Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
I was due down at the marina on New Years Eve, as there was a party in the bar. But, harbour master told me that as my boat was frozen solid, unless I had put the heating on the day before, he would have to have paramedics on stand by for the morning to defrost me.
I decided to heed his advice and went to my neighbours to drink their beer and then set clock for 6.30am on New Years day.
Was surprised that despite it being brass monkey in the morning, there was no frost on the car - none at all, despite it being -2.5c
Once out of town I started to see Jack Frost landscape with the temperature at a steady -3.5c, but at Conwy, and helping to keep Haydn's pipes frozen solid, it was -5.5c
At Port Dinorwic is was back up to a warm -3.5c but I was staggered to see half an inch of hoar frost all over the boat, which was surrounded by a sheet of ice on the surface of the fresh water dock.
The cup of hot coffee placed on the hatch lock failed to melt the ice so I could open it, and once I had connected the electricity 4 litres of boiling water failed to melt the ice, so I couldn't even open the hatch to turn on the boat electrics or turn on the fuel.
Luckily, I had arranged to meet my neighbours, "The Scousers" who kindly offered to let me go out on their centrally heated boat.
I made sure they prepared it properly first.
We made our way into the lock, only to discover one of the sluice gates would not close. All hands to the deck and with screwdriver and meter, the problem was quickly sorted by tripping the control box and dropping the sluice. It meant that raising the water would be double the time, but at least we could get back in later.
It was pretty rough out there.
And even squeezing past Fort Belan, we had to hang on.
As we got close to the bar we could see the waves rising up as it shallows and you can just make out the mountains through the sea mist.
Lady Scouse did much of the skippering, while others made tea and served biscuits.
Eventually we got far enough out so that even the mountains were little more than a suggestion.
So we turned around and headed back.
It was a great day out and a big thank you to my neighbours for letting me tag along. Hearts of gold and I still kept my wallet.
I decided to heed his advice and went to my neighbours to drink their beer and then set clock for 6.30am on New Years day.
Was surprised that despite it being brass monkey in the morning, there was no frost on the car - none at all, despite it being -2.5c
Once out of town I started to see Jack Frost landscape with the temperature at a steady -3.5c, but at Conwy, and helping to keep Haydn's pipes frozen solid, it was -5.5c
At Port Dinorwic is was back up to a warm -3.5c but I was staggered to see half an inch of hoar frost all over the boat, which was surrounded by a sheet of ice on the surface of the fresh water dock.
The cup of hot coffee placed on the hatch lock failed to melt the ice so I could open it, and once I had connected the electricity 4 litres of boiling water failed to melt the ice, so I couldn't even open the hatch to turn on the boat electrics or turn on the fuel.
Luckily, I had arranged to meet my neighbours, "The Scousers" who kindly offered to let me go out on their centrally heated boat.
I made sure they prepared it properly first.
We made our way into the lock, only to discover one of the sluice gates would not close. All hands to the deck and with screwdriver and meter, the problem was quickly sorted by tripping the control box and dropping the sluice. It meant that raising the water would be double the time, but at least we could get back in later.
It was pretty rough out there.
And even squeezing past Fort Belan, we had to hang on.
As we got close to the bar we could see the waves rising up as it shallows and you can just make out the mountains through the sea mist.
Lady Scouse did much of the skippering, while others made tea and served biscuits.
Eventually we got far enough out so that even the mountains were little more than a suggestion.
So we turned around and headed back.
It was a great day out and a big thank you to my neighbours for letting me tag along. Hearts of gold and I still kept my wallet.
