Wiggo
Well-Known Member
Well, Day 2 really as we decided it was too late to go anywhere by the time we got down yesterday. There was a Plan. Today was a bit manky, forecast-wise, but we reckoned we could get in a run to Weymouth today, then be away sharpish the next morning to Plymouth.
Set off at 1300 today and the boatr was running very well, thanks to fresh antifoul and polished sterngear. Southampton Water was fine, the Western Solent a little lumpy but we figured the true test would be once we cleared Hurst Castle. And so it proved. Christchurch Bay was blowing old boots with 25 knots of wind and more water over the top than I can remember being out in before. So we cleared Hengistbury, still planning on rounding Anvil Point and carrying on for Weymouth, but by the time we were 3 or 4 miles out it became obvious that we would be taking it on the nose all the way.
Then the starboard tacho dropped to zero, but the engine carried on running. A few minutes later, it started up again, then spent the rest of the day working intermittently. No idea what the one downstairs was doing, but that's a job for tomorrow. Discretion being the better part of valour and all that, I decided th Poole would be a good place to go, and changed course accordingly. Bang on cue, a mile out from the Swashway and we get a very heavy vibration on the port engine again.
Down to one engine, bashing through some serious lumps and rolling like a pig, I'm very glad we decided to turn for Poole, as the thought of being out on the real clag on one engine does not appeal. Dolphin Haven (or whatever it's called these days) is full, as no-one bar us has ventured out today, so we loiter on the Town Quay while I dive into the engine bay. The flexible part of theport coupling has started to break up, so after a quick call to BD Marine, we're up to Cobbs Quay.
They're tryuing to track down a replacement coupling and will get over and fit it as soon as possible, but forthe moment we're going nowhere. On the positive side, I'm now getting very good at single engined manouevring...
Set off at 1300 today and the boatr was running very well, thanks to fresh antifoul and polished sterngear. Southampton Water was fine, the Western Solent a little lumpy but we figured the true test would be once we cleared Hurst Castle. And so it proved. Christchurch Bay was blowing old boots with 25 knots of wind and more water over the top than I can remember being out in before. So we cleared Hengistbury, still planning on rounding Anvil Point and carrying on for Weymouth, but by the time we were 3 or 4 miles out it became obvious that we would be taking it on the nose all the way.
Then the starboard tacho dropped to zero, but the engine carried on running. A few minutes later, it started up again, then spent the rest of the day working intermittently. No idea what the one downstairs was doing, but that's a job for tomorrow. Discretion being the better part of valour and all that, I decided th Poole would be a good place to go, and changed course accordingly. Bang on cue, a mile out from the Swashway and we get a very heavy vibration on the port engine again.
Down to one engine, bashing through some serious lumps and rolling like a pig, I'm very glad we decided to turn for Poole, as the thought of being out on the real clag on one engine does not appeal. Dolphin Haven (or whatever it's called these days) is full, as no-one bar us has ventured out today, so we loiter on the Town Quay while I dive into the engine bay. The flexible part of theport coupling has started to break up, so after a quick call to BD Marine, we're up to Cobbs Quay.
They're tryuing to track down a replacement coupling and will get over and fit it as soon as possible, but forthe moment we're going nowhere. On the positive side, I'm now getting very good at single engined manouevring...
