We-ell here we are again - silent for the whole winter, which pretty much reflects our amount of activity. Funny how each autumn we are full of enthusiasm for the tasks we'll get done on 'fine days' before Christmas ... and then other responsibilities (family, social, even a bit of work) and the weather intervene. Then Jan & Feb are impossible of course, and somehow March went by too, and then April (largely due to work). Hugh Pemble did make us some gorgeous new cockpit locker lids, and he also repainted the engine to protect against salt corrosion - a wonderful job.
We needed some work done by trusted professional friends, and that is not practical at Gillingham because they protect their own workshop. So on 1 May, Bank Hol Monday, we tootled the few miles up-river to Chatham Marina who have no such restrictions. On 2 May we were lifted into the yard with a pressure wash. On 3 May the professionals started work.
The main works were replacing shaft seal (once every 7 years job), removing defunct original NECO autopilot to hopefully lighten the steering, replacing the throttle controls that needed a hammer after not being used for a month, replacing the bilge pump pipe that had been weeping back into the bilge, replace the huge pear anodes. We are simply not experienced, strong and/or supple enough to do these things, but Andy of Cam Marine Services and Hugh Pemble are all those things.
Then of course we did our stuff, cleaning & polishing the hull (which stays obstinately off-white), anti-fouling (didn't even sandpaper it this year, makes no difference) including the prop, shaft and p-bracket, replaced all the smaller anodes, serviced seacocks. We had another professional friend, Paul Ledsham, re-stitch our wheel cover and make new hatch and winch covers - he's a man with a sewing machine. Nic went up the mast 3 times (three!) in order to get the B&G wind instrument (the speed cups) refurbished by the lovely, helpful people at Tinley Electronics - it is years if not decades out of production but still they keep it going.
