lost....

[z1ppy]

All enthusiasm for boating.... if found please return before spring.

As some will know, we have been boatless for a few years but after last years events we reorganised what was important and went back to a nice rib which we have always hankered after.

Completed the purchase on first February and promptly went on holiday for two weeks.

Delivered it by water to Hythe from Lymington in pants weather. Waiting for the lock we developed an engine problems which had the most awful vibration. getting in the lock with a stonking cross tide and wind was not fun with basically only tickover available without running the risk of shaking the boat to bits..

Tompa marine (who has been fantastic) sorted that for us.

Try again the next weekend. wind is howling, rain is pouring and SWMBO has flu. I get to the fuel berth to do the fun part of filling the tank up, back on the berth and sulk at the weather.

This weekend, weather looks good, boat looks good, everything crossed...

Get to the boat this morning, take covers off and lift console locker to put batteries on..... thats odd, they are already on... with worry in my mind i go to put the engine down and nothing, both batteries are flat as a flat thing....

Seems that the engineer the broker send down to fix the fuel sender left the batteries on when he had finished. In the space of 48 hours both the batteries (new in June) were flat and not even enough to fire up the plotter / vhf let alone fire a big outboard....

even with a jump pack, couldn't get enough to turn the engine over so batteries out and on charge,

so there we have it, boat owners since 1st February, god knows how much out of pocket already and still not had a successful trip out.

Things can only get better.

 

[Nick_H]

Looking for positives, it's best to get the problems out of the way in Feb/March rather than have them in June/July, so it's good they've happened now.

Hope your luck and the weather improves.

 

[AllanG]

What systems were draining the both batteries completely flat....surely, one battery is purely for engine start, and the other for domestics? This is the normal setup and, if yours is the same, I wouldn't expect the start battery to be drained just by leaving it switched on.

 

[Firefly625]

Get a grip Howard, It's still very early in the season, I have not even been out on my mitchell yet!

 

[petem]

Simple, don't go out unless its sunny and warm. Worked for SWMBO and I.

 

[z1ppy]

What systems were draining the both batteries completely flat....surely, one battery is purely for engine start, and the other for domestics? This is the normal setup and, if yours is the same, I wouldn't expect the start battery to be drained just by leaving it switched on.

It's a good question I am trying to find out!

The boat has two batteries on a switch with one, two and both.

I know 100% they were isolated when I left on Saturday last as I had two remove the cover to isolate them as I forgot!

Seems the engineer was down on Wednesday or Thursday and forgot to isolate them after working.

The isolator was set to both when I got there this weekend so assume that whatever was draining was draining both batteries.

My guess is it was the sub woofer that drained it as I can hears it clicking on and off whenever I switch the batteries on / off.

That said, I am surprised to run both completely flat after 48 hours so maybe the batteries are not up to scratch.

Hopefully I can get is sorted this week whilst away and we can try again at the weekend.

 

[P4Paul]

It's a good question I am trying to find out!

The boat has two batteries on a switch with one, two and both.

I know 100% they were isolated when I left on Saturday last as I had two remove the cover to isolate them as I forgot!

Seems the engineer was down on Wednesday or Thursday and forgot to isolate them after working.

The isolator was set to both when I got there this weekend so assume that whatever was draining was draining both batteries.

My guess is it was the sub woofer that drained it as I can hears it clicking on and off whenever I switch the batteries on / off.

That said, I am surprised to run both completely flat after 48 hours so maybe the batteries are not up to scratch.

Hopefully I can get is sorted this week whilst away and we can try again at the weekend.

Could be just the one battery that is past its use by date and that dragged the other one down over the two days.

 

[z1ppy]

Could be just the one battery that is past its use by date and that dragged the other one down over the two days.

Could be although both were replaced in June 14.

 

[volvopaul]

If set to both then both are supplying whatever has drained them, 1 will be engjne start, 2 domestics, both brings both together to give a short reserve supply should you need it, but the risk is that you may flatten your start battery. I'd be looking at the wiring or adding a dedicated start battery that cannot be drained from the domestics should this happen again. There is something that's drained them both, I'd test each one individually with a load tester before going off and buying new again . I'd also be testing with an ammeter for a drain.

 

[P4Paul]

Could be although both were replaced in June 14.

Maybe bilge pumps running due to rain or do you have a full cover?

 

[burgundyben]

You now fixed up?

 

[powerskipper]

Get It back
You need to go and play, get boat running and as long as you have engine running and propulsion and steering helps go and and play. Go somewhere for lunch or take a picnic and anchor up, if wintch not working the exercise in pulling it up by hand , is good for you, well just tell yourself that . take a camera to remember it. go explore a river or channel you have not been before, meet up with friends, see how many silly pics you can take, have a MOB practise, or play a game doing it, blind fold the helm and someone has to talk them into picking up the MOB. not real peeps please it far too cold, see how accurate your charts are, loads of things to do go enjoy it. j

 

[LURCHER]

This is why you go out !

Come on Howard remember the days in old cold boats.
Sunday on the Beaulieu river ,not a soul to be seen warm sun out of the wind and wildlife .

 

[z1ppy]

Getting there! Few little things to fix but nothing to stop is going out.

Will try and get out per the weekend if weather plays ball and make sure it's all good for the long Easter weekend. Will try and get some pics next time I am out.

Went over to Cowes for lunch the other weekend and she behaved very well even in the lumpy stuff there was. Managed to keep SWMBO dry and comfortable so that's a real plus point!

 

[benjenbav]

Winter 2012. I was working on an unrelenting deal. The weather was rubbish, I had no time for nuthin' and sorting out the boat was a chore.

Last weekend of Feb the sun came out, we droppped the hook in Alum Bay and as we sat in the cockpit, wrapped in endless layers, the day to day worries seemed to melt away.

As Nike would say: just do it.

 

[Firefly625]

Winter 2012. I was working on an unrelenting deal. The weather was rubbish, I had no time for nuthin' and sorting out the boat was a chore.

Last weekend of Feb the sun came out, we droppped the hook in Alum Bay and as we sat in the cockpit, wrapped in endless layers, the day to day worries seemed to melt away.

As Nike would say: just do it.

sums up why a boat is so important to me...

 

[P4Paul]

Winter 2012. I was working on an unrelenting deal. The weather was rubbish, I had no time for nuthin' and sorting out the boat was a chore.

Last weekend of Feb the sun came out, we droppped the hook in Alum Bay and as we sat in the cockpit, wrapped in endless layers, the day to day worries seemed to melt away.

As Nike would say: just do it.

I have posted this photo a few times but on the days when work is off in the scale in carp and hassle I just remember times like this one in March 2012 (Osborne Bay) and it helps me focus on what is important.