Malabarista
Well-Known Member
Yes Stingo, I got that, I was just blagging some bragging rights on a tenuous excuse. Oldbilbo obviously has taste ?
Excited and happy ( but a little bit scared)
- Thread starter Malabarista
- Start date
Yes Stingo, I got that, I was just blagging some bragging rights on a tenuous excuse. Oldbilbo obviously has taste ?
oldbilbo
...
Who was it said, when accused of winning through luck, "Odd, that. The more I practice, the luckier I get...."
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
I do believe that was Gary Player.Who was it said, when accused of winning through luck, "Odd, that. The more I practice, the luckier I get...."
Malabarista
Well-Known Member
Oh dear. Our maiden voyage was not a complete success. Firstly we had problems with the morse type controller which wouldn't go into neutral. After much faffing we disconnected it and just used the lever on the gearbox to get us out of the river and on our way. One stamp on the cockpit floor for forward and two stamps for reverse!!
We left at 2000 due to tide/work commitments and with two yachtmasters with thousands of miles between them we were feeling confident. She gave us a cracking sail down to Brighton with 9 knots plus without feeling overpowered until around midnight when i had just turned in to kip. The onwatch partnership of my wife and Will sailed up to the edge of the new, uncharted wind farm currently under construction and as the tide was pulling towards the large towers they decided to start the engine to assist a rapid withdrawal. Upon engaging forward gear there was a nasty graunching and the result was an inability to engage forward gear. We continued down to eastbourne where we discovered that although the surveyor had told us that the battery charging system was working ( at the alternator) we had failed to realise that the PO had disconnected the entire charging system from there onwards. So with no instruments and no engine we decided to sail into the outer harbour at Eastbourne marina and look for a tow into the lock to effect repairs. The marina office were deeply against this idea and called out the lifeboat ( AGAIN!!!) to tow us from the entrance and in through the lock. Ros reckons BC just loves guys in yellow. I felt very stupid as no way were we in any danger. So we are currently in the premier at an enormous daily rate of parking. I fixed the charging system yesterday and attempted to take the gear box off but with an astounding lack of success. Still i reckon i may have taught the neighbouring boats some interesting Spanish ?
I gave up after realising that the last two bellhousing nuts necessitate an extra joint in my wrist to undo and i was very worried about my makeshift lashing on the propshaft just sliding off imagining the prop disappearing and the boat sinking at the pontoon. I am currently phoning around eastbourne to find an engineer who will have a prehensile forearm and a device to stop the prop.
Well you guys did warn me…
We left at 2000 due to tide/work commitments and with two yachtmasters with thousands of miles between them we were feeling confident. She gave us a cracking sail down to Brighton with 9 knots plus without feeling overpowered until around midnight when i had just turned in to kip. The onwatch partnership of my wife and Will sailed up to the edge of the new, uncharted wind farm currently under construction and as the tide was pulling towards the large towers they decided to start the engine to assist a rapid withdrawal. Upon engaging forward gear there was a nasty graunching and the result was an inability to engage forward gear. We continued down to eastbourne where we discovered that although the surveyor had told us that the battery charging system was working ( at the alternator) we had failed to realise that the PO had disconnected the entire charging system from there onwards. So with no instruments and no engine we decided to sail into the outer harbour at Eastbourne marina and look for a tow into the lock to effect repairs. The marina office were deeply against this idea and called out the lifeboat ( AGAIN!!!) to tow us from the entrance and in through the lock. Ros reckons BC just loves guys in yellow. I felt very stupid as no way were we in any danger. So we are currently in the premier at an enormous daily rate of parking. I fixed the charging system yesterday and attempted to take the gear box off but with an astounding lack of success. Still i reckon i may have taught the neighbouring boats some interesting Spanish ?
I gave up after realising that the last two bellhousing nuts necessitate an extra joint in my wrist to undo and i was very worried about my makeshift lashing on the propshaft just sliding off imagining the prop disappearing and the boat sinking at the pontoon. I am currently phoning around eastbourne to find an engineer who will have a prehensile forearm and a device to stop the prop.
Well you guys did warn me…
RichardS
N/A
Why on earth would the previous owner disconnect the charging system? There must be more to it than that. Keep a very close eye on what is happening with the charging once you get the engine re-started and test it throroughly at the battery for an hour or two before setting off on any long trips.
Richard
Richard
Malabarista
Well-Known Member
Hi Richard
Thanks for the advice. I have reconnected the cables to the alternator which were removed and not reinstalled when the engine was replaced. As soon as we get her to Rye we intend getting a marine electrician to go through her thoroughly and give us a list of recommendations. We have just arranged for an engineer to meet us at the boat tomorrow morning and have a look at the gearbox. I'm a bit lacking in the necessary tools and/or knowledge to check out the gearbox the way it needs.
Regards
Thanks for the advice. I have reconnected the cables to the alternator which were removed and not reinstalled when the engine was replaced. As soon as we get her to Rye we intend getting a marine electrician to go through her thoroughly and give us a list of recommendations. We have just arranged for an engineer to meet us at the boat tomorrow morning and have a look at the gearbox. I'm a bit lacking in the necessary tools and/or knowledge to check out the gearbox the way it needs.
Regards
pvb
Well-Known Member
Was the charge light on when the engine was running? Before you set off anywhere, you need to ensure that the alternator diodes weren't damaged by running the engine without the wiring properly attached.
Biggles Wader
Well-Known Member
As suspected that engine installation is proving to be the main issue.However,Im sure it can be sorted out and the boat will prove to be everything she should be.
Otter
Well-Known Member
I know you're very experienced but don't be shy of saying enough is enough and hoiking her out and going by road, it's not a sign of failure, just chalk it up to new boat costs. Still you're nearly there and hopefully the gearbox is an easy fix.
Malabarista
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately we don't have a charging light. We have volts and amps meters galore. I'm afraid we were a little keen to go and neglected to check they were working properly
and just assumed ( yes i know it) that they had been checked at the survey. Still lots to learn about all the stuff that Skippers do behind the scenes.
Malabarista
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the heads up we are experienced in blue water crewing ( basically lying down) ? and we are learning all the things that Skippers do when we were sleeping and cleaning stuff ?
oldbilbo
...
"Now that's a bgr!" and I'm sure there was more.
Sounds to me like a good decision, Eastbourne, despite the harbour folk over-reacting. And you don't have all that far to go, to Rye and 'home'. Something like 22 n'miles?
So, given the gearbox selection problem is fixed and you can rely on selecting the 'Go' and 'Not Go' bits, that's less than a tide. And you only need to get as far as the 'V' at the Admiralty Jetty, about a mile inside. And the forecast weather seems benign.... ( he says ! )
That suggests you'll manage in daylight, with plenty of light and tide to spare.
From your previous posts, you have plenty of capability on the boat.....
Get some sleep, have a good long think, and get her home safely. We're on your side...
Sounds to me like a good decision, Eastbourne, despite the harbour folk over-reacting. And you don't have all that far to go, to Rye and 'home'. Something like 22 n'miles?
So, given the gearbox selection problem is fixed and you can rely on selecting the 'Go' and 'Not Go' bits, that's less than a tide. And you only need to get as far as the 'V' at the Admiralty Jetty, about a mile inside. And the forecast weather seems benign.... ( he says ! )
That suggests you'll manage in daylight, with plenty of light and tide to spare.
From your previous posts, you have plenty of capability on the boat.....
Get some sleep, have a good long think, and get her home safely. We're on your side...
PhillM
Well-Known Member
Malabarista
Well-Known Member
Many thanks for the kind words. It really helps to know you guys are out there in digital land.
She sails beautifully which after all is the whole point.
As i remarked to Ros this morning whilst sweating to remove the gearbox
( with a mechanic this time) we are slowly taking her down in the van a piece at a time! The money spent on the fitter was definately worth it as he also picked up some other faults such as the emulsified gearbox oil and the missing oil cooler.
I am a bit of a duffer regarding engines but marginally less of one after a good 'show and tell' session with him.
The hopeful plan is to be back on the water for Friday week and on the hard by Sunday to sort the seacocks.
pvb
Well-Known Member
Didn't the surveyor look at the engine?
Malabarista
Well-Known Member
Hi
Yes indeed he did but failed to spot the lack of engine charge leads. He tested the alternator and told us it was putting out a good charge. But it wasn't connected!
He spotted the separator missing but Kerry ( the engineer) told me how to fit a new one and where to put the inline fuel stop. He also ran through the engine ( briefly) and told me how to change the impellor,fuel filter, raw water filter etc etc. Well worth the money ( I'm a mechanical numpty) for me. He wanted to send the gearbox away for repair but i dropped it off at our friendly boatyard in Rye who will be able to ( hopefully) repair it on Thursday. General consensus is a clutch pack shim or replacement.
Kerry is very switched on and although expensive he is patient with my questions and willing to rxplain so that in future i can do some of these tasks myself. He also made a list of recommendations to improve the overall systems AND told me how he would do them. This to me is invaluable. I think ( possibly in my ignorance) that the surveyor did a good job too. He was not a marine engineer/ electrician but he too gave a list of recommendations. In fact i am almost fully job listed for the next 25 years or until i die of exhaustion ?
oldbilbo
...
That's a busy post, but the mood is upbeat. And that's good, IMHO.
'She sails beautifully'..... It gets better from here on....
'She sails beautifully'..... It gets better from here on....
Malabarista
Well-Known Member
Mr Baggins
How right you are. Not sure of the etiquette. Should i stop now ??
Shutting me up is usually only achieved with alcohol. But i'm willing to make an exception.
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
To stop a shaft falling out just buy an ordinary two piece shaft anode and clamp it on ahead of the stuffing box.
Champagne Murphy
Well-Known Member
A hose clip is easier and cheaper.
And Malabarista, no detail is too small, your scribblings are enjoyed cos we all like finding out how to sort a problem without the risk of being there!