After a really rubbish start to this year, with the boat breaking free from her moorings, we are finally nearing completion of the repair works. The moorings parted on 17th January and the boat washed up ashore a concrete slipway after taking what I can only imagine was a really big knock to the bottom.
There has been a lot of work done since she was lifted out (emergency lift, water close to gearbox within a few hours of her floating off the slipway). Insurance - their surveyors approach left a lot to be desired but I won't name in public - happy to discuss via PM though to save anyone else the headache. So far my Dad and brother have done a lot of the preliminary work, with a local repairer doing the structural works.
New rails
New A Frame
Full length laminate repair to keel, with a galvinised keelband fitted (skeg being removed and galvanised too). The new band will run right up to the waterline mark on the bow.
New cooker - company in Yorkshire, damaged on delivery but were pretty much useless. Luckily the cooker works so I've had to cut my losses and be glad that you can't see the damage now that it is fitted
Refurbished prop - looking shiny and ready to put back on
New cutlass bearings
New nav light (old ones smashed as she passed through two steel jetties before landing on the slipway!)
Replacement radar, decided on a Furuno Navnet VX1, I like the Furuno kit and this model might be older but is well tried and tested.
Engine lift out and service - whole engine bay is now primed and ready for fitting the engine back
We had two wing tanks previous to the accident, but it was a lot of weight to have midships especially with 10 men plus gear on board. We've cut them out and now have one single tank aft of the engine, so we refitted the trim tabs in case the bow rises too much!
Autopilot - only an old WP4000 but will be good enough to help out when we need it
New Vetus toilet, manual flush only as people seem to manage that better!
Full repaint with a new engine box made and fitted by my brother. Decks have a coat of Ryland Flocoat antislip ready mixed.
Wiring - this is being looked at and they will be making a neat job of the whole wiring system and giving it a general overhaul for me
Batteries - two new ones ordered
Fenders - not scratching it this time, so ordered 6 large black fenders!
Engine ventilation - we've added a 4" bilge blower, and also 2x 3" pipes up the back of the wheelhouse with plastimo vents on the top. The more air the better!
I think that is it for now, but I've probably forgotten something. We're hoping to launch bank holiday weekend in May - fingers crossed!
Hope you all had better luck with the start of 2013! :)
Cheers,
Lee
PS. Martin - the Ford is in my Dad's Mitchell 31 and sweet as a nut. Only covered about 50 miles so far but he's happy.
-- Edited by LeeSpot on Friday 3rd of May 2013 03:23:07 PM
Glad to hear you are nearly ready for the launch, when does your season start?
Sounds like a lot of work, hope the insurance cough up. Did they investiigate your mooring afterwards? I have just had new riser and penants just in case. I always thought if my mooring parted the insurance would try and wriggle out of paying somehow.
Interested in how your deck paint holds up. I have been using a non slip paint and it is useless with wear through to deck in a few places in 2 weeks useage. If the flocoat holds up I might try it next year instead of having to repaint halfway through the season.
Glad your Dad is pleased with his new Ford. It was a good motor with lots of life left, just not right for what we do. He phoned asking about the cold start which was seized a few weeks ago. I think his batteries must have been low on charge as I never used the cold start in the 4 years I had that engine and it started before 1 full revolution of the engine is complete.
Glad to here things are getting addressed and repaired for you. The work you have done looks great wish you well with the final stages to get back afloat.
I have the Furuno Navnet vx2 a great bit of kit and have just finally bought the Radar Dome for it before there not available and really impressed..... you often see the remote control for unit on ebay, I have one and use when want to scan between screens from the ****pit
Geoff
-- Edited by Blue Swell on Saturday 4th of May 2013 07:23:06 AM
