Rafiki moves to Portishead

rafiki_

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Last Thursday 29th was the move to Portishead.

Firstly, Jet has become Rafiki:



Now ready to lift at RK Marine. Great job and very accommodating.



A proud if anxious owner:



A serious trailer!



The Truckers. Colin and Dave from Bugler Transport (plus Dave's Grandson). Fantastic service, and great to work with. These guys could not have been mnore helpful and reassuring. Would recommend Chris Bugler and his team to anyone.



Rafiki being launched at Portishead:



Sorting the lines:



Finally off to her new mooring:



This was a long couple of days, stripping and prepping for the move. I was really concerned about things being bounced around and coming to grief during the shipping. Actually the Bugler Team were so professional, nothing internally was disturbed. The hardest job was stripping the radar mast off. The mastic sealing did not want to let go. This needs refitting, and will be done later this week.

We had a bit of a shock when the props came off. Firstly the prop anodes had 75% wasted in 4 weeks! Secondly the port prop nearly fell off! These had not been fitted properly following rectification. No idea why the anodes had wasted so quickly, so I will check for continuity issues soonest. The other anodes were OK. There is no doubt a wasting problem at her previous mooring, as VolvoPaul will attest.

So now we are getting used to her new home. She is due a good wash and brush up this week, and a good dose of Siveryak to follow.
 
looking good R,

had to look up in google earth as I wasn't sure Portishead was straight in the Severn or on the way to Bris'l canal network that leads to Bath et al.

I wonder how you're going to check the anodes in there :p

cheers

V.
 
excellent, glad it went well Paul. I'll be in town every Monday for the remainder of Sept to complete the telephony upgrade in Ponton Rd and Southampton. That'll be it for me where this customer is concerned as the job's changing (internal projects only for a while). Hope to catch up with you to hear more about how you're settling her in to her new home over a coffee
 
excellent, glad it went well Paul. I'll be in town every Monday for the remainder of Sept to complete the telephony upgrade in Ponton Rd and Southampton. That'll be it for me where this customer is concerned as the job's changing (internal projects only for a while). Hope to catch up with you to hear more about how you're settling her in to her new home over a coffee
Gary,

I'm in London tomorrow, not again until 23rd. Can we hook up then?
 
looking good R,

had to look up in google earth as I wasn't sure Portishead was straight in the Severn or on the way to Bris'l canal network that leads to Bath et al.

I wonder how you're going to check the anodes in there :p

cheers

V.
Vas, apologies that the photos need a bit of work.

Portishead is on the Bristol Channel, south of Bristol, the City, so direct access to the sea through a lock. Nice modern marina with great facilities, although surrounded by apartment blocks. The channel has a massive 14 m tidal range, but the marina is accessible +/- 3 hours or so, either side of high water.

Not sure yet how to check for continuity, but will work on it!
 
Well done Raf. I hope the initial excitement lasts for a long time yet! I don't live far from Ilfracombe and I expect you'll pass this way at some point, would love to hook up if you do visit this way. I also pass Portishead for work at times - may have to stop off and check out the new Rafiki in the flesh one time!!! Anyway, many Congratulations.
Andrew
 
No doubt a big relief now the relocating exercise has concluded...hopefully the UK will continue to have a good run of weather during Autumn so you can enjoy some time aboard Raf.
 
Portishead Marina looks nice, never been there :)
Nice boat Rafiki, hope you have great times with her :)

The marina is really nice. There is still some building work, surrounding the water, and this is due to finish within the year. There are more shops and restaurants going in and the ambience is good.
 
Must go and have a day out there sometime as it can't be far from me :)
Does new boat have Cats ? 3126's if so have same on my boat so feel free to ask any questions as have picked up loads of info about these over the last few years
 
Must go and have a day out there sometime as it can't be far from me :)
Does new boat have Cats ? 3126's if so have same on my boat so feel free to ask any questions as have picked up loads of info about these over the last few years

Chris, thats very kind, yes Cat 3126's. A big step up from my previous Merc/Isuzu 1.7's! Anything I should be doing in terms of regular maintenance?
 
Last edited:
Last Thursday 29th was the move to Portishead.

Firstly, Jet has become Rafiki:



Now ready to lift at RK Marine. Great job and very accommodating.



A proud if anxious owner:



A serious trailer!



The Truckers. Colin and Dave from Bugler Transport (plus Dave's Grandson). Fantastic service, and great to work with. These guys could not have been mnore helpful and reassuring. Would recommend Chris Bugler and his team to anyone.



Rafiki being launched at Portishead:



Sorting the lines:



Finally off to her new mooring:



This was a long couple of days, stripping and prepping for the move. I was really concerned about things being bounced around and coming to grief during the shipping. Actually the Bugler Team were so professional, nothing internally was disturbed. The hardest job was stripping the radar mast off. The mastic sealing did not want to let go. This needs refitting, and will be done later this week.

We had a bit of a shock when the props came off. Firstly the prop anodes had 75% wasted in 4 weeks! Secondly the port prop nearly fell off! These had not been fitted properly following rectification. No idea why the anodes had wasted so quickly, so I will check for continuity issues soonest. The other anodes were OK. There is no doubt a wasting problem at her previous mooring, as VolvoPaul will attest.

So now we are getting used to her new home. She is due a good wash and brush up this week, and a good dose of Siveryak to follow.


Hi rafiki, just catching up here on a few threads.

I did used to moor at cabin boatyard , for over two years and did make comments about the anode wear there.
We as berth holders did discuss this and compare notes.
Dream finder for some reason lost his anodes and props when there, I was amazed one year how quick mine had eroded away, yet only three weeks ago I was with tim when he had his boat lifted at Portland to see his anodes nearly worn away but after 14 months!! ( princess 40) So I'd say that's an inconclusive report as to why your prop anodes were worn away in such a short space of time.


Who fitted the props and new anodes? Did your surveyor take readings for continuity of the boats bonding system at survey? He should of done and reported on his findings as that's simple A B C stuff on survey, if there were no problems found then I'd say he's either missed it altogether , didn't do a check , or since the boat was launched ther has been damage caused to the boats wiring somewhere.
Now to help you here, do you here I'd be looking very serious as to the cause of the rapid anode wear before you end up with no props and no skin fittings which will sink your boat should there be a stray current from your boats system to the underwater metal gear.
Does the boat also have separate hull anodes linked to the boats system , or a grounding plate on the underside of the hull, if not then the prop anodes are all that's going to do the job.
Why did the props need repairs at survey?
Lastly did either you or your surveyor check the engines pencil anodes? Do you have some service history and invoices to prove these were changed in the last few years of ownership as cat engine anodes do wear out and by the sounds of recent weeks activity I'd be having a look.
 
Hi rafiki, just catching up here on a few threads.

I did used to moor at cabin boatyard , for over two years and did make comments about the anode wear there.
We as berth holders did discuss this and compare notes.
Dream finder for some reason lost his anodes and props when there, I was amazed one year how quick mine had eroded away, yet only three weeks ago I was with tim when he had his boat lifted at Portland to see his anodes nearly worn away but after 14 months!! ( princess 40) So I'd say that's an inconclusive report as to why your prop anodes were worn away in such a short space of time.


Who fitted the props and new anodes? Did your surveyor take readings for continuity of the boats bonding system at survey? He should of done and reported on his findings as that's simple A B C stuff on survey, if there were no problems found then I'd say he's either missed it altogether , didn't do a check , or since the boat was launched ther has been damage caused to the boats wiring somewhere.
Now to help you here, do you here I'd be looking very serious as to the cause of the rapid anode wear before you end up with no props and no skin fittings which will sink your boat should there be a stray current from your boats system to the underwater metal gear.
Does the boat also have separate hull anodes linked to the boats system , or a grounding plate on the underside of the hull, if not then the prop anodes are all that's going to do the job.
Why did the props need repairs at survey?
Lastly did either you or your surveyor check the engines pencil anodes? Do you have some service history and invoices to prove these were changed in the last few years of ownership as cat engine anodes do wear out and by the sounds of recent weeks activity I'd be having a look.
Paul, many thanks for this, all useful stuff.
Firstly, one of the props had some impact damage. This was prior to Stuarts tenure, but he did not get it fixed. The other prop was loose on the shaft. I don't believe that Stuart had lifted the boat in the last 18 months, and so the anodes needed attention. One prop anode had wasted, and one of the trim tabs, both stbd side. There are also 4 large hull anodes, and these were about 50% gone. I had them all changed, and the trim tab needed a repair. The hull was also covered in crustations, so with the poor props, and the barnacles, the top speed was only 22 kn. With fixed props, smooth hull with new antifoul, she flew. When lifted for the truck, the prop nuts were not tight and the prop anodes were 50% wasted. The ground plate had been painted. Crazy! I cleaned this off before she went back in. I will not say on here who did the work, but they were clearly very poor and slapdash. I would be surprised if the prop anodes were zinc! I will definitely check the engine anodes soonest, and do some cont checks.
Thanks for the excellent advice.
 
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