd say it's the extended. The standard hose would run low on the exhaust where yours seems to be high.

 

[Nick_H]

What's wrong with gas station flowers then?

Main problem is they wilt on the long trip from the US. They usually go straight in the trash.

 

[vas]

awesome birthday present

you are sad mr

sorry cannot help with the mess of horns, risers, rubbers et al, way too confusing!
shafts on next boat?

V.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Especially for Kev 'you wouldn't let it lie' B

Hose fitting clearly under the pipe. However, with a bit of processing you can see the part number on the casting quite clearly:

The part number I was expecting to see here was 21114146 - and to me this does look like 21114149, which doesn't show up on marinepartseurope. I'll ask RK about this on Tuesday.

Separately, here's another shot showing what a great job the boys from Marine Valeting Services did getting the old antifoul off:

And finally ... we did a test fit on the pods this afternoon. I'm really pleased. Forgive the general grubbiness, it's been raining and treading mud from the yard onto the platform is unavoidable (another good reason to wait until the boat is back in the water before fitting the teak):

 

[rafiki_]

Jimmy, the hull looks superb, as does the platform. Great stuff!

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Jimmy, the hull looks superb, as does the platform. Great stuff!

What are you saying, you don't like my exhaust horns?

 

[rafiki_]

What are you saying, you don't like my exhaust horns?

Ooooooooeeeeeerrrrrrr missus

 

[Illusion]

J

That hull looks superb matey, great job!

P

 

[MrB]

J

That hull looks superb matey, great job!

P

+1 :encouragement:

 

[P4Paul]

+1 :encouragement:

+1.

May pop across Sunday on another mission if you are around for a beer.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

As ever, the last couple of days have been two steps forward, one step back.

On the horns/riser issue, Volvo GB have now agreed to supply two new-design risers, and these arrived today. The compromise is that these new-style risers in turn require new hoses, and I have agreed to pay for these. RK are supplying these at cost. So all in all, a fair settlement imho.

However ... while the port riser is all fitted and done, the starboard riser physically will not fit in the engine compartment. The outboard side of the starboard engine is under the companionway, and there just isn't enough space for the riser to mate to the turbo without hitting the grp moulding of the companionway step. We only discovered this late this afternoon, and right at this moment we don't have a resolution.

The inevitable consequence of this is that we're not able to relaunch this week. Next opportunity is Thursday of next week.

In other news, the pods were fitted today. This is great progress. There's still some final cosmetics to do, but the end is in side for the grp work.

The aft part of the pod is bolted to the main platform moulding - but the forward part is just bonded to the hull with sikaflex.

And here's the fitted pod. That prop is just in place for 24 hours to help support the pod while the sika goes off.

Topsides have been polished and the hull now has primer + 2 coats of Micron 77, all done by Vince at Shoreline Boats. Trilux on the drives tomorrow or Saturday.

And finally, I've started the electronics installation. It has taken, I am not kidding, three days and a *lot* of headscratching to get the new fat digital radar cable from the helm to the top of the radar arch. Nightmare. I could be dull and tell you all about it but honestly, it's dull. The cable's just a bit too big, and the conduit a bit too small. Still, we got there in the end.

 

[Greg2]

The pods look great, you must be pleased with them
The starboard riser sounds like a real problem. Any thoughts on potential solutions? Is it possible to modify the riser or the step?

 

[Whitelighter]

The pods look amazing Jimmy - really you would never know this wasn't how Vega left the factory.

Bummer about the riser. Id like to say I cant believe VP make it this difficult - but I can!

 

[longjohnsilver]

J

That hull looks superb matey, great job!

P

Absolutely amazing. Great decision to use MV rather than the other blasting company.

 

[DAW]

+1 for can't believe the situation with the exhaust risers, or the pries quoted by VP.

We replaced elbows, risers and sprayheads on two VP D12-715s last year (basically everything from the turbo outlet to the GRP tunnel) on both engines and were advised by the local VP engineer to remanufacture from scratch using a S/S fabricator rather than try to buy components. Apparently specifications, fittings and even in some cases exact location of engines evolve over the life cycle of the boat (due to changes by both VP and boat manufacturer) and he had experienced problems fitting off-the-shelf parts in the past.

Our boat is in Beaulieu in SoF, but the original parts were shipped back to the UK to Manuflex (OEM supplier to Sunseeker) to have direct copies/replacements made. If I remember correctly, the total cost for both engines including shipping in both directions and fitting locally was just below £2.5K.

I have to admit I wasn't sure about the approach but with hindsight can't praise Manuflex or local VP guy enough for the helpful advice, service and general responsiveness. The whole process from dismantling to manufacture to reinstallation was completed at the end of the season within about three weeks and the new parts fit perfectly first time - we didn't even have to adjust any of the mountings or supports.

Sorry to hear about your problems and good luck resolving your issues.

 

[Pinnacle]

Vega is certainly beginning to look fantastic. I dont know how you are going to solve the riser space issue......but I sincerely hope you do!

J

The winter has turned into a marathon for you. Extending the platform and new pods, new teak on extended platform, complete engine out/drives off fettle and re-install, antifoul removal prime and new antifoul, electronics replacement/upgrade, new cushion fabrics, hull polish and wax.....and not forgetting transport to/from SoF.......have I missed anything? I hesitate to raise this.........but is there a little part of you deep inside that wishes you had sold her last autumn?

Anyway, much respect for all you have achieved and best wishes for resolution of the outstanding issues.

 

[benjenbav]

I can't believe the riser spacing issue. What a complete PITA. Good luck with finding a solution.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

The pods look great, you must be pleased with them
The starboard riser sounds like a real problem. Any thoughts on potential solutions? Is it possible to modify the riser or the step?

The pods look amazing Jimmy - really you would never know this wasn't how Vega left the factory.

Bummer about the riser. Id like to say I cant believe VP make it this difficult - but I can!

In fairness to Volvo, this isn't really about the riser per se, it's about the installation. This would be easier to explain with photos (which I haven't got, sorry) - but I think the way ahead here is to offer the riser up without the thermal jacket removed, and see how far out we are. That dimension will then inform the solution, which inevitably can only be to either alter the riser, or alter the grp.