Doing our first night aboard on Saturday

Murv

Murv

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The boat is being lifted out early next week so that the outdrive can be (hopefully) sorted out.
Need to move the boat over a bit in line with the slipway on Sunday so that she's ready.
High tide is around 8am so I'm aiming to do it then over slack water as I'm slightly less likely to clump anything during the 20 yard "journey."

Anyway, the early Sunday start gives the perfect excuse to go down Saturday evening and do out first overnighter.

OK, I know it's a bit of a non-event but, dammit, I'm excited :D
 
Murv said:
The boat is being lifted out early next week so that the outdrive can be (hopefully) sorted out.
Need to move the boat over a bit in line with the slipway on Sunday so that she's ready.
High tide is around 8am so I'm aiming to do it then over slack water as I'm slightly less likely to clump anything during the 20 yard "journey."

Anyway, the early Sunday start gives the perfect excuse to go down Saturday evening and do out first overnighter.

OK, I know it's a bit of a non-event but, dammit, I'm excited :D
Click to expand...


It would be impossible for your boat to be less insulated / heated than mine. Regardless, take more clothes than you think you'll need. Better to carry a bit too much stuff than spoil that first night by being cold.

Enjoy!
 
Murv said:
The boat is being lifted out early next week so that the outdrive can be (hopefully) sorted out.
Need to move the boat over a bit in line with the slipway on Sunday so that she's ready.
High tide is around 8am so I'm aiming to do it then over slack water as I'm slightly less likely to clump anything during the 20 yard "journey."

Anyway, the early Sunday start gives the perfect excuse to go down Saturday evening and do out first overnighter.

OK, I know it's a bit of a non-event but, dammit, I'm excited :D
Click to expand...

Of course it isn't a non-event - I still look back with fond memories to our first night aboard. Admittedly, I came away with a stiff neck and a sore throat, but it was still fantastic!
 
Thanks you all :D

We're taking plenty of warm clothing and bedding, as reasonably seasoned caravan campers we're under no illusion as to just how cold it will be.
Going to pick up a small oil filled radiator today and we're also lucky enough to have eberspacher on the boat so it should be nice and snug.
There will certainly be a little bottle of something to christen the boat with!
 
Murv said:
Thanks you all :D

We're taking plenty of warm clothing and bedding, as reasonably seasoned caravan campers we're under no illusion as to just how cold it will be.
Going to pick up a small oil filled radiator today and we're also lucky enough to have eberspacher on the boat so it should be nice and snug.
There will certainly be a little bottle of something to christen the boat with!
Click to expand...

Don't forget or neglect the domestic batteries if you're gonna run the Eber through the night ;).
 
been there done that ............

Rulethefirst. Do not expect that Eber to work ! The horrid things demand a least 13 volts to start and if it is cold the batts may not supply that after a bit of use.
Running the engine to get the volts up may not be possible cos it is out the water.
Rulethesecond. Get a fan heater. It will distribute the heat to all corners of the cabin much better and great deal faster than a radiator panel type thing.
Thurdrule. You will need a least 3 miles of extention lead for shorepower and make sure you have a few spare 13amp fuses.
Forth. You WILL need a decent torch.
Ps the temps will be on the way down again next week

Why does the outdrive...."need sorting" ?
 
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Batteries aren't too much of a concern to be honest, if we do flatten them I'll get them charged up whilst she's out.

Thanks Fred, I will take our little fan heater down too, incidentally the erber does work very nicely, it's one of the few things that does!
Sadly there's a fault on the outdrive.
I don't think we could've done more to check it, it was recently serviced and we paid an engineer to check the boat over and sea trial it but we've still been stung.
During the sea trial the leg kicked up twice in reverse. I had no idea what that meant but the engineer said it was a bad thing.
The owner claimed it had never done it before and the locking catch must have some crud in it.
Back at the mooring the engineer engaged reverse and gunned it three times and it didn't lift once so declared it OK.

Fast forward to us moving her out from RCC and, of course, the leg kicks up every time.
Tried all we could. kept throttling it hard in forward etc but it just won't engage properly and breaks free every time it's backed up.

So, given that there are a few inconsistencies in the vendors story, and after chatting to a very lovely couple at RCC who coincidentally were the parents of the owner who sold it to the guy before us, it would appear that she's probably been neglected.
With that in mind, the only course of action I can see is to get her out of the water and check the drive thoroughly and re-service it if there are any doubts.
It's a real nuisance, we've blown our budget getting the best boat we could so things will be very tight getting her sorted out.
Still, live and learn!
 
Yes there are, a cranking battery and a leisure.
Not sure of capacity yet but with the radiator and fan heater, I don't think we'll need to trouble the erberspacher
 
I'm sure we all told you about Outdrives several times each....:rolleyes:

NOTE: Fan Heater.....make sure it has a tip switch, and overheat cut-out, or be VERY careful to position it so it won't fall over or get accidentally smothered by somebody opening a door on it, or whatever......

Oil or radiant heaters are safer and silent....
 
No Regrets said:
I'm sure we all told you about Outdrives several times each....:rolleyes:

NOTE: Fan Heater.....make sure it has a tip switch, and overheat cut-out, or be VERY careful to position it so it won't fall over or get accidentally smothered by somebody opening a door on it, or whatever......

Oil or radiant heaters are safer and silent....
Click to expand...

I think someone did mention something about outdrives... ;)
Trouble is, some people hate them, others like them and accept the increased maintenance costs that come with more maneuverability.
We didn't find a suitable shaft drive that was diesel powered so a well maintained outdrive seemed acceptable.
Still, at least we're learning by bitter experience.

Thanks for the tip re the heater, I'm not aware that it has a cut-out but it will be put somewhere safe.
Hopefully the radiator will do the job anyway.
 
The cheap and simple fix.There is a very basic latching assembly which keeps the leg down in reverse but allows it to release if you hit anything going foreward.
An assembly of springs and stainless steel gubbins which can very easily become gooed up with barneycules,weed and other rivery junk.This can sometimes stop the thing working and all it may need is a blinking good clean and lashings of grease.
If it is the one think it is,all the springs and bits are available as kit if needed.,(Volspec will do you a good price)half of which you dont need of course.
On one of my outdrives a tiny 50mm stainless spring had fallen off stopping the thing from locking up.
As it is working intermittantly good chance just clagged up.Let us know what is going on !
http://www.google.com/search?source...59fa2542e8fd68&bpcl=39650382&biw=1366&bih=556
 
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That's reassuring, thank you.
From all the reading I've done, it does seem quite likely it is just that so fingers crossed!

EDIT: Thanks for the link!
 
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The outdrive problem with reverse will be crud on the mechanism or the pin that is pressed down when you engage the lift motor for the leg, you can see it easily when out of the water, needs adjusting. Check your reading material for how, very easy. Before you put it back in the water, check the bellows on the drive shaft, top one, if the leg came right up it may have been damaged by the universal joint inside it. these tasks are easy d i y. Good luck with her, she sounds like a good deal, hope you have loads of fun with her.
 
:):)

wishing you the best of luck with your First Night afloat in your new boat :)

is it at Grove Ferry or Rochester or WHY ???

anyways, you might consider adding Boating to your registered interests ??? ho ho ho :o
 
Enjoy your first night aboard, it will be special! :)

I am spending a couple of nights on board I have a 500W oil radiator,a fan heater and a heated under blanket (best investment ever) all nice and cosy here. New puppys first night on the boat he is loving it.

Did I mention I have an outdrive :D
 
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