Conwy Mob shake down cruise

[BruceK]

What a horrid weekend. I mean really shakedown cruises are supposed to be smug affairs when the only problem is the seal on the transom shower drips. Well covid put paid to maintenance and so the shake down cruise was more a suck it and see.

Friday started off with me rushing to put up the Cooney davits I bought off fleabay to support a new heavier dink. After getting 80% fibreglass rash up to my elbows they were finally up at HW and I could join the other 2 pirates heading out to sea. Only as soon as I started lifting the tender the wind handles on both started slipping on the shaft. That'll be my job next weekend then. Plumbers wrench and up the tender went. By the time we had bunkered we were two hours behind and set off into the early evening for Ynys Meibion in Caernarfon Bay. It was amazing to see Beaumarris, Port Dinorwic, Menai Bridge and Caernafon totally devoid of boats. It was like we were the only souls at sea.

Saturday we moved across to Llanddwyn

I had noticed just before entering into Ynys Meibion the previous night the alternator on the starboard engine had stopped sending tacho readings so on reaching Llanddwyn decided to have a look. The SC pulley had seized and resulted in destroying all belts except the water pumps. A quick change of all the belts and we could enjoy the day.

Now for some dink racing. This was the main event and I was going to knock the socks off all contenders but I lost miserably to an avon with a jockey seat of all things. I hit a wave went airborne and when I landed the tiller would snatch and wobble and the inevitable broach and slam dunk would happen. To say I was miffed and somewhat furious at this turn of events is an understatement. So that is the next project to pour money into.

 

[BruceK]

 

[BruceK]

On the way home the port engine raw water pump packed in, the alarm did not signal and the next minute we had plumes of smoke coming out the engine bay.
I pulled into the Abermenai anchorage and waved goodbye to my compatriots fearing I had an engine fire . Evacuated the family to the bow, dropped the tender and cautiously peered into the engine bay after 5 minutes of the smoke subsiding. Nothing. Everything looked normal, put the port engine was hot and had spat about 8 litres of coolant. I checked the exhaust bellows and they were fine considering they must have been what was chucking out all that smoke. Filled with fresh coolant and replaced the impeller and we were on our way again in half an hour. I was dreading head damage or similar and nursed the engines along until menai bridge and they were rock solid. So upped onto the plane and and changed underwear but they were rock solid. Gave it welly and they were rock solid. SO stayed at welly all the way home to punish them
Shakedown cruise passed. I'll change it's oil next weekend in case it burnt some

Cant wait for next weekend.

 

[Mr Googler]

Great pictures.....always eventful?

here to many more trip reports minus the drama’s!

 

[BruceK]

18 months non use (covid + winter) is bound to throw out a few gremlins. She was launched in perfect order but you know how it goes. Use or lose but how do you pre-empt what's already been done. I suspect there will be other dramas as I was not the only boat to have issues but that's their call to announce. Plus the raggie cruise had one boat completely gutted by fire. Boats need to be used constantly, they dont like sitting

 

[Seastoke]

Is that your grandad in the chair.

 

[paradave]

Looks amazing.
In hindsight would you have replaced impellers before the season it was it just one of those things?

 

[Bouba]

Great pictures of what looks like a great time. Gremlins are part and parcel I’m afraid.
Just a couple of points that worry me, the first is that one of the guys in the dinghies appears to have lost his head.....

 

[Bouba]

.....the other is that you appear to be talking to a yottie

 

[I’m no expert]

Yep I’m so looking forward to my run across Lyme Bay next week, not...

 

[BruceK]

ust a couple of points that worry me, the first is that one of the guys in the dinghies appears to have lost his head.....

Pirate games and dink racing. Heads go to the winner.

.the other is that you appear to be talking to a yottie

I believe that might have been to tell him to sod off .............................??

 

[oldgit]

Blimey that looks just like the " Med" but minus the expence and the day spent in airport lounges just to get there.
..................and of course it has not been 12 months since you last saw your boat either .

 

[BruceK]

Looks amazing.
In hindsight would you have replaced impellers before the season it was it just one of those things?

Oh you have no idea how easily one can deceive oneself. They were brand new when they went in. Have less than 3 hours on them (sum total of 2020 use) and you want to replace them. Hindsight is wonderfull. Just remember each belt is about 30 bucks and each pulley around 90 bucks. So a quick count of 7 belts and 4 pulleys and two impellors or so...... that'll be 700 quid in service parts for 3 hours use. Whoaaaaa son, just hang in there and suck it and see. Hindsight.

 

[BruceK]

Blimey that looks just like the " Med" but minus the expence and the day in airport lounges just to get there.
..................and of course it has not been 12 months since you last saw your boat either .

We are better than the Med. We have more letters to start with. Welsh Med, cleanest dirty secret there is.

 

[paradave]

Oh you have no idea how easily one can deceive oneself. They were brand new when they went in. Have less than 3 hours on them (sum total of 2020 use) and you want to replace them. Hindsight is wonderfull. Just remember each belt is about 30 bucks and each pulley around 90 bucks. So a quick count of 7 belts and 4 pulleys and two impellors or so...... that'll be 700 quid in service parts for 3 hours use. Whoaaaaa son, just hang in there and suck it and see. Hindsight.

Ouch! Hindsight is wonderful, I’m made some amazing observations in the past.

 

[savageseadog]

At least the OP's boat didn't burn down like the one that did, over the weekend.

 

[Bouba]

I believe that might have been to tell him to sod off .............................??

It’s quite possible that you know each other. Because he seems to be au fait with your boating skills. He has all his fenders out....

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Looks fab! Weather was a bit like that in the Solent yesterday.

 

[BruceK]

Looks fab! Weather was a bit like that in the Solent yesterday.

Not enrolling with the Welsh Mob was a mistake though. We'd have stolen 30 years off you ?

 

[Seastoke]

I was only there to observe social distance as a Boris Disciple.