Retirement and sailing.

[geem]

I’m a bit sad on spares. We do carry a spare starter motor and a spare alternator.

Expensive ‘heavy’ spares to carry BUT having been stuck in a Marina paying for the privilege for just over a week after our starter motor burnt out waiting for a replacement (another story), I now know that it is much cheaper to carry a spare - just in case!!!

Our starter is double insulated huge 24v thing. Heavy as hell. We have. 4.4 litre engine. A spare ain't going to happen?

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re a washing machine. We had what I believe is known as a "dolly". It's a stainless steel plunger on a stick! You agitate the clothes in a bucket. It does a remarkably good job and we found it invaluable-as well as taking up very little space. It did a very good job with minimal water usage. You will find that laundry services can be extremely expensive, particularly in the Caribbean islands where a local cartel frequently operates a service only wash!
Toilet spares proved to be worth their weight in gold, Jabsco for us, they were virtually impossible to source in the western Caribbean.
Impellers for both the main engine and the outboard were used, raw water pump spare came into play on more than a few occasions. It was handy to be able to swop them out and then set to and repair the sickly one in a more leisurely fashion.
A number of high quality jerry cans. Frequently there can be long trips to find fuel if you are not going to frequent marinas a lot. We used the Canadian made Sceptre cans. Absolutely fantastic-- ours are still going strong after 20 years of cruising.
Mostly just get going! Our only regret is that we didn't leave sooner.....

Thanks for those useful tips. I’m picking up some Septre Jerry cans later today as a result of your post!

I agree about the cost of launderettes in the Caribbean having been stung by them myself in the past. Washing was the issue as drying is not normally a problem. Washing is dry almost before you hang it out on the rail!

I’m also going to get some more toilet spares. We carry a spare pump but I’m about to fit that and I might carry some spares kits and get another spare pump as well. We seem to get through hinges occasionally for the lids and seats but at least having no seat doesn’t make the toilet unusable.

 

[geem]

Thanks for those useful tips. I’m picking up some Septre Jerry cans later today as a result of your post!

I agree about the cost of launderettes in the Caribbean having been stung by them myself in the past. Washing was the issue as drying is not normally a problem. Washing is dry almost before you hang it out on the rail!

I’m also going to get some more toilet spares. We carry a spare pump but I’m about to fit that and I might carry some spares kits and get another spare pump as well. We seem to get through hinges occasionally for the lids and seats but at least having no seat doesn’t make the toilet unusable.

With regard to washing, we use a couple of good quality builders buckets. We keep them in the front deck locker full of rope when not using them. We have a White Knight spinner. It makes the process of washing far easier and we use less water. Soapy clothes can be spun (2800rpm-twice the speed of a domestic washing machine) to remove soap. We use one bucket full of soapy water and one for rinsing. When finished the washing water gets poured in the cockpit to give the teak a clean. We do all the washing and spinning in the cockpit. We used to have a washing machine onboard when we got the boat but removed it in favour of this set up.

 

[Neeves]

Re a washing machine. We had what I believe is known as a "dolly". It's a stainless steel plunger on a stick! You agitate the clothes in a bucket. It does a remarkably good job and we found it invaluable-as well as taking up very little space. It did a very good job with minimal water usage. You will find that laundry services can be extremely expensive, particularly in the Caribbean islands where a local cartel frequently operates a service only wash!

Yours was very upmarket, I'd never heard of stainless steel. Ours was aluminium, an inverted half dome with the base closed off. Perforated with holes - a bit line an inverted colander with a lid (on the underside). Ours was called a 'posser'.

Jonathan

 

[john_morris_uk]

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

I wasn’t sure what you meant by BCD so I looked it up. Google lead me to urban dictionary. I’m just wondering which of the definitions you were referring to? (Visit Urban Dictionary and look it up if you’ve got a reasonably strong stomach and a youthful sense of humour)
I’m hoping you were really referring to a scuba divers buoyancy control device?

 

[Capt Popeye]

Cripes , thought that going for a long Sail meant so much agro , blimey you do far better to Book a Cruise Ship all what you want is either supplied ; done for you ; etc etc and in far greater comfort than a bloody Sail Boat {#

 

[BurnitBlue]

I would spend some time reading through the article in my post and then try asking some one else in the passport office being armed already with their check list.
You might be able to get a different answer. Then ask them for some kind of reference number/name/office identifier to put on your application.

This is certainly works when dealing with the French authorities. Keep asking different people until you get the answer which you like.

Sorry I missed your post. I did read it and I could not see an advantage that relieves me from the burdon of getting my one and only passport renewed. Valid for 10 years there is no problem if I pay attention. Visa cards, ICC, insurances driving licence, SSR, Swedish residency, Tv licence, Radio VHF, Radio SSB, etc, etc. The only Document I possess that does not need a renewal hassle is my Birth Certificate and I am sure someone in Government is agonising about the missing 25 pound fee that they could collect.

 

[geem]

Cripes , thought that going for a long Sail meant so much agro , blimey you do far better to Book a Cruise Ship all what you want is either supplied ; done for you ; etc etc and in far greater comfort than a bloody Sail Boat {#

When you become a Liveaboard you adopt a lifestyle not a 2 week holiday

 

[BurnitBlue]

Anyone who leaves home without a GOOD pair of Vice-Grips is in danger of being drownded.

 

[geem]

Anyone who leaves home without a GOOD pair of Vice-Grips is in danger of being drownded.

Yep also waterpump pliers, vice, adjustable spanner. It's taken us 10 years to build up our tools and spares such that we can deal with most things. If I was to list everything here it might seem alarming to others. We try to have a back up solution such that failure of one thing doesn't mean we are stuck somewhere waiting for parts. We carry on knowing we can sort the problem further down the line. An example would be the generator varistors failed in January. We use the gen to run the watermaker. As a back up we can run the watermaker via the inverter but it needs the engine running. Even then the batteries get discharged. We will be swapping to a larger alternator once I can get new brackets made so the alternator output will fully cover the watermaker load.

 

[cherod]

2 things , roll gey duct tape and can of WD 40

 

[Capt Popeye]

When you become a Liveaboard you adopt a lifestyle not a 2 week holiday

Yes quite so quite so Mr G ; but there are people who sell up and book extended Cruises , one after the other ; a sort of continous holiday ; all one might want included on board , only the Sunshire being not guaranteed ; for some its a new Later Life lifestyle that suits them ; with Drs on board , all food supplied , beverages also supplied , Drinks extra unfortunately ; clothes washing /cleaning arranged as well
No fear of storms , adverse winds or current , no worry about berthing or anchoring , so , whats not to like , eh ?

 

[Capt Popeye]

2 things , roll gey duct tape and can of WD 40

Ah an optimist I recon with inventive skills and a make do and mend attitude {#

 

[geem]

Yes quite so quite so Mr G ; but there are people who sell up and book extended Cruises , one after the other ; a sort of continous holiday ; all one might want included on board , only the Sunshire being not guaranteed ; for some its a new Later Life lifestyle that suits them ; with Drs on board , all food supplied , beverages also supplied , Drinks extra unfortunately ; clothes washing /cleaning arranged as well
No fear of storms , adverse winds or current , no worry about berthing or anchoring , so , whats not to like , eh ?

This is a forum for those that have boats. I think that chat would be better on a cruise forum. I personally can't think of anything worse than a cruise. A one stop in each place so you can buy a fridge magnet and tick it off saying I have done that place when really you have done nothing other than what the cruise ship wanted you to do. It's my idea of hell. One man's meat is another man's poison

 

[Frank Holden]

Speed reading this thread as having first coffee of the day aboard my Sealord which is in the 32nd year of her circumnavigation - 28 of them in my ownership.
Currently in Puerto Lucia, Ecuador, with the alternator ashore being 'sorted'.
Some quick thoughts - if you don't bring it you wont have it. Skills are easy to find, parts are not.
That said parts are said to be easy in Panama but workmanship is iffy.
Here in Puerto Lucia in the last little bit of 'recent' - the last month - a 49 foot Southerly has been in having major work done on lifting keel mechanism, a Lagoon about 45 foot lifted out for saildrive work, an Oyster with two blown out sails, something from the US having major steel work done on her hull, , me with my alternator and also a cooling issue tracked down to 38 years of sludge in the heat exchanger FW side - oh and a genoa to go ashore for a bit of TLS. Everyone very happy with the standard and all except me had come back out of the Pacific when on way from Panama to Galapagos or further west.
And yesterday a 30 foot 'Maxi' turned up having been using their emergency tiller for a bit.

Back on track - do not leave home without sorting those horrible deck fittings on your chain plates, and replace the Tball fittings at the top of your lowers with through bolted tangs.

Pics to follow later today - after breakfast,etc etc.

 

[Capt Popeye]

This is a forum for those that have boats. I think that chat would be better on a cruise forum. I personally can't think of anything worse than a cruise. A one stop in each place so you can buy a fridge magnet and tick it off saying I have done that place when really you have done nothing other than what the cruise ship wanted you to do. It's my idea of hell. One man's meat is another man's poison

Yep quite so Mr G but this post has as its basis a change of Life Style , thinking of sailng into the blue yonder , considering the necessities of doing so and becomming self sufficient , up to a point ; but at a Senior age one is perhaps not best to deal with the happenings that life can spring upon one , eh ? Yep Young Age , good health , and a willinness to go anywhere , a 'gun ho' attitude , do anything , invinciple , seems all possible ; yep we do have boats them that post upon these pages , but not all of us will aspire to embark on such a Journey , Voyage , as this Author has ? So doing this voyage in Safety , Comfort , with on board medical assistance , good food and drink , a experienced Skipper and Crew , good company of others on voyage , would I thought be something that any Boat Owner should consider as an alternative to 'doing it the hard risky way' ?

 

[cherod]

This is a forum for those that have boats. I think that chat would be better on a cruise forum. I personally can't think of anything worse than a cruise. A one stop in each place so you can buy a fridge magnet and tick it off saying I have done that place when really you have done nothing other than what the cruise ship wanted you to do. It's my idea of hell. One man's meat is another man's poison

Totally agree ?

 

[Frank Holden]

John ,
have you read the technical bits of the Camomile Blog? Not just this first page but there is lots of wisdom throughout the blog.
Blue water preparation

Oh and how is your baby stay secured? Have the bulkheads outside the frd head started to lift yetfrom the cabin sole yet?

Re alternators and starter motor. I have the original MD17D with a left handed starter motor so for me that is essential spare.
There was a boat - a jenny - re-engined in Panama 3 years earlier that had her starter motor fail when up a caleta in southern Patagonia about 12 years ago. They were really up 'caleta de mierda sin remo'
Original Volvo 50 amp 'dumb' alternator was replaced with a 12/80 battery sensed alternator so old one is the spare.
I carry complete spare pump plus spares. That way its a straight change out in an emergency and I can sort old one in my own time. Important spare parts seem to be jokers and the top seal fitting if a newish Jabsco.

Photos of the deck staple - replaced in BA only 4 years earlier - that failed on the way from Tonga to NZ and how we fixed it and saved the rig. New ones are heavier diameter.

 

[Concerto]

John ,
have you read the technical bits of the Camomile Blog? Not just this first page but there is lots of wisdom throughout the blog.
Blue water preparation

In my earlier post it was the owners of Camomile I was chatting with. I did not know they had a blog. She is currently in a mud berth in Gillingham Marina, local to me.

 

[Frank Holden]

In my earlier post it was the owners of Camomile I was chatting with. I did not know they had a blog. She is currently in a mud berth in Gillingham Marina, local to me.

Interesting, I was wondering where they had got to.

This is a handy bit of kit. Makes changing those Volvo stern glands tucked under the fuel tank much much easier.