Round Britain Update 2

SnaxMuppet

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It is a month on from my last update report... how time flies... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

We have 2 new sponsors on board. Gill have agreed to supply me with clothing and Marine Electonic Supplies (MES) are loaning us an AIS-B transponder.

The RNLI have agreed to install their new flagship safety device called Man Over Board Guardian. MOB Guardian is perfect for my event... if I have a serious problem or fall overboard the Guardian will fire off a message via the Iridium Satellite to a control room in Poole where Search and Rescue efforts can be initiated. Not only that but all the time throughout the trip the Guardian will send hourly position reports to the centre and so an accurate log of past and current whereabouts will be available to the centre at all times.

MOB Guardian is primarily aimed at the fishing fleet but in due course it may be developed for the leisure market and so watch this space.

Stargate had an RNLI SEA Check today. There is a lot to do to the boat to get it up to the standards sensible for this trip but when I set out I will have at least the minimum recommended by the RNLI for my boat and my useage.

The RNLI would like to offer you a completely free, friendly and confidential service that looks at safety aspects involved with your boat. SEA Check is neither a test nor an inspection and there is no pass or fail. Conducted by one of their highly trained volunteers, SEA Check is a personal face-to-face safety advice service that takes place on board your own craft. You set the time and we tailor our visit to your vessel and the type of boating that you do. This is absolutely free so why not take advantage of the offer and book a SEA Check through the RNLI web site?

Passage planning continues. It is very detailed and so it is taking some doing. I have now done about 50% so now I am having a short rest to regroup. I will return to it and complete task in a week or two.

With the SEA Check completed here are some of the things that need doing:

<ul type="square"> [*]Source and fit Aux Engine
[*]Fit jackstays along both sides
[*]Get emergency steering arm fabricated
[*]Source new ISO9650 4 person liferaft
[*]Source and fit radar transponder
[*]Fit mounting for anchor ball on deck
[*]Install additional fuse panel for new electrics
[*]Install additional fuel tanks with changeover valves
[*]Source and install rope boarding ladder
[*]Source and install inflatable lifebuoy
[*]Replace Lifejacket
[*]Source spares kit for engine
[*]Source and fit kedge anchor in cockpit
[*]Source 50m tow line
[*]Source external window covers for when in port
[/list]

... and this is just some of the items. How am I going to have time...? At the moment it does seem like a huge task to get everything done before May but I will have a go.

Thanks for your interest.
 
Never seen an anchor ball on a 20' boat!

And please don't tell us that you've set off in the past with no engine spares (or hopefully you had an auxiliary, but that's on your list too).

Wouldn't it have been easier to have bought the hovercraft?
 
[ QUOTE ]

Never seen an anchor ball on a 20' boat!

[/ QUOTE ] Then you have never seen me at anchor in my Antares 650 then. Even posted a story when I was nearly run down by a raggie, who then gave me a bollocking for not giving way to sail, even though his words were echoing off my anchor ball and anchor chain.

Anyway, Arny can you explain the following:

How do you fit an emergency steering arm to an outboard??
Why not use your anchor light mast for your anchor ball?
Where are the extra fuel tanks going to go? I know you are going to say in 'the cellar', so you will have to find room for al the junk down there. This is what mine looks like.

400701428_6951564e47.jpg


Why is it a safety requirement to fit external window covers for when in port? Does that include the patio doors? What do they do?

Anyway, it looks like you are progressing nicely. Keep up the reports.
 
Nope... 50m

My boat has fairly light weight cleats and so I will need to take the line round the stern and connect it to the stern cleats too. It would also allow me to spring it to reduce snatch. If the towline is too short you won't get an effective spring.

It is also that long to act as an additional length of anchor warp.
 
[ QUOTE ]
How do you fit an emergency steering arm to an outboard??
Why not use your anchor light mast for your anchor ball?
Where are the extra fuel tanks going to go? I know you are going to say in 'the cellar', so you will have to find room for al the junk down there. This is what mine looks like.
Why is it a safety requirement to fit external window covers for when in port? Does that include the patio doors? What do they do?

Anyway, it looks like you are progressing nicely. Keep up the reports.

[/ QUOTE ]

On the Suzuki 115hp (may be the same on the 90hp?) the engine is steered by connection of the steering to an arm attached to the engine. It is attached by a single bolt/nut because it pushes/pulls laterally thereby moving the engine. That arm has 2 holes and removal of the bolt would allow a flat bar with two matching holes to be bolted on and hey presto emergency steering should my steering cable break. I will get some photos and post them to explain better. It certainly isn't something I would have bothered about prior to the SEA Check but it is so simple and it won't be expensive so well worth doing.

Anchor ball... Any position close to the cabin won't allow the ball to be obvious enough. Not many people expect to see an anchor ball on any vessel let alone a small motor boat but we should really display one when anchored so it has to be obviously visible. The pole on the bow is cheap and easy so why not.

Fuel tanks... I can fit one in the lazarette connected to the existing fuel line with a changeover valve and the others will go on the cockpt floor... one attached to the spare engine and one as a spare not attached to anything. That will give me an extra 90 litres AND be legal!

As far a space is concerned..sure, it will be full but I won't have an engine down there (it will be on the transom) and my layout down there is a little different to yours so it looks like I might have a bit more space anyway.

Window covers aren't for safety... they are to give me some privacy and to allow some RNLI/Sponsor signage when in port! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I will get some photos and post them to explain better. It certainly isn't something I would have bothered about prior to the SEA Check but it is so simple and it won't be expensive so well worth doing. <span style="color:blue">Worth knowing though. </span>

Anchor ball... Any position close to the cabin won't allow the ball to be obvious enough. Not many people expect to see an anchor ball on any vessel let alone a small motor boat but we should really display one when anchored so it has to be obviously visible. The pole on the bow is cheap and easy so why not. <span style="color:blue">Yes, I may adopt that as I have driven off twice with my ball showing. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif </span>

As far a space is concerned..sure, it will be full but I won't have an engine down there (it will be on the transom) and my layout down there is a little different to yours so it looks like I might have a bit more space anyway. <span style="color:blue"> The engine I keep down there is not my Aux, but my tender engine. I run a three engined boat. <span style="color:green">(Boasting smiley)</span> </span>

Window covers aren't for safety... they are to give me some privacy and to allow some RNLI/Sponsor signage when in port!<span style="color:blue"> Of course!</span>
 
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