My Italian Job

[Divemaster1]

Thanks Dave,
The buying experience was nothing but positive. The crew for the Med journey was excellent, and nothing un-expected did happen.
No-one could envisage that the trim-tabs would go, nor that the exhaust was not clamped 100% correctly. I was aware of the dripping shaft seals, as they did produce the odd one when still and a bit more when moving ....but could not envisage that it would develop the the extent it did... At least we did get to test the bilge pumps properly, and realise that I need to install a manual backup... but will do that on the 27th, before my planned departure from Chichester...

<hr width=100% size=1>Alf

 

[Divemaster1]

Re: On the road ..

Cheers Alistairr,

Crew is being assebled ... two Norwegian and one Englishman.... so the Vikings will be starting the invasion in Chichester ... then "sampeling the merchandise" along the East coast again .... will bring the camera and post here .... one week to go...

<hr width=100% size=1>Alf

 

[Divemaster1]

Now in Chichester !

Well, after some delays in France, I have just learnt that the boat is being hauled into Peters in Chichester Marina as I write this... Will be heading down to London on business tomorrow AM, but onto Chichester PM by train. have sent loads of stuff to the boat ahead of me and first crew is arriving tonight at the marina.

Hopefully she will be lifter in and ready for departure on Friday, after we have checked her over and if all goes well, we may get out of the marina before LW.

In case anyone is around, her name is currently Smile II and should be of quite distinctive Italian design...... now where can I get the fridge filled up ??

<hr width=100% size=1>Alf

 

[Alistairr]

Re: Now in Chichester !

Good stuff, Glad the journey went well.
Glad to see you are getting your prioraties right/forums/images/icons/smile.gif, but don't forget fuel of the other type too./forums/images/icons/wink.gif.

And have a safe journey north, enjoy it, and take plenty of pics.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/alistair?&page=1> My Pictures, Please take a Look.</A>

 

[lyc]

Re: Was in Lowestoft!

Seen arriving Lowestoft late Saturday night and leaving Sunday morning. Good luck with the rest of your trip.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BroadsandEastcoastBoating/>Broads & East Coast Boating</A>

 

[Divemaster1]

Re: Was in Lowestoft!

Yup..... 190 NM the first day... made everything look "fine"...

U-Turn, incl re-fuel ... looked like a nice marina, but time made us push on.... interesting trip across The Wash........

Will write up later.

Regards,


<hr width=100% size=1>Alf

 

[Divemaster1]

400 NM down

Well,

Boat arrived in Chichester Wednesday and despite my request to re-pack the stern glands before launch, it was attempted.... but a 6" jet of water from each gland made them re-think... and blocked her up... More work than anticipated to re-fit the lot on the top, but crew helped with the lot and boat got launched on Friday... and moved to the berth.... after removing the batteries which were gone... (2x 1400 A, connected in serial for 24V.... replaced them with 2x 135 A ... just so we had 24V onboard for nav lights etc., when running).

Here she is next to a Birchwood 44 on Friday night...

Then set off early Saturday for re-fuel ... (yours truly looking concerned about the volumes going down that hole....). The tanks are balanced, so filling up one side also flows the other ...... but I did crawl around looking desperately for leaks etc., until we discovered a 1” pipe connecting the two, via the bottom balancing tank…I know I should have known this before…

Well, these pictures tell you how the beginning of the journey was....

Crew on the fly captured when lying down on the bow, with lifeline and life vest from the bow... a bit extreme angle, but thought I should put it here anyway...

After first couple of minor repairs (some hose clamps were past their best.. and searching for where the $£&**%# water in the bilges came from), and re-fuel, check engines, food etc. @ Ramsgate, the weather still looked good, so we decided to continue the journey to Lowestoft … knowing it would be a late arrival. Arrived late at Lowestoft, so ended up pulling up at the waiting pontoon to sleep, check engines and re-fuelled early AM Sunday….minor running repairs …. Mostly ensuring that cupboards and drawers remained shut before entering The Wash crossing… which was a bit bumpy and had to reduce down to 12 – 13 Knots during the worst part.

Due to the increasing wind and tidal flow against the wind, we decided to pull in to Grimsby for fuel top-up and rest…. Nice enough, but basic marina with excellent staff…

http://arweb.co.uk/aralbums/album05/Grimsby.jpg

Set off again at lock opening and headed out again … nice easy run up past Bridlington but got a bit rougher as we rounded the headland. Kept going until we “took off” and needed to slow down to 10 – 12 Knots…. Hit a couple of big ones, which caused the gangplank to jump off at the stern (thankfully we had secured it before leaving, so it did not become a ram). Crew on aft deck with lifeline to stop it swinging around, so U-turn and getting waves from stern… Decided to head for Scarburgh, but now at low tide + 30 min, so not enough water to get in … Harbour control and tidal control were excellent and understanding of our situation, so guided us in sideways (stern to deepest part as “touch & go”), after 20 min waiting. Whitby was not an alternative as the swell was worse up there… Removed the gangplank & secured it across the davits…. SB Plexiglass on flybridge ripped off by the water drifting across the bow, so decided to dismantle the lot again to stop it being repeated, TV aerial on top of radar arch also ripped off … (Need to seal this area). No damage inside other than one of the interior fittings loosening off a bit.
Spent most of the night there and spoke with the lifeboat crew about the conditions… Decided to push off early AM on Tuesday, but only after checking with conditions at Whitby, where the swell had been reduced down to approx 2.5 meter, so could enter there at a push. Had a slow start at 13 - 15 Knot, but all went well, so as we rounded the headland we kept increasing to 17 – 18 Knot…. Onto Newcastle at 20 Knots and 1950 RPM, where the weather was clearing….

Now tucked up in a marina … a little bit worse for wear in Newcastle and where we are contemplating our next move from…

Boat handles very well in rough sea…., throws up a lot of spray when bow is forced down with trim flaps to present a sharp forefoot, but enabled us to travel at 18 knot in heavy-ish sea …. And only had to pull back to 15 Knot when the sea got towards the 2 metre mark.., for comfort. Found out an awful lot about the boat in very short time, and believe we have found most of the minor leaks by now. The last one found being in the exhaust tunnel above the waterline, which will be sealed off within the next couple of days, and before the next 160 NM journey. Engines running very sweet and with >1% oil consumption. Strange with the speed vs. rev though as at 16 knots at 1700 - 1750 RPM, there seems to be an awful lot of speed gained with very little rev increase... 1800 – 1850 gives 18 Knots +, 1900 – 1950 gives 20, but did not check further at the time being… however did ensure that she does pull approx 2275 RPM on both engines with full fuel load. So the story continues … next will probably be that we will find out how it is to live with the boat… A great thanks to the crew, whom despite some rough patches, early mornings, late nights etc., kept the spirit up and continued with the ongoing mechanical, electrical, electronic checks etc., with continued enthusiasm and no complaints… the journey could not have been done without them … Average SOG when underway Chichester – Newcastle = 17.3 Knots, with fuel consumption of 6.5 L/NM (1.35 G/NM).


<hr width=100% size=1>Alf

 

[lyc]

Re: 400 NM down

Congratulations and well done! Italian boats are certainly well built with excellent sea keeping.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BroadsandEastcoastBoating/>Broads & East Coast Boating</A>

 

[Divemaster1]

Last 160 NM on Saturday...

Got down to the boat on Friday late PM and started the "usual" checks. Oil, gear oil, water, belts etc.... just for "fun" I crawled around the engines poking around a bit ...checking mounts etc ... oooh bo$$x .... one of the rear engine mounts had a loose bolt .... a right pain to get to as well.... no nut found.... wanted to get off early on Saturday, but looked like we would be delayed..... Sourced two new bolts Saturday morning at 8 AM and picked these up ..... about 15 min to install ... lots of use of the Norwegian language which I will not repeat here....

Got off at about 9 ... Tynemouth at 09:20...and set off .... up past Amble and inside the Farne islands ... nice places, and must re-visit at some stage.... pulled in at Eyemouth after about 3 hrs to check / re-tighten new bolts ... had lunch in here and managed to top up the tanks frow a fuel truck which came down to fuel a fishing boat behind us... Left off again and SB gearwire from Fly must have snapped when in reverse .... quick fly down to shut down engine ... ouch ... now sport a bruise the size of a cricket ball on right thigh ... don't know where I knocked it, but crew told me that I moved fast ... even said "please" when asking them to get out of my way .... . Stopped SB engine then some Norwegian words passed my lips .... opened hatches .... swung the slider into neutral and checked internal controls ... all well and now controlled from main helm below.... (need to check the cables to fly later). Re-started the engine .... checked FW, Neutral and Reverse ...... All well and set off again ...
SB engine moved from 85 deg C to 90 deg C within two hours, so reduced revs from 1900 to 1800 ... slowed us down to 16.5 - 17 Knot, but still steady ..... must also have some clogged fuel filters as we could not pull revs above 2100 when testing .... Un-eventful trip in general, but some 12 V power issues from plug to the inverter for PC Nav.. Have 24 V supply, and converter to 12 V at the stereo / 12 V plugs, so need to check these connectioins now. Also 24 V drops down V quick when not charging (but 2x 135 AH in serial for 24 V, is not much.... we knew that, but needed this just for nav lights etc., when set out from Chichester lat week-end). The light bulbs onboard are 40W plus, so need to change these down the way at some stage this winter ... Nice run up the way with a SW force 3 - 4 .... dying off towards the evening ... arrived in Peterhead Marina (NE Scotland for you guys)... at approx 21:15 and tied up to drive home.

Boat is now moved to more permanent berth with plenty of space ... and well sheltered. SWMBO and daughter decided that all stuff (carpets, curtains, covers etc.), needs to be removed and washed .... will definelty replace the mustard yellow carpet ... Will now wash down the boat internally and externally, replace the carpets and probably curtains ... fit the newly washed seat covers, service the engines (all filter checks etc., as 100 running hours have taken place since leaving Salerno in south Italy) ... and general tidy up for the intended boat re-naming ceremony in three weeks time.
Then the real work will start sorting out those niggely bits .... and install holding tank, new firefigthing system in Engine room ...and also to sort out a number of small niggely bits.... anyway, that goes under the heading of "living with a boat" and not the "aquisition and transport" heading.

Did not take any pictures from this week end and the final berth, but will do so when the boat is cleaned up and things are replaced with respect to the interior .... the picture below was actually taken in Grimsby...

Regards,

<hr width=100% size=1>Alf

 

[duncan]

Re: Last 160 NM on Saturday...

thnaks for the words adn pictures - great reading

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Divemaster1]

Re: Last 160 NM on Saturday...

<thnaks for the words adn pictures - great reading >

A pleasure !! .... about time I contributed with a proper boay story..... the acquisition took quite along time, but now once here, I can relax, and sort out the things at my leisure..... now for SS rivets (some in the railing need replacement), re-carpeting and changing curtains (after a wash down this coming WE) + all the other fun things about boats .... perhaps I am to impatient to get her just the way we want her ..... naaah ... got to be like that ! One or two months in the water left I guess, then on-shore for the jobs that require access to what is below the waterline ..... next season she will be all shining again the way she deserves to be...

<hr width=100% size=1>Alf