Back On An Even Keel

 

We left Gweek Boatyard (www.gweekquay.co.uk) over a week ago and I thought I would blog about our experience there and what we have learned about keel bolts.  In my previous blog I spoke about the tricky navigation up to the head of the Helford River and our relief of having made the passage safely and having Wendy Woo lifted out of the water.

 

As soon as our boat was safely on the trolley we set about stripping out the internal fittings to give access to the keel bolts.  The saloon floor needed to be removed first, followed by the water tanks, the waste tank and then the lead ballast blocks.  This all sounds straightforward, but nothing ever is!  We have a lot of things to move first, and it reminds me sometimes of those puzzles where you have to move tiles around to make the picture.  Each tile moved is in the way of the next tile and so on.  As soon as you start removing things they get in the way of the next stage.  Cushions were stacked up, the saloon table was lifted up on to the bench seat and the floor boards were stacked to one side.  The more dismantling we did the more we had to climb over or around the things we had moved, but at least the floor came up without a problem.

 

Next out were the water tanks.  Despite having emptied the contents into the bilge on our passage to Gweek there was still a surprising amount of water in the bottom of the tanks.  We pumped this out using a handheld bilge pump to avoid spilling it all over the boat once the pipework was removed.  We also faced the issue of removing floor joists to get the tanks out.  I was a little nervous removing these as I wasn’t sure how ‘structural’ they were, but a quick chat with the shipwright (Andrew Massey (www.masseyboats.com)) reassured me that they could be removed without too much risk of the boat changing shape.  In the end I only had to remove one to get the tanks out.  There were a lot of pipes and wiring to disconnect and then we were able to lift the tanks out.  The freshwater tanks were fine, but lifting the waste tank out was precarious to say the least.  Despite the fact that we don’t use the tank as a rule (shore-side facilities are much more preferable) there was residual ‘matter’ in there that was at risk of dribbling out of the open pipework if we didn’t keep it level.  Gloves were definitely needed! 

 

The final stage was to remove the plywood panels from under the tanks and then we could see the heads of the keel bolts.  But before we handed over to Andrew I wanted to give the bilge a thorough clean.  Years of accumulated dust and who knows what had congealed with water into a thick paste in the bottom of the boat.  I removed two bucket loads of filth including a rusty screwdriver and a pair of mole grips.  It was dirty work but well worth doing.

 

Now for the main work.  Andrew and I worked out that there were six main keel bolts and one additional ‘light weight’ bolt at the forward end.  One of the main bolts is under the engine and I know from Wendy Woo’s records that this was drawn about eight years ago and ‘found to be satisfactory.’  Therefore we agreed that we should leave that one alone – I didn’t fancy trying to remove the engine.  Andrew started on the one in the galley and, surprisingly the nut came free with relative ease AND the bolt started to move when hit with a hammer.  He managed to knock it almost completely out and, from what we could see, it looked in reasonable condition.  He then tried the next one forwards.  When he tried to clean the rust off the nut there was no nut there, just a ball of rust!  Again though, when he hit the bolt with a hammer it moved so at least we had two out of two that could be removed.  The nuts on the third and fourth ones came away easily but again the fifth one was just a ball of rust.  In the end Andrew managed to remove all five bolts with relative ease, but they were all clearly in a very sorry state and would need to be replaced.

Andrew arranged for new keel bolts to be fabricated.  The original bolts looked as though they were made from forged steel, but they may have been wrought iron, it was difficult to tell. 

However, the new ones are made from mild steel so will need to be checked periodically for deterioration.  We would have liked to fit forged steel ones but the lead time on replacement bolts would be too long.  As it was, we were up against time to get the new bolts refitted and the boat rebuilt before the next spring tide.  I have to say that Andrew pulled out all the stops for us.  He turned up on the Saturday morning to fit the new bolts for us even though he thought they wouldn’t be ready until Monday at the earliest.  Service like this is getting increasingly rare these days.

 

Meanwhile Bridget and I cracked on with repainting below the waterline and applying two coats of antifouling.  We also did some minor repairs and, oh yes, I fixed the plumbing leak we had (hopefully!)

 

Wednesday morning was our relaunch date and we were at the yard for 5:30 to watch the yard team swing into action once again.  It was very cold, and still quite dark, but by the time we were floating again the sun had risen and the mist over the river was magical.  We were escorted back down the river by David from the boatyard and, as we bid the team farewell, we saw a deer swimming across the river in front of us – a truly magical moment.

 

We are now planning our forthcoming passage around Land’s End and on to Wales in the next few weeks.  However, before I close this entry I would just like to say a huge thank you to Gweek Classic Boatyard and Andrew Massey for their outstanding support and the efforts they went to for us.  We cannot sing their praises highly enough.  From the moment we first made contact with them they have given us excellent support and their professionalism, team work and enthusiasm have been second to none.  We wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to recommend them to anyone considering having work done to their vessel.  And, to top it all, the location is magical.  Thank you Andrew, David, Luke, Dusty, Louise, and all the rest of the team!

It's All Gweek To Me

 

Having made the decision to have the keel bolts checked we had the tricky task of navigating our way up the Helford River to Gweek Classic Boatyard.  The Helford is a drying tidal river so we needed to get the tides right in order to ensure sufficient water for our pilotage.  But I’m running ahead of myself.  First, let’s talk about the best laid plans of mice and men!

 

We had booked our lift-out for the morning of 1^st April.  The tide would be two days after springs but there should still be sufficient water for us.  However, as the day came closer the weather forecast was starting to look dodgy.  The entrance to the Helford is well sheltered except if there is any easterly component to the wind.  Sure enough, for our planned day the forecast was for a Force 5-6 wind coming direct from the east.  Everyone we spoke to told us that we would be fools to try, particularly as we had not been there before.  So a quick call to the Boatyard team and we were able to bring our lift-out forwards a day.  This would avoid the wind and give us a little more water in the bargain.  The only downside was that we would have to be at the quayside a little earlier, a small price to pay.

 

The next point to consider was whether to leave Mylor the evening beforehand and pick up a mooring buoy in the mouth of the Helford for the night.  This seemed like a sensible idea and would de-risk our passage up the river the following morning.  So that was decided.  But here’s a lesson learnt.  Don’t let the kind offer of assistance lead you to rush and miss things.  As we prepared to slip our lines from Mylor a fellow boat owner kindly offered to help with the rope work.  This lead me to rush as I didn’t want to keep him hanging around.  So we quickly slipped our berth and headed out for open water.  I had forgotten two things.  I had left the galley porthole open which resulted in sea water coming in and soaking our stove and other things.  Thankfully it was only spray, but it could have been much worse.  Secondly I had intended on switching off the water pump before leaving the harbour.  Needless to say that one of the plumbing pipes came off whilst we were at sea and the entire contents of our fresh water tanks dumped themselves into the bilge.  Not a good outcome to a couple of hours at sea.  However, all of this was soon forgotten when we picked up a mooring buoy (first time Bridget) and settled into the tranquillity of the Helford River.  What a special place that is.

 

The following morning was an early start.  Gweek is about 5 miles up the river and we needed to be there for 8:30, just after high tide.  We awoke to thick fog around us which was going to slow our progress, although slow and steady were the watch words for this pilotage.  I had studied the charts, wrote copious notes and watched the Boatyard’s video several times in the previous weeks, but I was still very nervous.  When the tide is in there looks like there is a huge body of water, but in actual fact most of it is far too shallow for us.  There is a very narrow and winding deep water channel which needs to be followed closely so as to avoid mishap.  Thankfully the upper reaches of the channel are buoyed, but they can be disconcerting.  Some of them appear very close to the riverbank and, had it not been for the words of the yard staff the day before telling me to trust the buoys I would not have believed we would make it.  We even had to contend with a boat coming down the river but we managed to pass each other without drama.  We were almost there when we were met by the Boatyard team in their rib coming to guide us in.  They were fantastic, and really gave us the confidence that all was well.  We were soon tied up alongside the boatyard quay.

 

As soon as we had tied up the yard crane burst into life and Wendy Woo was lifted up out of the water and settled into a cradle.  Now the stripping out work can commence.  I’ll talk about that more in my next blog.  Until then, keep the easterlies to yourself!

Trying to Make Plans

 

We’re definitely starting to get itchy feet and we’re ready to move on.  However……  First we have to get the keel bolts replaced to give us peace of mind for our big adventure.  I don’t think there is any imminent danger of the keel falling off, but as everyone we have spoken to has said, the only way to know for sure is to have the bolts drawn and replaced.  The bolts have been in situ for over 55 years so I just hope they come out without too much trouble.  To have this work done we are going to take WW up to Gweek Boatyard at the head of the Helford River in Cornwall.  This is a drying river so we need a good spring tide behind us to give sufficient water to navigate.

 

The other issue this has given us is that we won’t be able to live aboard whilst the work is being done.  A combination of Covid restrictions and the high cost of accommodation in Cornwall has certainly exercised our brains, not to mention our purse strings, over the past few weeks.  Thankfully we have found somewhere we can stay for a fortnight at the beginning of April.  It’s far from cheap but we have ended up with little choice.  I just hope we can complete the work in two weeks and then get back on board.  Fingers crossed.

 

 

None of this stops us from planning though.  In a ‘Big Hand, Small Map’ kind of way our plan is to sail first to South Wales, then the coastline of Wales from South to North, and then on to the West coast of Scotland, perhaps over-wintering there.  Sounds simple doesn’t it?  Then you look at the detail.  The first stage, heading for Milford Haven, involves navigating around Land’s End and the mouth of the Bristol Channel.  We have several options.

The first option is to aim for the Isles of Scilly, then strike out directly for Milford Haven.  The second option is to follow the coastline of Cornwall around Land’s End and up as far as Padstow, before crossing the Bristol Channel.  I am currently looking at charts and the almanac to see how these options develop.  Either way, we have some long sailing legs to contend with.  Given that we haven’t done any overnight sailing in WW yet it’s a little daunting, but what’s life if not a challenge?  WW is more than capable, but are we?

 

Any thoughts or advice gratefully received.  We are always open to suggestions.  Of course all of this depends on actually being able to go anywhere under current Covid restrictions!  Per Ardua Ad Mare!

Wind Damage and Running Repairs

Living on board a boat, or I imagine any rudimentary shelter, certainly puts you close to nature.  This past month or so has seen almost constant strong winds and heavy rain batter much of Britain.  And when it hasn’t been raining the winds have shifted to the East bringing very cold air with it.  Our mooring here at Mylor is pretty well sheltered, except when the wind is in the East.  Any blow from the East blasts us stern on and gives us little chance for sleep.  We have spent a lot of time tying off our halyards and rigging lines to prevent noises, but there is one noise we cannot seem to eliminate.  I think it’s coming from one of the rigging lines on the mizzen mast striking the radome, but there’s nothing I can do about that.  It’s so frustrating because it seems that the only place you can hear the noise is in our cabin…..and mainly at night!

 

Anyway, we have survived pretty well and there has been little damage done.  One thing that has not faired so well is the wheelhouse spray cover.  There are a couple of areas where the material has chafed through and the canvas has torn around one of the fasteners.  These were minor concerns, but then one of the zips became torn which prompted me to do something.

 

Like with the Eberspacher of my last post, I like to have a go at repairing things if I can.  Not only does this save money but it also gives me the opportunity to understand how things work and learn new skills.  Now needlework has never been my strongpoint (in fact it wouldn’t even rank as a weak point in my life!)  I also heard that replacing zips is a specialist task and needed an industrial sewing machine to do it.  But then I discovered the Speedy Stitcher® sewing awl.  A quick look at YouTube and a bit of online shopping and I had assembled the necessary bits to have a go.

 

 

Now, I wouldn’t say it was easy, and I certainly won’t be challenging for first place in any needlework competitions, but I think I have done a reasonable job.  I decided to only replace one side of the zip as the replacement zip was an exact match for the original.  That saved me from having to run another two lines of stitching.  The wind was blowing quite strong and there was rain threatening, so I didn’t remove the canopy from the frame.

 

 

In hindsight it would have been better to lay the canvas on a flat surface but I didn’t really have that option.  By the time I had done the one half my hands were pretty sore and I had managed to stab myself twice.  But I have to say that the Speedy Stitcher® was a really useful tool and made the job so much easier.

By doing this repair I have managed to save a fair bit of money and give the spray cover a little longer.  I think we will inevitably have to replace it sometime in the future, but hopefully not too soon.  I plan to put some additional struts onto the frame to keep the roof part taught as it tends to collect rainwater.  But that's for another day.

Take care everyone!

 

Fix or Replace?

 

This is a question that many of us face from time to time, and the answer is often not very straightforward.  It depends on a number of factors: can it be fixed; what’s the cost of repair versus replacement; can we live on with the fault.  We have just been through this decision making process with our Eberspacher diesel boat heater.  Why do things break down when you need them most?

 

The last couple of weeks have been cold and damp and waking up in the morning with ice on the INSIDE of the cabin windows is no fun.  Readers will be aware that we are trying to live as ‘green’ as possible, so we already faced the dilemma of whether to use our diesel heater for short periods to take the chill out of the boat.  In the scheme of things the environmental impact of our heater is fairly insignificant.  We keep the usage down to a minimum and put extra jumpers on to keep warm.  However, the heater started to run rough and was making a dull thumping sound.  Some research on the internet suggested that, at the very least, a service was needed, but there could be other problems lurking in there.

 

The heater we have fitted is an Eberspacher D5 Airtronic unit.  It retails at around £2500 - £3000, which is a significant amount of money.  Even some of the spare parts can set you back around £500 a shot.  A service kit alone costs about £80-£90.  Then I got chatting with someone along the pontoon and he had just replaced his old Eberspacher unit with a Chinese copy and he suggested I should do the same.  When I looked at the price of the copy version I realised that you could get a complete system for less than 10% of the genuine Eberspacher unit.

 

So here’s the dilemma.  Fix or replace?  Firstly, there is clearly some reason why the Chinese one is so cheap.  I believe that you often get what you pay for.  The quality of the copy heaters is nowhere near as good as the genuine article.  They also do not have a long-standing history of reliability.  Remember, these heaters are burning diesel fuel under controlled conditions.  But what happens if the controls don’t work?  I would not be happy risking a fire aboard.  Okay, so the Eberspacher one may not be ten times better, but it is certainly much better.  I also think they will last much longer in the marine environment than a cheap import.  Secondly, under what working conditions has the Chinese one been manufactured?  If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.  Finally, although our heater was installed about ten years ago it has hardly been used much and looked, at least from the outside, to be in good condition.  So with these considerations in mind I decided to try and fix our heater and ordered a service kit.

 

Thankfully removing our heater was fairly easy.  It is located in the engine room with plenty of space around it, so disconnecting the pipes, hoses and wiring was straightforward.  Nothing broke!

 

I then removed the glow plug and looked at the condition of the glow plug screen.  It was completely blocked up with carbon deposits and was stuck inside the casing.  Some persuasion with long-nosed pliers and screwdrivers was needed to remove the old screen.  The photographs below show the extent to which the screen was blocked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having removed the screen I then dismantled the unit as far as I could in order to remove as much carbon build-up as I could.  The extent to which this model of heater can be dismantled is limited.  You cannot open the combustion chamber which is disappointing so I hope I have cleaned it sufficiently for it to work.

 

Once I had cleaned it as much as I could it was then reassembled and reconnected.  So far so good.  The heater fired up and ran happily for about 30 minutes, so fingers crossed it will work fine in the morning if it’s needed.

A New Year, A New Start?

 

Not a post about our boat.

 

As we closed the door on 2020, a year dominated by the Coronavirus pandemic, many of us have turned towards hope for 2021.  Throughout the last year we have been very fortunate to be living aboard our boat in relative isolation in some of the more picturesque parts of Britain.  We haven’t been able to travel much, whether by land or sea, and we keep our trips into populated places to a minimum, like so many people.  We have not been able to visit family or friends nor carry our adventure forwards as we imagined.  However, we are amongst the lucky ones.  We have remained healthy, we eat well and we manage to get out and have a good walk every day.  But our daily walks have highlighted what I believe is one of the problems we face in getting this virus under control.

 

When the tier system was introduced for England a few months ago Cornwall, along with the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight, was the only region in Tier 1, with the lowest levels of Coronavirus cases.  Not surprisingly.  The relatively low population and lack of urban sprawl, along with an absence of mass public transport systems, meant that social distancing was easy to maintain.  On our daily walks we would rarely pass other people and those that we did became familiar faces.  That all changed when the government announced that London and the South East was going into Tier 4.  The sudden influx of people heading to their ‘second homes’ in the South West in order to escape the virus was blatantly obvious.  Car parks were full, pavements crowded and footpaths became processions of people ignoring social distancing guidelines.  And then Christmas came, which only served to make matters worse.  We have become increasingly angry with lack of consideration shown by some people.  When we see a group of walkers coming towards us we move to one side and walk in single file in order to help with social distancing.  However, on countless occasions the oncoming groups make no attempt to move to one side and have an air of entitlement about them.  Why is it that people believe they are immune to the virus or that they cannot pass it on to others?  Consequently Cornwall has seen a significant rise in the number of cases of Covid-19 and we feel increasingly unsafe.  This is directly due, I believe, to the failure of people to show consideration for other people.  We have become a very selfish nation!  On a more optimistic note, the rollout of the Coronavirus vaccine will help to bring this pandemic under control.  But we mustn’t let our guards down for a while yet.  We can beat this, but we must do it together with EVERYONE following the rules.

Rubbing Up Against Life

As I think I have already said, one of the reasons we decided to sell up and buy a live-aboard boat was so that we could live our lives differently.  We wanted to rub up against life and try to remind ourselves of what it means to be alive.  We wanted to turn our backs on the comforts and conveniences of modern life.  Not in a sackcloth and ashes kind of way, but just to be more aware of our surroundings and the impact that we have upon the environment.  Well, we have made some steps towards that way of living, but only in a relatively sheltered way.  Living in a marina means that we still have easy access to fresh water and electricity.  We are safe in the knowledge that there are plenty of people around and that there is a security patrol through the night.  We also still have our car with us so we can easily get to a supermarket to stock up on food.  All of this means that we haven’t fully embraced the alternative living aspects of our plans.  Having said that, we certainly are experiencing the elements of the weather today.  Strong winds and constant drizzle/rain can dampen your spirits somewhat.

 

I guess one of the reasons that we haven’t made the full plunge yet is that it has taken us a lot longer than we imagined getting to this stage and with the winter months facing us we are better off in a safe marina.  We had thought that we would have had the summer months to get out and practice sailing and handling Wendy Woo but that hasn’t happened.  We feel that we need to do many short sailing trips to test the seaworthiness of our boat before we embark on any longer passages.  We are hopeful that we can get out of the marina and practice, but every time we look at the forecast there are strong winds and rain heading our way.  Some more confident and competent sailors might say that we should just get on with it, but I need to be more cautious.  Also, because we live aboard our boat there is lots of ‘stuff’ to stow or secure before we can get out into open water.  I feel that this puts us off a little.  We need to crack this conundrum or we might find that we become stuck to the mooring.

Another, and probably the main reason we haven’t been out sailing in more challenging conditions is the condition of the keel bolts.  Wendy Woo is 55 years old and the cast iron keel is held on by an unknown number of keel bolts.  A previous owner had a couple of bolts drawn a few years back and they were found to be ‘satisfactory’ but that does not remove the nagging doubt in the back of my mind over the condition of the bolts generally.  The only way to know for sure is to remove them for examination – no easy job!  We have decided that we cannot put off doing this task for long and consequently we are looking at getting them done in the spring, before we travel too far.  I imagine that we will end up spending a fair amount of money for peace of mind, but we have little choice.  Let’s hope that they come out easily.