Stuck at Ilfracombe

[SaltyMoose]

So today I tried to source a cheap hook up so I can run a battery charger to hopefully repair the batteries on the boat, apparently it should help desultfate the plates in the batteries and hopefully bring them back to life.

I could have gone to Go Out doors to get one but it was just too far for me to bother when I can make my own.

I bought a 16A plug from screwfix for £3.99 and a cheap (apparently protected) extension cable from B&M for £15



Off with the plug!



And on with the new!



Not too bad for £18.99



Haven’t tested it yet, need to go get a card for the electricity on the marina. If it works I’ve got a Victron smart charger to hopefully repair those batteries, if not looks like I'm buying new batteries.

 

[Sandy]

Leaving Ilfracombe:

Gawd that abomination is still there!

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Gawd that abomination is still there!

I think Verity is magnificent. A most creative work of art with quite clear symbolic meaning. As good as anything made in the classic era of British sculpture and and lot more accessible.

Art should never play safe or walk small

 

[Bristolfashion]

Golly, you float in 0.4 metres?

Under the keel mate.

 

[Sandy]

I think Verity is magnificent. A most creative work of art with quite clear symbolic meaning. As good as anything made in the classic era of British sculpture and and lot more accessible.

Art should never play safe or walk small

We will need to agree to differ. I think it is a total abomination and have not visited Ilfracombe since it was erected.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Under the keel mate.

Forgive my confusion. You didn’t mention ’under the keel’.

 

[harvey38]

I think Verity is magnificent. A most creative work of art with quite clear symbolic meaning. As good as anything made in the classic era of British sculpture and and lot more accessible.

Art should never play safe or walk small

Each to their own but it's bloody awful and if it is so good, why stick it on the end of pier in a run down town by the sea?

 

[Bristolfashion]

Forgive my confusion. You didn’t mention ’under the keel’.

True.

When I spoke to the extra helpful Tawe Barrage lock operator, he directed us to deeper water - after a splendid passage from Tenby, the conditions entering swansea were - yuk - heavy rain & thick fog.

 

[Emmark]

Ah, we saw you anchored as we came in. We couldn't see the entrance lights in the fog and no answer from Swansea Harbour radio. We just came in - carefully. Since we got down to 0.4 in the harbour, it was unlikely anything big was coming out - nothing showing on ais.

Anyway, good luck coming in. Both the barrage lock (ch 18) and marina (ch 80) are very easy and staff helpful.

If you fancy, come and say "hi" - we're on Bahari on R21 - very distinctive with a light blue hull with a bright red tender on top.

I’m on R23 about to get my rigging done.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Each to their own but it's bloody awful and if it is so good, why stick it on the end of pier in a run down town by the sea?

You are rather behind the curve here. Ilfracombe is a rather nice town, and unlike such over subscribed honey pots such as Padstow, it retains traditional shops and utilities. Like all seaside towns it is seasonal and thus vulnerable, particularly as off the end of motorway or rail links.

The purpose of public art is to invigorate an area, and to signal hope, such as done by Angel of the North, so the seaward entrance to the port is most appropriate. And the addition of a sculpture by Britains premier artist is quite an accolade for Ilfracombe.

 

[harvey38]

You are rather behind the curve here. Ilfracombe is a rather nice town, and unlike such over subscribed honey pots such as Padstow, it retains traditional shops and utilities. Like all seaside towns it is seasonal and thus vulnerable, particularly as off the end of motorway or rail links.

The purpose of public art is to invigorate an area, and to signal hope, such as done by Angel of the North, so the seaward entrance to the port is most appropriate. And the addition of a sculpture by Britains premier artist is quite an accolade for Ilfracombe.

Been going there for 50 years+ and just seen a constant, steady decline, litter, dog foul, some of the fine original, Victorian buildings neglected (apart from the Spoons renovation). My daughter went recently and the photos show a sad picture, I stopped going a decade ago and apart from a trip for nostalgia reasons maybe next year with my brother, probably won't go again

 

[38mess]

We went to Ilfracombe around 5 years ago when we stayed in Comb Martin.
William Shatner once said that Ilfracombe was 'Laced with Prostitutes' but we didn't see any.
The yacht club was lovely. The harbour was just perfect.
The town was good, some nice shops and pubs. Problem is North Devon and Cornwall is off the beaten track and is a bit of a drive from the motorway. It doesn't get much in the way of passing trade in my humble opinion. I would go again.

 

[SaltyMoose]

I quite like Ilfracombe, the people there are some of the nicest people I’ve encountered. It seems to have everything one would need and lots of things are sourced and sold locally, the local fish and chips went down a treat!

The only down side I found was it was difficult to get good phone signal, but other than that I shall definitely return one day!

Weather at the weekend, Saturday/Sunday looking good so far to make a run for Milford Haven, Monday looking like a nice flat day to negotiate Skomer and hopefully get to Fishguard.

 

[Emmark]

What part of swansea marina have they put you?
Gallini’s is nice food and reasonable prices, the anchor is okay for basic things like Pizza, GlenAlly isn’t a bad cafe either.
If you haven't found it there is a co op shop by pontoon T.
The yacht club and sainsbury are only a short walk too.
Electric seems to last years i’m on the same £20 I bought last year.

 

[Seastoke]

I quite like Ilfracombe, the people there are some of the nicest people I’ve encountered. It seems to have everything one would need and lots of things are sourced and sold locally, the local fish and chips went down a treat!

The only down side I found was it was difficult to get good phone signal, but other than that I shall definitely return one day!

Weather at the weekend, Saturday/Sunday looking good so far to make a run for Milford Haven, Monday looking like a nice flat day to negotiate Skomer and hopefully get to Fishguard.

Really enjoyed your thread so far , be careful for depth at Fishguard at anchor , and it is worth the walk up the hill into town. Good luck.

 

[SaltyMoose]

What part of swansea marina have they put you?
Gallini’s is nice food and reasonable prices, the anchor is okay for basic things like Pizza, GlenAlly isn’t a bad cafe either.
If you haven't found it there is a co op shop by pontoon T.
The yacht club and sainsbury are only a short walk too.
Electric seems to last years i’m on the same £20 I bought last year.

I’m in the part just after the lock near reception on H15. When I arrived and finally got electric set up there was already some credit loaded on to it, can’t add my credit until that one’s used up and I was told to use it and it’s lasting forever, charged 2 drill batteries, electric shaver and 2 leisure batteries and it’s still going!

Really enjoyed your thread so far , be careful for depth at Fishguard at anchor , and it is worth the walk up the hill into town. Good luck.

I’m going to have to anchor quite far out by the look of it, got a dinghy onboard so I’ll go and have an explore.

 

[Emmark]

I trickled charged 3 batteries all last winter, run lights, use a power wash from time to time, boil an electric kettle a few times each visit and have used about £10 in 15 months.

I seen Bristolfashions boat today with a bright red tender but no sign of him

I get why you said the berth is narrow if your in phase 1, there’s more room up the far end by the tower.
Your close to Sainsburys and the Yacht club though!

 

[nortada]

We went to Ilfracombe around 5 years ago when we stayed in Combe Martin.
William Shatner once said that Ilfracombe was 'Laced with Prostitutes' but we didn't see any.
The yacht club was lovely. The harbour was just perfect.
The town was good, some nice shops and pubs. Problem is North Devon and Cornwall is off the beaten track and is a bit of a drive from the motorway. It doesn't get much in the way of passing trade in my humble opinion. I would go again.

Ahh! Combe Martin, longest high street in England, with the Bristol Channel at one end and the Deck Of Cards at the other - remember it well. Before the breathalyser legislation - wonder how we all survived on those winding North Devon roads.

 

[Tranona]

Ahh! Combe Martin, longest high street in England, with the Bristol Channel at one end and the Deck Of Cards at the other - remember it well. Before the breathalyser legislation - wonder how we all survived on those winding North Devon roads.

Its the solid "hedges" that keep you from ending up in a ditch where nobody finds you for days. Different from your current neck of the woods where many roads are lined with watery ditches.

Much the same in Brittany where many retirees who have gone there for the cheap wine manage to find their way home safely every night.

 

[nortada]

Its the solid "hedges" that keep you from ending up in a ditch where nobody finds you for days. Different from your current neck of the woods where many roads are lined with watery ditches.

Much the same in Brittany where many retirees who have gone there for the cheap wine manage to find their way home safely every night.

The solid hedges (stone and earth banks) tended to be in South Devon. In North Devon it was easy to vanish down a bank or into a road side copse, as I demonstrated at Braunton, driving between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, late one night - just missed a telegraph pole.

Police car following pushed me back onto the road and sent me on my way with the suggestion, “Be more careful”.