Med boaters - will you get to your boat this year?

[DavidJ]

Well!
Got to the boat and took it to the yard bang on 9:00 Tuesday as booked to have two new gear shift cables fitted (supplied by me)
Out of the water and no progress on Tuesday …. booked into hotel.
Hassled them (carefully) and got a call this evening Wednesday. “Your boat is back in the water and we have fitted one cable the other is ok (It’s 20 years old and I wanted both done!!!)
The boat is now back out of the water and the 2nd cable will be fitted “mañana por la mañana”
….booked into hotel again
Lets see tomorrow
Hey ho!

 

[markc]

Got up early this morning and filled up at €1.70 litre (wish I had a bigger tank)..then had a swim under the boat to check anodes. Back in time for a dog walk and lunch before the midday wind stirred

Are diesel prices falling there? - I paid 2.22 a few weeks ago

 

[Chris H]

Are diesel prices falling there? - I paid 2.22 a few weeks ago

I paid 1.89 in Imperia and 2.23 in La Spezia.

 

[Forty_Two]

I paid €2.15 today at La Napoule, went down from €2.20 a few says ago.

 

[Portofino]

Well!
Got to the boat and took it to the yard bang on 9:00 Tuesday as booked to have two new gear shift cables fitted (supplied by me)
Out of the water and no progress on Tuesday …. booked into hotel.
Hassled them (carefully) and got a call this evening Wednesday. “Your boat is back in the water and we have fitted one cable the other is ok (It’s 20 years old and I wanted both done!!!)
The boat is now back out of the water and the 2nd cable will be fitted “mañana por la mañana”
….booked into hotel again
Lets see tomorrow
Hey ho!

If it’s any consolation the Italians arn‘t that that further behind .
We are on our 3 rd season here, came primarily to do a few refurb jobs avoiding the stinging CdA French prices .
Fell in love with the place so are staying , buts that another story .
The list had 4 items .
New exhausts
Hull paint .
New cockpit upholstery.
New covers changing to more user friendly blue .Whites awful with the red rain .

Ok covid struck .
The exhausts we’re done over winter 20/21 ready for 21 season start along with refurbed water pumps + sea trail etc .
The upholstery was supposed to be done along with covers over last winter , but somehow with the war , the guys staff were Russians it wasn’t started in dribs and drabs over the summer. Finally completed I am told today .
We are off down tomorrow .
Thus far sunberella something last month for the binimi + front cover .

Cockpit in sunberella “ Natte “ in a silver / grey below


Sun pads below

The turquoise straps been replaced with a navy one to match the cushions and new bimini .The guy did the cushions as a free bee .
Rear hood and side screens …just fitted to day i can see on the marina web cam below .

Its the one with the white tender 3rd up LHS .Note the Tornado a few boats “ buttoned up “

As far as painting its a saga .Covid knackered ( travel restrictions) it being done by roll and tip at a yard in Savona .I did see there work etc and silly me didn’t even recognise a white yacht in the yard was just finished such was the quality.
I have the Amico yard , in the marina at the last haul take pics eye ball it with a view to a quote .They do super yachts etc .
The issue seems to be finding yard / hanger space .The problem over the winter is the hard standing is packed so they might not be able to manoeuvre the trolley from the crane through to melee of boats into the hanger …something like that .
There will be a date , but until they have a date they won’t quote as pointless if they can’t fit it in .
Last week I “ hassled them ( carefully) “…..they haven’t forgotten, but need to wait until mid Oct to sort the schedule out .
Which tbh is where we left it in June while it was hanging in the slings and the paint guy came round with his camera.
It will get all the scratches filled ( mostly PO stuff ) a base coat , then two top coats then a finish layer .No windows out just everything masked off .I can choose the paint brand .They prefer Awgrip .

So thats where we are 3 out of 4 done , its 3 yrs .

Loano fuel as 1.84 last week about the same as the road fuel .Normally it 20 cents higher .

 

[Bouba]

Are diesel prices falling there? - I paid 2.22 a few weeks ago

I think the French Government have taken 30 centimes off a litre until November (or October?)

 

[Portofino]

I think the French Government have taken 30 centimes off a litre until November (or October?)

Watching the news on Fr tv they are whinging/ almost up in arms about it …..still !
Road diesel here in CH is CHF 2.30 ish , seen 2.40 .CHF and € near enough parity .
So we fill up when we in Italy @ € 1.84 or what ever .Macan SD has a long range tank and when full I see often 999km range .
The range screen has only 3 digits .I have maxed it out .
Although yesterday I was in a little corner of the Haute Savoie , still running on Italian “ cheap “ fuel .

Chicken feed relatively to the boats thirst .
Done 50 hrs thus far this season and bit more left .

 

[westernman]

Watching the news on Fr tv they are whinging/ almost up in arms about it …..still !
Road diesel here in CH is CHF 2.30 ish , seen 2.40 .CHF and € near enough parity .
So we fill up when we in Italy @ € 1.84 or what ever .Macan SD has a long range tank and when full I see often 999km range .
The range screen has only 3 digits .I have maxed it out .
Although yesterday I was in a little corner of the Haute Savoie , still running on Italian “ cheap “ fuel .

Chicken feed relatively to the boats thirst .
Done 50 hrs thus far this season and bit more left .

Just filled up the car a few minutes ago for €1.35 for SP95/E10.
€1.64 for Diesel at the same pump.

 

[Bouba]

I think Porto is right...in the future we are going to all have to learn to drive boats slowly

 

[Portofino]

I think Porto is right...in the future we are going to all have to learn to drive boats slowly

Or not go as far .
Was planning while in Liguria of nipping down to Elba or a bit further to Roma .
Covid killed the first season as most Italians were not vaxed and common sense triggered a stay local min contacts etc .
2nd season full green pass , masks , hand gels and they were nearly but not quite vaxed up .Again common sense said min unnecessary contacts .Boating is great for that being alone .


Exactly a year ago .Look no people .^

Isola Berregi on the way to Genoa to pick up daughter who flew in .


This year the fuel thing .So we dipped out toe at D speed to Genoa ( 40 miles by sea ) with a swim lunch stop over E of Varazze .


Took us all day arrived about 4 pm to our pre booked berth below .


The airport is over that building and the marina run a free taxi pic up and drop to your Passerelle for incoming flights .
Daughter duly arrived from London in a Merc Vito .

Joint ventures ( sp ? ) of this Parish who’s boats are based in Genoa kindly used one of his tenders to take us across the port ( to get supplies) and additionally kindly gave me a great tour of one of his charges the tripple MTU Arnesons one .

The port we are leaving the next day .

More to follow

 

[jointventureII]

Not forgetting the pride of the fleet, the Bertram 25, currently looks like this...! Nearly ready for epoxy application, just need to fill a few holes and move the block position to sand the unaccessible areas

 

[Portofino]

So next day the D speed thing didn’t last , we just got it up and zoomed off S once out of Genoa .


Round that head land heading for here

Been before in the Porto 35 .

Ancbored off , it’s deep 20 M min .We have 70 m of chain .


Towns and port entranc just behind those boats .You have to have a life ring handy in Italy .

Next day we booked a berth in Chiavari .A super marina , super old town ( restaurants) Marina had brand new laundry facilities so did a machine load while there .Beach by the berth , over the wall .We went D speed as approx 8 miles across the Levante bay .


Next day we blasted further S down to the bay of La Spetzia .
The Cinque Terre ports could be seem hanging over the high cliffs , we kept well out to avoid pots tripper boats .About 25/30 miles so an hr .

They have tiny ports our boats two big according to Rod Heikels guide .


^ we are aiming for those two islands , guide said there was gap between the large one and the main land .


^ There …go through that in the middle depth at edges 2 m , a bit more in the middle according to the guide.Or you could go round both islands the long way into the bay behind .
Through this gap below .


Fortunately there was a cruse ship tender going through.So I followed that a 7-8 knots the first click at tickover .That yellow tub top RHS .


Tiny marina of Portovenere you can see ^ .We went passed it in the blink of an eye into the bay
TBC

 

[Portofino]

Not forgetting the pride of the fleet, the Bertram 25, currently looks like this...! Nearly ready for epoxy application, just need to fill a few holes and move the block position to sand the unaccessible areas

View attachment 142590

I have to say M is right .That little boat, berthed opposite to the P108 triple was the star of the visit .What a beautiful boat from Dick Bertram , I got to touch it folks in the water .
We all share the sun , sea and sand .

 

[Portofino]

Cont .
We had pre booked berths either by email or plane old telephone.Each was ball park circa €100 / night .
They request a copy of the reg cert .I have mentioned this previously but the thing is 14.7 M loa so 48 ft for berthing purposes.
But the Reg cert says 13,1 and that’s what they bill me .I think thats the WLL , something got lost in translation when I applied for SSR part 3 to fly a red .I sent Cardiff everything I had , I didn’t call the L .
Got into bother once , in France called into the office on spec , they process the docs and the kid in the rib took me down. A aisle where in couldn’t turn the thing to back into the berth they allocated based in the cert .
Went back to the capitainreie and they found a 15 m berth in aisles I could swing it in .Still paid the 13 m fee .

Anyhow it took an hr at 28 knots using about 180 L in all arriving at 10 am .Bit early .
So we went for a tour up in the bay . All at 7/8 knots fearful of a officialdom bollocking speeding .Aside everyone else was at D speed reassuringly.

^Theres a marina in there somewhere ? You start doubting yourself because we are used to 500-1000 Beth jobbies .


Its a big bay once in and home to the navy’s Med fleet , Stop laughing U.K. folks .They must have had some victories if you look hard enough.You know glass 1/2 full attitude chaps .

So the wind got up a bay of St Trop Deja vue .A wind funnel place great !

Found shelter for lunch + swim after turning back to one of the islands at the mouth of the bay .



We blended in . Off that new Itama 45s theres the muscle beds .A neighbour in Loana from Milan told us the reason he choose Liguria was the clarity of the Water .Previously he parked his boat in this area.He was right the muscle beds are the tell tell .Rich and thus cloudy water with poor viz snorkelling etc .Guess all the rivers up in the bay .



4 pm arrives we go for fuel from a tiny jetty for a top up €2.20 / L .We are over 1/2 full 1600 L without the reserve tank which is another 600 .I have 3 tanks interconnected , only using two this trip .
Still Windy we head in , first VHF , nice En speaking lady confirms our booking and tells me to come in and a rib will be waiting .
We had told her booking our ETA wax 4 pm despite turning up at 10 am .


We are in .There’s a story behind that white linen dress drying on the hatch top .

Fuel pontoon with boats on .I had to hover for them to clear off .


Sun set . Thankfully you get shaded .Dog remember…..he liked it .We have the new Bimini fitted before we set off note .


Rib guys prepping for an arrival it’s filling up .Note the background thats where we spent the day @ anchor .A lot spend the night .

But when touring inho there’s nothing better at the end of a busy “ all new to me “ adventure day one of these bellow .


Night fall was a pleasant surprise.


Next morning we got up early had breakfast at one of the quay side bars and slipped lines by 8am .
Yesterdays wind spooked us .Loano is 70 miles W as the crow flys across the bay of Genoa , and more wind was forecast .
So we set a course for 272 , and gunned it at 1800 rpm 29;knots ( full tanks ) .At first the wind / waves were on the port beam , then veered to the bow , then dropped off .We did the 70 miles in 2 1/2 hrs and anchored up off Loano by 11 am in calm seas .

Clear waters i will add .



We did 170 miles started off @ D speed 9 / 10 knots 825 rpm , 55 % load about 36 L/ hr .But it soon the 2 nd day went out of the window and we were back up at 28-30 knots 180;L / hr - 77 % load .I think it cost about €1600- 1800 top in fuel . Which I think wasn’t too bad for 3 + dog on a mini trip .
In hindsight I did not need to fill up to return and finished with 1/2 tanks .But you never know crossing big bays .

Portofino and Portovenere both very nice places not that far away .Next time will spend more time there in each .
Genoa has its airport pick up secret .Just a nice way for guest s to arrive to at your boat .

 

[Bouba]

56 Bertram Following Sea 1965 Newport Beach | Denison Yacht Sales

 

[Chris H]

Well, I also said I understand that dismantling the whole oil cooler is a job different from what I previously understood.
And my comment wasn't meant as a criticism to that chap specifically, anyway!
What I always suggest to my boating mates is that when it comes to boat repairs, you can either spend a lot, or a (relatively) reasonable amount.
With the former, there is still the risk to get a shite job, but with the latter, that's almost a certainty... ?

Besides, in a previous post Chris said that this mechanic is not only going to seatrial the boat, but also that he'll do that with his own instruments, which is very remarkable. In fact, while this might seem trivial to anyone used to electronic engines where all it takes is a connected notebook, it's actually a helluva job with mechanical engines like these.
I never had that done on my boat (not even upon purchase!), but I know for a fact that upon first seatrial, it took hours just to connect all sensors, linked to a rather large portable case with all sort of gauges. But that was a strict MAN requirement, because they didn't activate the warranty before receiving the first start report signed by one of their official dealers.
That's a 7 (!) pages document filled with details, both static on the installation as such and dynamic during the seatrial through the whole RPM range.
All sort of pressures and temperatures, air, oil, fuel, raw water, coolant, turbo, EGT for each cylinder bank (you'd love that!), exhaust backpressure, boat AoA... You name it.
In fact, I'd be curious to hear from Chris if he'll get such report from this chap upon seatrial, because that's a substantial added value, regardless of the specific fault that is being fixed.
Also because it would be interesting to compare it with the first start report when the boat was new, if he has a copy (and if he doesn't, any official dealer can access the MAN database and get it for him).

All that said, I maintain that the suggestion to do the job also on the other engine that doesn't leak is a bit rich.
I mean, £3k for a preventative maintenance for which MAN does not even mention a check/tightening/whatever, at any life stage of the engines?
Based on this thread, yesterday I checked that spot on my very same engines (2003 vintage, almost 1600 hours clocked), and found no signs of leaks.
Now, I neither know the year nor the hours of Chris engines (hence my question in the previous post), but it's rather rare that boats like his Pershing reach very high hours numbers...

Paolo has sent me the original commission report……….but its too large to upload on the forum ?

 

[Chris H]

Not forgetting the pride of the fleet, the Bertram 25, currently looks like this...! Nearly ready for epoxy application, just need to fill a few holes and move the block position to sand the unaccessible areas

View attachment 142590

This was like new, restored by a small yard in cap ferrat.

 

[Bouba]

How many more perfect days like today do we have left?….

 

[Portofino]

Dunno , But it’s been nice .Sea temp still 26 , and it’s actually cools at night so we can turn the AC off .
Temps day time 26/27 very agreeable.


New upholstery is still in its honeymoon period
He‘s so tiny he can’t jump up had to be lifted Aged 15 btw .

 

[DavidJ]

Made it!
My favorite bay, Cala Culip on the Cap de Creus, Catalonia