Thank you and Hello!

[V88sah]

I've been sitting on the sidelines for the past 18 months, avidly reading hundreds of posts, learning every day, so a huge thank you to everyone here who posts and shares their knowledge and thoughts on the hundreds of subjects the forum covers from month to month.

The good news is that my search is complete, the deal done, completion took place yesterday and now I simply await delivery of my first boat, a Sealine F33 which will be moored at Woolverstone on the Orwell.

So again, a huge thank you to you all, you've given a newbie a mass of knowledge and quite a few laughs in the process - I hope to be able to add value to some posts in the future too.

In the meantime, steer clear of me for a few months whilst my practical skill catches up with my theoretical knowledge

Steven

 

[Peanuts]

Hi Steve
Welcome to the forum and good news about your boat, I assume from our post this is your first? Not bad, when I started it was a Fletcher 14 ft with a 50 HP merc (1966 vintage) but god did I learn a lot from it.

I have to ask, what engines? KAD 32's? Will you be doing your own work? Plenty of good advice on here about them if needed.

Please keep us up to date on how you get on and don't forget the photo's.

 

[V88sah]

Thank you

I've been saving for a few years

Yes Kad 32's. not sure about the maintenance yet Peanuts, there's a Volvo engineer on site at Woolverstone so may be worth trying to have a go myself, not too far to go if I mess it up. There's been talk on the forum about diesel courses before, so may give one of those a go. Annual service is best left to experts though, agreed?

 

[rafiki_]

Welcome to the forum. The F33 is a great boat, and on my list for a while. The KAD's have a great rep, so very good luck for your future boating.

 

[oGaryo]

Same here Steve, a warm welcome to posting on the forum and likewise, we had our eye on an F33 for a while, great boat with huge internal space for the loa. look forward to hearing about the delivery and your adventures on her. cheers Gary

 

[F33Man]

Where did you buy the boat from? Was it shepperton marina?

 

[rosssavage]

Thank you

I've been saving for a few years

Yes Kad 32's. not sure about the maintenance yet Peanuts, there's a Volvo engineer on site at Woolverstone so may be worth trying to have a go myself, not too far to go if I mess it up. There's been talk on the forum about diesel courses before, so may give one of those a go. Annual service is best left to experts though, agreed?

Nope, annual engine service best performed by you!!

Changing oil, impeller and a few filters is peasy, and you'll learn so much about your engines and their installation whilst doing it. It also means you give the engines a really good look see all over, alerting you to potential future leaks and faults. And of course you'll save in the order of some hundreds of pounds in labour costs. Do the RYA Diesel engine course, get an engineer to do the first service while you watch and have a go. A basic annual service really is easy

Stern drives though are a different matter, cos they're relatively complex and very expensive to mess up. I would ask your chosen engineer if you can watch the drive servicing though, as again gaining familiarity with all the different components, assemblies and vital bellows and hoses can only be a good thing.


Mostest importantly - well done, good luck and enjoy!

 

[V88sah]

Where did you buy the boat from? Was it shepperton marina?

Burton Waters Lincoln in the end. There were about 8 available across the country, not sure i was the shepperton one

 

[V88sah]

Welcome to the forum. The F33 is a great boat, and on my list for a while. The KAD's have a great rep, so very good luck for your future boating.

Thank you rafiki, appreciated.

 

[V88sah]

Same here Steve, a warm welcome to posting on the forum and likewise, we had our eye on an F33 for a while, great boat with huge internal space for the loa. look forward to hearing about the delivery and your adventures on her. cheers Gary

Thanks Gary, I can't wait to post the first couple of pictures, post about my first running aground, first lobster pot etc etc. So much yet to learn

 

[V88sah]

Nope, annual engine service best performed by you!!

Changing oil, impeller and a few filters is peasy, and you'll learn so much about your engines and their installation whilst doing it. It also means you give the engines a really good look see all over, alerting you to potential future leaks and faults. And of course you'll save in the order of some hundreds of pounds in labour costs. Do the RYA Diesel engine course, get an engineer to do the first service while you watch and have a go. A basic annual service really is easy

Stern drives though are a different matter, cos they're relatively complex and very expensive to mess up. I would ask your chosen engineer if you can watch the drive servicing though, as again gaining familiarity with all the different components, assemblies and vital bellows and hoses can only be a good thing.


Mostest importantly - well done, good luck and enjoy!

Thank you, good advice to do engines and let the experts do the drives. I shall look up my local RYA Diesel course. I haven't had to play with engines for so long, company cars etc that I am actually looking forward to it - probably a little different to when I last changed my oil on my Capri back in 1986

 

[rafiki_]

Thank you, good advice to do engines and let the experts do the drives. I shall look up my local RYA Diesel course. I haven't had to play with engines for so long, company cars etc that I am actually looking forward to it - probably a little different to when I last changed my oil on my Capri back in 1986

In some respects easier on a boat, as generally engine access is better. You can suck out the engine oil through the dipstick tube using a Pela or similar vac pump, about £30 on EBay, fill with fresh oil, and change the filter in about 1 hour. You will lose less skin than fumbling around under the bonnet of the old Crapi. Changing the coolant as necessary also quite straightforward. You have additional items like engine anodes to check, but these are an unbolt item. You will need to check the heat exchanger now and again too. Helpful to have a spray around with wd40 type stuff every now and again to resist corrosion. Good luck!