Fletcher 19gts

I wasn't aware of that, I hope this doesn't mean you'll be boatless - or not for long, at least.
Anyway, all the best for finding a good new home for her! :encouragement:
 
MapisM said:
I wasn't aware of that, I hope this doesn't mean you'll be boatless - or not for long, at least.
Anyway, all the best for finding a good new home for her! :encouragement:
Click to expand...

Don't worry! We already have the replacement... only the view from the new boat's cockpit is somewhat different!! :)

12950250_856972587782490_1699953797_n.jpg

But I'll certainly miss Spirit when she's gone.

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Aha, I see, you moved from (or to? I never really understood that...) the dark side!
All the best for the new experience, and rest assured that you'll be always welcome to post also around here.
...not to mention for putting us straight re. batteries matters! :encouragement:
 
The irony is that after 4 years of owning the fletcher, my first ever motorboat, I never had one engine problem with her. Within 2 months of owning my sailboat, the keel had a problem, and now the engine has just basically blown up and is looking to be beyond economical repair!!

But yes - missing the Fletch already and we haven't even solder her yet!
 
Ouch, sorry to hear that.
It could be that most motor boaters love their engines, whereas most sailboat owners hate theirs, and neglected engines rarely do as well as their more cherished cousins.
 
But wasn't the engine in the sail boat brand new.

Go on Anna go out in the Fletcher for a day and get the wind in your hair

Dennis
 
Bigplumbs said:
But wasn't the engine in the sail boat brand new.

Go on Anna go out in the Fletcher for a day and get the wind in your hair

Dennis
Click to expand...

If only! It's an early 80's BMW D7 (6hp...think that's called a bow thruster around here!) that's presently putting out 0hp due to the injection pump actuator. Spent £200 on a new pump to find out its the bit in the engine that pushes/pulls the pump that only pushes now. It's a rare engine and the pump was hard enough to find. This internal part is going to be basically impossible to find, so it's going to be a new engine.

So much for a free boat! The keel already cost me £800 including lifts of the boat etc. As the lift point had rusted through and I decided to do a proper job with new stainless keel rather than repairing the mild steel one and suffering the same problem next year.

A new engine is just not viable given the value of the boat so she may be parting company soon making me bootless :(with a 3 grand marina space sitting empty!

Keeping the fletcher can't happen though... We want to sail even if it kills us (which is looking like an increasingly real risk!)

Saying that though... We took spirit out the other night just to make sure everything was OK. A 5 minutes run up the river turned into 2 hours of playtime in Southampton water. We only turned back because the fuel was a bit low. I'm not ashamed to say either, I cried a bit on the drive home knowing she won't be ours for much longer!
 
Don't cry Anna just keep her. Put her on the berth you have at the moment and make some use of her for part of the season at least. I feel like crying at the thought of you selling her and I hardly know you or the boat. Just a big softy that's me.

Dennis
 
The previous owner (this was a certain project boat from a certain boating magazine) actually put an outboard bracket on her with a view using an outboard instead of having to find a suitable replacement engine. I think the had a tough time handling her in marinas which caused them to think again and spend weeks fitting the BMW beast that's in her now. Probably not a problem for an experienced boar handler, but an experienced boat handler I ain't! I've a feeling an outboard with me on the tiller(s) could end in more cost and possibly an insurance company or two!
 
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