Thursday, June 13, 2013
This is a catch-up. I thought that a daily dose of the minutae of life in preparation mode might be a step too far – too much detail for the determined landlubbers & too much personal stuff for the sailorpeople.
I think I will mainly let the photos tell the story on the maintenance side – understand that this is a diary for us as well as a public (let’s not kid ourselves) document.
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| Last year's engine anode - in case you were thinking of skipping the change! |
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| BUCH DV 20 |
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| Primary filter in situ - we did move it to an accessible position cf. Nigel C. |
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| A fuel filter that has done its work for at least one season, but maybe more. |
Engine maintenance becomes slightly less scary as we get more familiar with the little red donkey under the stairs. Buch DV20 is generally well-behaved, if noisy. All it asks is an oil, filter, engine anode change once a year and it will carry on with its suck, squash, bang and blow like a good little diesel. Of course there are exceptions – failed water pump last year – or was it the year before? I have found that my record keeping has been a bit haphazard and I am resolving to remedy that. Looking back, I think that the few problems we have had were down to the water pump getting a bit senile. This is all to say that I think the primary fuel filter was well overdue. It is impossible to overstate the importance of clean fuel to a diesel engine. We already live dangerously having no inspection port or sample tap in the fuel tank (see Nigel Calder’s “Boatowners Practical & Technical.. “ on this topic if you really want to give yourself a few sleepless nights and/or a lot of work).
The headlining project is pretty much uncharted territory. Yesterday saw the beginning of the project to re-fix the panel-style headlinings to the underside of the deck moulding. At the same time I will boost the insulation with closed-cell foam. Stage 1 is to put up new battens. These have to be stuck to the underside of the fiberglass deck. The placement is a bit random, reflecting the original design – also choosing areas that are reasonabley flat in profile. The breakthrough – I hope – is following Bill Churchouse’s advice and using P38 Isopon car body filler – a substance with a truly horrifying range of hazards: fortunately I had a an internet connection and could download the safety sheet – not provided when I bought the tin at my local motor bits shop. Given the toxicity of the material, that seems like a wildly irresponsible omission. I think it is classified as a professional product and maybe therefore exempt from any warnings on the tin. More nanny state here, please.
So this morning I have a problem. It is raining moderately and steadily, so can I get enough ventilation through the boat to keep my respiratory system safe without getting everything soaking wet? To anyone who has never attempted this kind of thing, imagine re-tiling your bathroom (a small one) whilst trying to use it as a bedroom and a kitchen. Yes, really.
Oh, and the car packed up on Tuesday, refusing to start despite its 4-month old battery and no lights left on (yes, I am sure). An afternoon spent in pleasant conversation with the European branch of RAC assistance had a mechanic driving in circles and me happily putting my workbench together on the pontoon. Eventually we agreed that it was ‘an electronic problem’, jumpstarted the car and I agreed to drive it to the local Citroen dealer ‘sans arrete’. An absence of phone calls yesterday, and a pressing need for the Isopon lead me to jump on my trusty bike and nip up to the garagiste. (Lots of useful kit still in the car – it’s a C5 estate – a handy sort of garden shed on wheels, with a strong heart and willing spirit.) It didn’t look like anything much had happened since the day before and I saw the garagiste hiding in his office. I had arrived at 1215 – sacred lunchtime. Oh well, Isopon and a chunk of closed cell foam in the rucksack and back home. I wouldn'tt like to have had a roadside breakdown or have been in a hurry to get anywhere! (Although I have been offered a hire car so suppose I can't complain too much.)
No Internet connection this morning – bereft of the Today programme I am hoping for a respite in the rain. Will do some sawing and sanding so all the bits are ready. I will plonk on the P38 and pedal down the quay for a coffee & detox and attempt an upload.
Hey, nearly forgot the naked men! What with the nude bike ride at the weekend (you’ll have to Google that) and Alex’s husband de-jarring a skunk scarcely in his boxers, they have been on my mind. I walked into the shower block yesterday evening, and saw – yes, you have it – a naked man, who quickly whapped his towel around the front and said ‘Bonjour’. I politely said the same and found an empty cubicle. The French can be over-formal but it does work! How would a Brit or American have handled this? (Comments welcome).
Coming soon – as promised a meditation on tools… nothing and everything to do with the above.
