Hitch hiker in mid Channel despite heavy soot (pics)

[peterandjeanette]

Now I'm not one for picking up hitch hikers as a rule, but this one was an exception.

About half way across the Channel a couple of weeks ago I knew I was being followed - or rather dive bombed. This little chappie made several abortive approaches but mis calculated. Then he succeeded in "landing on", on my bathing platform at 25 kts.

He stayed with us for the next hour and half until we docked in Le Havre and only flew off when I jumped on to the bathing platform to attach a cross stern line.

I know my helming can be a bit erratic, but he certainly left evidence of how scared he was. It took quite a lot of hosing off. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

P.S. Note the amount of soot on port quarter. Not just light smoke covering but heavy soot. Air intake and fans all working ok in engine room, fuel dosed with Soltron. Any ideas? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[LittleShip]

We once had a finch that landed on the helmsman many years ago and stayed with him for about 20mins.......... cant find the picture though.

Little devil was knackered and without the boat being there would surly have dropped in the drink.

Cant help with the soot other than to say have you had the injectors checked?

Tom

 

[AIDY]

we had a hitch hiker last year on passage from weymouth to falmouth. he took residence under the canopy... as we were sailing one would of thought he could of flown quicker. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Wiggo]

We had a large mullet throw itself on the bathing platform once. As for the soot, it could just be crappy fuel. Fairy Power Spray is the mutt's nuts for cleaning it off with...

 

[peterandjeanette]

Hi Graham

You down on K this weekend? Drinkie time.

Soot appears every time despite various fuel suppliers. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

No jibes from SWMBO yet about picking up stray birds though. Result!

 

[Scaramoosh]

Suggestions for your soot problem

Dirty bottom - when did you last get her scrubbed?

Turbo pressure we had this last year with 1 turbo begining to stick on our Phantom 38 which has the same engines I guess as your 40 (Volvo TAMB36Ps). Also manifested itself as a lag on that engine during acceleration

Potential injector blockage

Fuel pump not working properly

Hope its the first the others are a bit expensive /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[peterandjeanette]

Thanks for suggestions.
Bottom scrubbed at Sealift in Cowes just before French trip so not that.

Engines only three years old. Have thought about injectors - but after only three years? Looks like major investigation this winter.

 

[Wiggo]

Yep, coming down tonight. Fastest way to check injectors is to point an IR thermometer at each cylinder in turn - a low reading indicates a cylinder not running properly, and possibly an injector problem (trick I learned from watching Col).

 

[peterandjeanette]

Can't get away from work till tomorrow night so coming down late. Will bring an IR thermometer that I have at work. Thanks for that tip.
Peter