Serendipity to be relaunched: What can possibly go wrong?

[john_morris_uk]

The plan is I fly up to Scotland on Monday. Hire car from the airport and then start cleaning and scrubbing out the interior ready for restoring all the gear on Tuesday and Wednesday and launch on Thursday.

I just phoned the boat yard and have been told that they are still working on the rudder, the boats still inside the shed and the skin fittings have yet to be fitted. I asked if there was some Coppercoat left to put on the skin fittings and they suggested that as they were bronze, they shouldn't get too much weed. I begged to differ and suggested that they put some Coppercoat on them once they were installed... The rudder was being relaminated as he spoke to me... (Layers of quadraxial cloth with epoxy vacuum bagged on with peel ply etc, then fill and fair...

The yard are all confidence and say that although the boat is in the shed it will only be half a day to get her out and step the mast etc and I can start cleaning the inside even if she is still inside on Monday. But they've still got the pads and underneath of the keel to Coppercoat...

Then assuming the new sails fit, the new spray hood and cockpit bimini etc all fit and that the engine instruments and gear all still works... It will be a very quick shakedown sail and then down to Kip to pick up crew on Sunday before sailing South.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Sandy]

What could possibly go wrong?

Flybe, assuming you are flying Exeter/Glasgow, cancel the flight.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Flybe, assuming you are flying Exeter/Glasgow, cancel the flight.

But it was 'Free'.

Well it was my 'Free Flight' for taking out a Flybe Credit Card (The only reason I took one out as I haven't used it!) The trouble was that airport taxes and baggage weren't included so it cost me £55 but I still think it was a not too bad a deal.

However it will only be a bargain if I get there.

Its the via Manchester bit that's tedious... Depart at 0700 and arrive Glasgow at 1040...

 

[TiggerToo]

What could possibly go wrong?

ask Nostro... or Ellie

 

[Simondjuk]

Isn't it the Dash 8 that's also affectionately known as the Crash 8?

In fact, I don't think too many actually have crashed and the nickname came about due to nothing more sinister than a recurring tendency for electrical burning smells and the odd waft of smoke to present themselves in the cockpit.

 

[Sandy]

But it was 'Free'.

Well it was my 'Free Flight' for taking out a Flybe Credit Card (The only reason I took one out as I haven't used it!) The trouble was that airport taxes and baggage weren't included so it cost me £55 but I still think it was a not too bad a deal.

However it will only be a bargain if I get there.

Its the via Manchester bit that's tedious... Depart at 0700 and arrive Glasgow at 1040...

I've had some epic flights to Glasgow with them, usually arriving late. The last time I had to fly up we were told that there was a four hour delay only after we had got into the departure lounge, grrrr. If they still have the Flybe Lounge at Exeter stock up on biscuits; I've even taken wine onboard from the lounge.

The Manchester stop can be a bit rushed if you need to transfer aircraft.

 

[yoda]

batteries, calorifier, mast electrical connections - I think you know all the other possibilities! Agree about copper coat on hull skin fittings (which of course are a risk of leaks on launch). Good luck with the launch.

Yoda

 

[sarabande]

Have they done the anodes ?

Batteries fully charged ?

Any issues with the fridge gassing ?

Any likely hold up with the rigging, e.g. halyards lost in mast ?

What about the rest of the internal kit taken out during the refit ? Wasn't there an issue with management / takeover at the yard ? Do you have an inventory ?

Water tanks washed out and sterilised ?

Nav lights functioning when mast up ? Prior check needed, also for VHF and other aerials ?

Prop shaft stuffing/gland re-packed ?


Wine cellar empty ?


Have lots of fun bringing her down.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Have they done the anodes ?

Batteries fully charged ?

Any issues with the fridge gassing ?

Any likely hold up with the rigging, e.g. halyards lost in mast ?

What about the rest of the internal kit taken out during the refit ? Wasn't there an issue with management / takeover at the yard ? Do you have an inventory ?

Water tanks washed out and sterilised ?

Nav lights functioning when mast up ? Prior check needed, also for VHF and other aerials ?

Prop shaft stuffing/gland re-packed ?


Wine cellar empty ?


Have lots of fun bringing her down.

I think that was the point I was making: so many possible things to go wrong...

The yard destepped the mast and will put it back so the halyards are their problem. They do lots and have a good reputation so hopefully all will be ok...

Fortunately I have steps up the mast and I'm fairly confident that I can sort things out electrically.

All the kit is in a locked store and they have assured me that it is all still locked away. I hope the dinghy and outboard are still there though!

One of the last things I did before leaving Scotland was having a new prop shaft machined. (I supplied the s/s stock and paid with two packets of biscuits to the apprentice - those were the days!!) I've just got to hope it all fits. I did take the propellor hub to the machine shop so I know that's ok. I also hope they put the stripper rope cutter back on properly...

The stern gland is a PSS shaft seal.

The water tanks were emptied so one of the jobs is to fill and flush.

The fridge gas should be ok?

So many possible problems...

 

[oldbilbo]

Harumph! So long as you can keep the ocean on the outside, move the bluddy thing, and steer it.... the rest can be sorted out by leaning against the little pier at Wearde Quay.

Er, ensure spare dry matches, some tea-light candles, half-covered biscuits and coffee. You don't really need anything else.

Dinna fech yersel' laddie! :encouragement:

 

[Elessar]

The plan is I fly up to Scotland on Monday. Hire car from the airport and then start cleaning and scrubbing out the interior ready for restoring all the gear on Tuesday and Wednesday and launch on Thursday.

I just phoned the boat yard and have been told that they are still working on the rudder, the boats still inside the shed and the skin fittings have yet to be fitted. I asked if there was some Coppercoat left to put on the skin fittings and they suggested that as they were bronze, they shouldn't get too much weed. I begged to differ and suggested that they put some Coppercoat on them once they were installed... The rudder was being relaminated as he spoke to me... (Layers of quadraxial cloth with epoxy vacuum bagged on with peel ply etc, then fill and fair...

The yard are all confidence and say that although the boat is in the shed it will only be half a day to get her out and step the mast etc and I can start cleaning the inside even if she is still inside on Monday. But they've still got the pads and underneath of the keel to Coppercoat...

Then assuming the new sails fit, the new spray hood and cockpit bimini etc all fit and that the engine instruments and gear all still works... It will be a very quick shakedown sail and then down to Kip to pick up crew on Sunday before sailing South.

What could possibly go wrong?

Make sure they know that you know that Monday is last chance saloon for the Coppercoat for a Thursday launch. Or they will tell you it will be alright.

 

[Daedelus]

Do make sure they get the rope cutter on correctly.

Mine was fitted for me in a fit of over helpfulness and they butted it against the cutlass bearing instead of the prop. The whole thing gave incredible vibration and whirring noise so they sent down a diver who on his second dive adjusted the position and all was ok.

They apologised and said they had to make the change as the cutlass bearing would have "burned" out thro lack of water.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I will try and give some sort of account when I have a moment. Suffice to say Serendipity was launched (eventually) and having sailed from the Clyde down the N Channel and Irish Sea as far as S Wales we have had to leave her in Milford Haven. The thrust bearing in the Aqua-Drive has started to rumble and it's got louder and louder and has started to get warm. We were about to set off towards Lands End on the tail of the Easterly Gale that had blown through when we realised that we might end up becalmed on the N Cornish Coast with no engine...

A huge public thank you to Ken and Kevin of these forums who volunteered to crew and have done huge amounts of work with me to get Serendipity launched. I cannot explain how generous they have been with their time and effort and hospitality.

 

[Tomahawk]

Well done..

Milford Haven is very pretty and by all accounts a pleasant place to cruise so it may be to the advantage..

 

[john_morris_uk]

Well done..

Milford Haven is very pretty and by all accounts a pleasant place to cruise so it may be to the advantage..

The Haven itself is quite pretty and I learned to sail there so it has happy memories for me.

Milford Haven as a town is betting shops, shops with steel shutters, boarded up pubs and charity shops...

 

[sarabande]

thinking about possible reasons for the Aquadrive thrust bearing misbehaving...

I know it has a pretty large acceptance angle for misalignment, but wonder if any work was done on the engine overwinter resulting in the engine mounts being disturbed, or even beginning to fail. Thus taking the shaft into the thrust bearing outside its design limits ?

Probly by now you have stripped out the thrust bearing, exorcised the components and replaced everything, any way

 

[john_morris_uk]

The thrust bearing is aligned with the shaft as its mounted on a dwarf bulked bolted and glassed into the boat. I was anxious that the alignment wasn't right, but when I fitted the bearing the shaft slipped in straight away. (No double entendre intended...!) I'd replaced the cutlas bearing in the P bracket and had a new shaft machined, but it all went together without any forcing or bending at all. The shaft slipped into the thrust bearing without any persuasion and that convinced me I'd got the thing line up correctly when I built it a few years ago.

Anyway the long and the short of it is that I received by overnight TNT courier a completely new bearing and rebuilt hub all done under warranty by Halyard Marine repairers (TW Marine). Its once more silky smooth and we are on the train up to Milford Haven tomorrow for me to fit it and Gillian and myself to continue the sail South. The latest plan is a few days in the Scilly Isles before a gentle cruise back along the S Coast to Plymouth and our mooring at Saltash.

 

[Twister_Ken]

The plan is I fly up to Scotland on Monday. Hire car from the airport and then start cleaning and scrubbing out the interior ready for restoring all the gear on Tuesday and Wednesday...

Is that really necessary? Every car I've ever hired has been spotless and with a working gearbox.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Is that really necessary? Every car I've ever hired has been spotless and with a working gearbox.

But they remarked how clean it was when I took it back and there were no surcharges.

(On a more serious note, I ended up with an Astra from Enterprise which I got for £14 per day. I thought it was very reasonable.)

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Halyards have to be mounted with a slight offset, they must not be mounted dead in line according to the literature.