Retirement and sailing.

[john_morris_uk]

Rather than pollute the ‘A few gags thread’ in the lounge with any news of a personal nature I thought I’d better post on here what’s happening. One or two forummites were graciously interested to hear that I have recently retired. Retired is a slightly odd word in this context as I can’t retire from the role that I have in some ways and yet I have retired from the living that I was in. I’m not retiring as an RYA examiner or instructor so I guess I’ll carry on working occasionally in that capacity. However what might be of interest is that I’m working every day on our boat preparing to set sail for a year or two to see where we get to. The plan is to leave UK in July to be in the Canaries by November. Fly home for Christmas and then back out to the Canaries to do the transatlantic in early January when the Northeast trades have properly set in.

The old engine has been removed and sold and the new beta 38 is sitting in its crate under the boat while I wait for a new fuel tank to be built. I’ve just finished widening the saloon bunks or settee berths as they’ve always been annoyingly narrow. Narrow is good for sleeping but we don’t use them for sleeping and they were a bit narrow for sitting on comfortably. Hawke House Marine are coming to measure for new upholstery. There’s a generator and water maker to fit and the Bimini was fitted and checked a couple of weeks ago and it’s now gone back to have final adjustments made.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Here’s the saloon settee widened.



And here’s what a boat in refit mess looks like. I’m just about to true up the new engine bearers and glass over them….

 

[john_morris_uk]

I suppose some of this ought to be in PBO…

 

[john_morris_uk]

Saloon table is out being modified and revarnished.

 

[Sandy]

Have a cracking trip @john_morris_uk and when you are next in Saltash Sailing Club let me buy you a drink.

 

[[2574]]

Rather than pollute the ‘A few gags thread’ in the lounge with any news of a personal nature I thought I’d better post on here what’s happening. One or two forummites were graciously interested to hear that I have recently retired. Retired is a slightly odd word in this context as I can’t retire from the role that I have in some ways and yet I have retired from the living that I was in. I’m not retiring as an RYA examiner or instructor so I guess I’ll carry on working occasionally in that capacity. However what might be of interest is that I’m working every day on our boat preparing to set sail for a year or two to see where we get to. The plan is to leave UK in July to be in the Canaries by November. Fly home for Christmas and then back out to the Canaries to do the transatlantic in early January when the Northeast trades have properly set in.

The old engine has been removed and sold and the new beta 38 is sitting in its crate under the boat while I wait for a new fuel tank to be built. I’ve just finished widening the saloon bunks or settee berths is they’ve always been annoyingly narrow. Narrow is good for sleeping but we don’t use them for sleeping and they were a bit narrow for sitting on comfortably. Hawke House Marine are coming to measure for new upholstery. There’s a generator and water maker to fit and the Bimini was fitted and checked A couple of weeks ago and it’s gone away to have final adjustments made.

Excellent news. Adventures await. Proper job.

 

[Birdseye]

Once had a long chat with a guy who was finishing his round the world retirement trip on a big Moody. When asked what problems he had such as storms and foreign paperwork etc, he said the biggest issue, indeed the main one, was boat maintenance. As he put it "try getting a gearbox repair in Pago Pago".

I never did the RTW but I did some live aboard. My biggest problem was the toilet. Marine bogs arent designed for heavy use. I also found that almost 50% of the time we were off a mooring , the engine was on. I ended up flying back from spain with the gearbox in hand luggage ( it was befoire 9/11) since I couldnt get it repaired there.

So I suppose the message is to make sure the basics are sound, you have good tools, and good DIY skills.

 

[awol]

Does that mean you have ceased to be the arbiter of good taste on these fora? No more threats of excommunication from the godly?

 

[john_morris_uk]

Does that mean you have ceased to be the arbiter of good taste on these fora? No more threats of excommunication from the godly?

I haven't given this up (yet...). I'm going to have a chat with Mike (FAT) and the publishers as to whether they want me to carry on whenever we're in Internet range. I'd miss the chat in the background on the pages that aren't visible to most.,.,., just to tease you. In reality those conversations are usually about spotting spammers who have tried to find yet another login and another way to put adverts for trainers or gambling sites in Taiwan or whatever all over the forum.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Once had a long chat with a guy who was finishing his round the world retirement trip on a big Moody. When asked what problems he had such as storms and foreign paperwork etc, he said the biggest issue, indeed the main one, was boat maintenance. As he put it "try getting a gearbox repair in Pago Pago".

I never did the RTW but I did some live aboard. My biggest problem was the toilet. Marine bogs arent designed for heavy use. I also found that almost 50% of the time we were off a mooring , the engine was on. I ended up flying back from spain with the gearbox in hand luggage ( it was befoire 9/11) since I couldnt get it repaired there.

So I suppose the message is to make sure the basics are sound, you have good tools, and good DIY skills.

I agree. Blue water sailing is sometimes described as ‘fixing your boat in nice places’. I’m reasonably competent in DIY but I’m going to miss the workshop. Just how many tools does one take? One torque wrench or both of them (or neither)? If I take chisels and planes I need to take a sharpening system. We carry various bits of hose and gasket material and even a spare complete Jabasco heads pump, but what other spares? Do I take the battery router and a selection of bits? The Makita 18 v battery drill is a given but what else? Rattle gun, jig saw, circular saw? Etc etc.

 

[dslittle]

I agree. Blue water sailing is sometimes described as ‘fixing your boat in nice places’. I’m reasonably competent in DIY but I’m going to miss the workshop. Just how many tools does one take? One torque wrench or both of them (or neither)? If I take chisels and planes I need to take a sharpening system. We carry various bits of hose and gasket material and even a spare complete Jabasco heads pump, but what other spares? Do I take the battery router and a selection of bits? The Makita 18 v battery drill is a given but what else? Rattle gun, jig saw, circular saw? Etc etc.

From our experience, you won’t take enough of the things you will need and too many of the things that you don’t need (like a BCD etc…).

In reality, I have more - and better - tools on the boat than I do at home. Surprisingly to me, things (and work) seem to be better value in the UK than abroad

Good luck with the adventure

 

[mjcoon]

I agree. Blue water sailing is sometimes described as ‘fixing your boat in nice places’. I’m reasonably competent in DIY but I’m going to miss the workshop. Just how many tools does one take? One torque wrench or both of them (or neither)? If I take chisels and planes I need to take a sharpening system. We carry various bits of hose and gasket material and even a spare complete Jabasco heads pump, but what other spares? Do I take the battery router and a selection of bits? The Makita 18 v battery drill is a given but what else? Rattle gun, jig saw, circular saw? Etc etc.

Electrical tools: multi-meter, special bits, soldering irons, heat shrink, heat gun etc...?

 

[john_morris_uk]

Electrical tools: multi-meter, special bits, soldering irons, heat shrink, heat gun etc...?

Got all those (except I’m not 100% what you mean by ‘special bits’)

 

[[2574]]

essential for a cruising yacht:

1 - cable ties
2- rubber bands
3 - post it notes
4 - sense of humour

 

[john_morris_uk]

essential for a cruising yacht:

1 - cable ties
2- rubber bands
3 - post it notes
4 - sense of humour

Wire coat hanger.
Gin
Single Malt

 

[mjcoon]

Got all those (except I’m not 100% what you mean by ‘special bits’)

Also known as security bits, e.g. Pentalobe_screw. But could also refer to woodworking Forstner bits.

 

[Concerto]

Well done John. You are certainly getting prepared in a sensible way.

Chatting with some owners who recently completed a 7 year round the world trip, they found the biggest problem was fresh water. They always had limited supplies from their watermaker and NEVER drank anything from the main tanks unlessit had been filtered and boiled first as it always contained bugs.

Devise a storage system for storing all the food supplies you are carrying. Each box should be labeled clearly with a reference number and a location in the boat. All cardboard and paper labels were removed and the contents were written on the cans etc. before being placed and recorded in a data base so you know where it is and marked off when you have consumed it. The reason for removing the cardboard and paper is frequently in foreign climes insects lay eggs on them, so this saves an infestation.

Have you considered clothes washing? There are a number of small portable washing machines that can be run using an inverter. Again this uses water, if not your clothes will eventually turn grey.

They also said to have all your rigging fitted with Norseman or similar terminals. If the wire starts fracturing, you replace from some ships stock using the same terminals (always have some spares and cones). Cut out the damaged section of wire and keep the balance provided it is longer than the shortest piece of standing rigging as it can still be reused.

All the other posts have forgotten to add Duck tape and self amalgamating tape. Both can be very useful and not easy to locate in some places.

Hope I have not been preaching to the converted.

 

[BurnitBlue]

Ensure your passport(s) have a few years left on them. I did not. Mine expires 7 Jan 2023 which is now a problem. I must take a flight home to renew because the waiting time to get it back is 10 weeks which violates the 90/180. I have decided the best place to leave the boat while i travel home will be in the Canaries because they may be a bit lax being a special EU thingy. Also Etias will not have kicked in until 2023. I will have used up most, if not all, of my 90/180 getting to the Canaries. This is a pain because I have renewed the last two passports outside UK but after Brexit I don't think that is possible anymore.

 

[geem]

I agree. Blue water sailing is sometimes described as ‘fixing your boat in nice places’. I’m reasonably competent in DIY but I’m going to miss the workshop. Just how many tools does one take? One torque wrench or both of them (or neither)? If I take chisels and planes I need to take a sharpening system. We carry various bits of hose and gasket material and even a spare complete Jabasco heads pump, but what other spares? Do I take the battery router and a selection of bits? The Makita 18 v battery drill is a given but what else? Rattle gun, jig saw, circular saw? Etc etc.

Angle grinder, Dremel, epoxy resin, glass cloth, underwater epoxy, sewing machine, I could go on and on. Our sewing machine gets a lot of use?

 

[Uricanejack]

Good luck and enjoy your retirement.
I am contemplating retiring myself just not sure yet.