Hypochondriac boats or skippers

[BlueSkyNick]

Is it my imagination, or do some people think there is always something wrong with their boats, even if they are quite new ??

Examples I have heard are
- the autohelm seems to be broken because the boat keeps going round in circles
- the GPS isn't working properly, ending up with damaged cables etc
- the steering is twitchy so the boat is coming out for rudder inspection (today!)
- needed replacement sails, one of which was cut too long

I am not convinced these are all real issues, and they are just perceived by skipper - who happens to be the same person in all cases.

Any others?

(PS Isn't it quiet on the forum when Jimi is not around?)

<hr width=100% size=1>I'm average size, Its just that everybody else is short.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by BIGNICK on 24/02/2004 13:43 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Dominic]

Excuses...

Just excuses to avoid having to sail or to put off that long trip....

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[tome]

Know what you mean Nick.

I had cause to meet one of these skippers recently ('GPS not working'). It was clear he'd sabotaged the connector, and not for the first time as I discovered another hidden in the chart table. Plus he'd put a magnet in his flare pack by the autopilot just in case I managed to get his GPS going!

The twitchy steering I can sympathise with - I've handled supermarket trollies which are easier to steer in a straight line.

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[TwoStroke]

Some recent examples too:

Are the new batteries holding their charge?
Is there an oil leak, I'm sure I saw oil in the bottom of the bilge?
New bilge pump, can't hear it, is it working?
New blower, can't hear it, is it working?
New transducer fitted to stern on outside, has it been ripped off like the last one, or the holes drilled are letting in water?

Goes on and on... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[Mirelle]

OAP\'s are made of sterner stuff

(the boat, not the owner, is 67!)

Haven't got an autohelm, or an electric bilge pump. Not a lot can go wrong with a steering sytem consisting of an ash tiller connected to a teak rudder stock via a bloody great galvanised iron strap and three bolts. Well, you could bust the rudder, I suppose, but the feel is more "Landrover in mud" than "Lotus on B road".

The echosounder repeater in the cockpit doesn't work; has never worked, in fact, but the leadline is fine.

The engine is now 37 years old; it barely pulls the skin off a rice pudding but we are going for the record and intend to keep it till its 40 whilst we save up for the one we really want.

The compass developed some very peculiar ideas when the idiot owner fitted a one inch iron bar (gear lever - don't ask!) underneath it but nothing the compass adjuster could not cure.

The sheet winches are handed back to front. I must get round to putting the pawls in the right way round this year(!)

er, that's it.

The Yoof of Today aren't up to it!

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[Aja]

Fitted a new engine myself 4 years ago. I have never got out of the habit of every half hour opening the inspection hatch to have a look to see if anything is going to fall off/shred/explode.

So far the thing just sits there and purrs....

Donald

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[jimi]

Right £162 and half an hour later .. all becomes clear .. the source is revelealed .. the bottom bearing (the teflon bit) on the rudder has fallen apart. rudder wobbles 3+ inches at the bottom .. bugger!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[tome]

Better to discover it at home than halfway across somewhere...

I'd be interested to hear how she steers with this fixed as I found her a bit of a handful last year and wonder if it's been on it's way for some time? Hope it doesn't take too long to fix.

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[jimi]

My suspicion is that it started going round about Aug/Sept and I put it down to crap on the rudder. There are two other Beneteaus (another 331 and a first) on the hard at Hythe wth their rudders dropped, showing exactly the same problem!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[Aja]

Jimi

First 345 I race on has exactly the same problem. Havn't seen it yet - but it appears to be a cobbled together affair.

Best of luck

Donald

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[tome]

I recall you made mention of it on the way round.

A replacement plus a spare to keep on board? At least then you can get her slipped and fixed quickly if it happens again. On the bright side you've discovered an important point of inspection whenever she's dry...

Is it a DIY job or major dismantle?

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[jimi]

Well I'm hoping its a DIY, I've ordered the parts and I'll judge my incontinence when they & the instructions arrive.

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[Evadne]

I always assume the engine is going to go wrong, and sooner or later it proves me right. Usually about 6 months after the previous disaster was fixed, and I am just beginning to relax. We only really need it to get in and out of our creek and when visiting marinas or tricky harbours, i.e. at the start and end of every voyage, the sailing in the middle is fine (unless it goes flat calm).

Nothing else much goes wrong, most of the electrics is non functional anyway, but as long as you sail in daylight you don't actually need electrickery, except for starting the engine...

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[BlueSkyNick]

Glad you've found a real problem.

Stugeron Steve should be reading this too, but he has been conspicuous by his absence recently.

<hr width=100% size=1>I'm average size, Its just that everybody else is short.

 

[Peppermint]

Re: There are the other sort.

I'm all for a positive attitude but some skippers/owners are completely gung ho and open it up, turn it on and get going. They get over problems as they arise, or they founder. They're every bit as hard to sail with as the sort your on about.

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[BlueSkyNick]

Re: There are the other sort.

You're absolutely right, although my original post was a light-hearted jibe at the wee laddie. I should have put a couple of /forums/images/icons/smile.gif's on really!



<hr width=100% size=1>I'm average size, Its just that everybody else is short.

 

[robp]

Has it shipped any water up the tube? Mine does, (I think). It might be worth you checking to see if it's about to exit it's hiding place.

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[webcraft]

Re: crap on the rudder

Is this the real reason you fitted the holding tank?

- Nick (small)



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[jimi]

Rob, sounds as if you've had a similar problem? The boat's only 3yo so I suspect it was botched when fitted.


Acshully Ah wiz thinkin .. If I dropped the rudder in the water then that might save a lift out if I had a mate with diving gear ... Parahandeeee!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[robp]

Sent you a PM

Rob

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