jimh
New member
Firstly, all in all, had a fantastic weekend despite arriving into the medway on Saturday morning having had a smooth passage from Ipswich to be told by Chatham HM that they were full and had no visitor berths available !!! Q - is it normal to book visitors berths in advance ??
Luckily Gillingham marina were able to accomodate us - first negotiation with a lock went fine - slid up the metal cables no probs. Nice friendly mobo people in the marina - not so nice outside (IMO)!!
Sunday morning decided to top up the diesel, had about half a tank, for the trip up the Thames to London and back (decided against chancing on the availability of a berth in St. Kats) when a strange thing occurred - I couldn't get any diesel in !! Guy at Gillingham fuel berth was convinced I was full, when I knew that I wasn't. Decided to try refuelling in Chatham, more lock experience, straight into the lock when I arrived, only for the same thing to happen there! Really concerned now that I must have blocked breathers. I waited about half an hour to get out of Chatham (looks a lovely marina) and tagged behind a couple of raggies going out on free-flow, the guy on lock control certainly earned his crust that day !!! Only option now was to return to Ipswich, however remembered that it was Southend airshow, so motored to Leigh and anchored for the day near the pier - excellent view of the show.
Returned to Ipswich and yesterday morning found that the breather near the filling pipe was full of Diesel and remembered that when I last filled up, there was no automatic cut off on the hose and fuel shot everywhere - apparently including up the breather pipes. Poorly routed breather pipe with a 'U' bent had trapped fuel. - Great job blowing that through !!
Still can't wait for next weekend ........
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Luckily Gillingham marina were able to accomodate us - first negotiation with a lock went fine - slid up the metal cables no probs. Nice friendly mobo people in the marina - not so nice outside (IMO)!!
Sunday morning decided to top up the diesel, had about half a tank, for the trip up the Thames to London and back (decided against chancing on the availability of a berth in St. Kats) when a strange thing occurred - I couldn't get any diesel in !! Guy at Gillingham fuel berth was convinced I was full, when I knew that I wasn't. Decided to try refuelling in Chatham, more lock experience, straight into the lock when I arrived, only for the same thing to happen there! Really concerned now that I must have blocked breathers. I waited about half an hour to get out of Chatham (looks a lovely marina) and tagged behind a couple of raggies going out on free-flow, the guy on lock control certainly earned his crust that day !!! Only option now was to return to Ipswich, however remembered that it was Southend airshow, so motored to Leigh and anchored for the day near the pier - excellent view of the show.
Returned to Ipswich and yesterday morning found that the breather near the filling pipe was full of Diesel and remembered that when I last filled up, there was no automatic cut off on the hose and fuel shot everywhere - apparently including up the breather pipes. Poorly routed breather pipe with a 'U' bent had trapped fuel. - Great job blowing that through !!
Still can't wait for next weekend ........
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