Superanne finally launched and alongside new pontoon at home

[Bajansailor]

+ 1 re the nice photos - such a contrast to photos you have posted previously of the Northern Baltic in deep mid-winter.
How warm does your little creek get for swimming?
I love that wee excavator - it must be very satisfying to work with. Do you have to dredge the creek out every year?

 

[Refueler]

The climate here goes from average -25C to +30C through the year ....

Summers are warm and often humid - being on the coast.

River stays relatively cold but ok for swimming .... but my channel actually gets quite warm ... never checked temp - but probably in the high teens C.

The Excavator was brought in from Germany ... can dig to 2.1m deep ... capable of lifting 200kgs as is ... up to 400kgs with added weight at towing end of frame. All self powered by small Briggs and Stratton motor with hydraulic pump.
Weighs just over 400kg.
Checked with Traffic Dept. I can tow it in daylight hours at max 40km/hr without need to register it. But of course will be getting a suitable trailer for it ..

Idea is to convert a pontoon to sit excavator on ... generator and mud pump other end of pontoon to help balance out ... plus extra buoyancy via drums under excavator end.

Intention to not only service my boat channel - but to offer out to dig other channels on the river ... there are quite a number with same problem of silting up.

My channel only needs it every 4 - 5 years ... but the entrance silts up every year and I have to 'drive' my boat through to create a channel. Shore based excavator cannot reach it ... so is reason to develop my pontoon idea.

 

[Refueler]

Nice pictures Nigel. Well done on one man marina ol'will

Tks ... when I think how much I paid each year to moor the boat in UK - for maybe 2 weeks total sailing time a year .... having now boat in private channel bottom of garden ... no fees to anyone ....

I can live with paying out for gear to improve.

Excavator : 4000 euros
Pontoons (3 large, 1 small) ; 2500 euros
Slipway concrete slabs ; 300 euros
Bits and bobs : ~ 400 euros.

That's less than 3yrs of what I was paying marina fees in UK.

 

[Ribtecer]

And I love to spirit of doing it all yourself.

Get it set up and you'll be completely self sufficient.

 

[Refueler]

My work is International ... but I am based at home ... so I am there to enjoy both - work and play ...

The soviet motor boat has usually a half tank of fuel - enough for an afternoon on river - bit of fishing ...

Main boat has similar + the sails .... so a day or even weekend on river is always there ..

I get really tired and mentally struck out from work ... so its good to have the boat stuff to work on ... its therapy.