Sgeir
Well-Known Member
Hmm, right now, we should be sailing up towards the Sound of Luing on the last leg of our passage to our summer mooring at Loch Linnhe. But it was not to be.
We'd had a pleasant passage to Sanda, followed by an evening stroll to the lighthouse and a couple of drinks at the Byron Darnton, and on board a very nice Hallberg Rassy anchored beside us. On being shown their engine room, it came as a bit of a shock to me that there was no leaking oil or diesel; how very different to the afloat life of the Sgeirs.
Anyway, next afternoon, we were due to catch the tide for Rathlin, where we were supposed to be meeting up with a Forumite of this Parish. Having had the offer of space in our forepeak, Mr and Mrs LongJohnSadler, for it wuz they, wisely decided to bring a tent for the occasion. Just as well, for on starting our engine prior to lifting the anchor, there was a horrible grinding noise, as the prop shaft parted company with a connector coupling in the middle of the shaft.
Now, hardier souls would have carried on regardless, but this was a bit of setback for we wimps who already know the charms of Slough na Morra. Instead of going to the pub that evening, I decided to stay onboard and sulk, thereby missing an impromptu pub performance by a Glasgow band which I believe is called Silver sumfin who were on their hols in the island's bunkhouse. Apparently they're gonnae be the next big thing.
With an overnight stop at Lamlash, we ended up sailing back to Ardrossan where the engineer expressed surprise at seeing we had a Parsons gearbox - not sure if that was a good thing or not. Anyway, we bit the bullet and decided that we might as well go whole hog and get a quote for a new Beta engine.
So, when the new engine is fitted, is it normal to also fit some mood lighting and a perspex engine box to show off our new engine and, hopefully, oil-free bilges?
We'd had a pleasant passage to Sanda, followed by an evening stroll to the lighthouse and a couple of drinks at the Byron Darnton, and on board a very nice Hallberg Rassy anchored beside us. On being shown their engine room, it came as a bit of a shock to me that there was no leaking oil or diesel; how very different to the afloat life of the Sgeirs.
Anyway, next afternoon, we were due to catch the tide for Rathlin, where we were supposed to be meeting up with a Forumite of this Parish. Having had the offer of space in our forepeak, Mr and Mrs LongJohnSadler, for it wuz they, wisely decided to bring a tent for the occasion. Just as well, for on starting our engine prior to lifting the anchor, there was a horrible grinding noise, as the prop shaft parted company with a connector coupling in the middle of the shaft.
Now, hardier souls would have carried on regardless, but this was a bit of setback for we wimps who already know the charms of Slough na Morra. Instead of going to the pub that evening, I decided to stay onboard and sulk, thereby missing an impromptu pub performance by a Glasgow band which I believe is called Silver sumfin who were on their hols in the island's bunkhouse. Apparently they're gonnae be the next big thing.
With an overnight stop at Lamlash, we ended up sailing back to Ardrossan where the engineer expressed surprise at seeing we had a Parsons gearbox - not sure if that was a good thing or not. Anyway, we bit the bullet and decided that we might as well go whole hog and get a quote for a new Beta engine.
So, when the new engine is fitted, is it normal to also fit some mood lighting and a perspex engine box to show off our new engine and, hopefully, oil-free bilges?
