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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

    Iron Heart Meet Ups & Travel
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    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      We knew that we would need cleats on the swim platform of SAKURA. In the Med, they are not really needed because most mooring is done stern-to. But in northern Europe where we have actual tides, stern-to is not common, and we will normally moor side-to a floating pontoon. So to get access to the boat without tripping over mooring warps, we need them. I had spec'd them to be added on during the build, but for some unfathomable reason, I deleted them.
      So we had to get some made, and boy are they things of beauty.

      They are going to take ages to fit because we have to add access panels and that creates a series of further complications. Anyway, today, I got the big bolts that will fix the cleats onto the swim-platform deck. They are 316 (or A4) stainless steel and came unpolished, so I have spent an "enjoyable" (actually, sad to say, I do quite enjoy it) hour or two polishing the bit that can be seen (was going to say head, but thought better of it)....

      IMG_9886.JPG

      IMG_9885.JPG

      Backing plate I had made out of 316 plate by a local engineering firm.

      IMG_9883.JPG

      IMG_9884.jpg

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

      last edited by todyT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
      • todyT
        tody
        啓蒙家
        @Giles
        Joined:

        @Giles said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

        They are 316 (or A4) stainless steel and came unpolished, so I have spent an "enjoyable" (actually, sad to say, I do quite enjoy it) hour or two polishing the bit that can be seen (was going to say head, but thought better of it)....

        Any fingers that got hurt in the process?

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • GilesG
          Giles
          IHUK Crew
          Joined:

          Not this time. Surprisingly, I learned my lesson......

          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • motojoboboM
            motojobobo
            啓蒙家
            Joined:

            Your gorgeous splice-jobs will look their utmost best on those mirror-finish cleats!!

            The journey is the objective.

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • GilesG
              Giles
              IHUK Crew
              Joined:

              Thank you 🙂

              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • ROmanR
                ROman
                Haraki san Prodigy
                Joined:

                Nice polish job.

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  Nerd mode enabled....

                  7,000 drawings, 3,800 knots 🤯🤯🤯🤯

                  IMG_9978.jpg

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                  last edited by todyT goosehdG 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 8
                  • todyT
                    tody
                    啓蒙家
                    @Giles
                    Joined:

                    @Giles said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

                    Nerd mode enabled....

                    7,000 drawings, 3,800 knots 🤯🤯🤯🤯

                    Gordian Knot, too?

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                    • goosehdG
                      goosehd
                      Mod Squad
                      @Giles
                      Joined:

                      @Giles Practicing Shibari??

                      "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • MattM
                        Matt
                        見習いボス
                        Joined:

                        I love knot tying. I just can’t ever remember them.

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • GilesG
                          Giles
                          IHUK Crew
                          Joined:

                          So, for any of you who are remotely interested in the fuel tank issue, today we got to try some shit out.

                          Basically, I was told that I needed to get the port engine to fail (which historically has occurred when the port tank gets to 30% full). I told them to get fucked, I was not going to knowingly take SAKURA out and force a situation where I lost an engine), so I came up with an alternative (and much safer plan). It relied on my getting both tanks to about 40% full. Over the last few weeks, I have got us to that point. Today we pumped fuel from the port tank outlet via a transfer pump and pipe, into the starboard tank - we could do that tied up to the dock, putting no one or nothing at risk. The theory was that when the port tank registered approx 30%, the transfer pump would start sucking air, and hey presto, we had proved that it was a tank issue.

                          Of course that did not happen. At approx 30% fule left in the port tank, it started sucking a bit of air, but still transferred fuel. This continued until the tank was registering 22%, at which point I got bored and said that we should hook up everything as it should be for normal running, and try and start the engine. That we did, and the engine ran for a few minutes and then shut down.

                          So we think that the fuel somehow gets throttled back at 30%, the transfer pump does not give a shit because it is unintelligent, but the engine management system senses a slower flow rate and shuts the engine down before any damage is done.

                          Next step, Volvo Penta guys come in next Tuesday to measure fuel flow rates on both engines at different fuel levels....

                          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                          last edited by Giles 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                          • MattM
                            Matt
                            見習いボス
                            Joined:

                            Forgive my ignorance but isn’t there a warranty or some kind of lemon law. For a boat that nice I’d expect them to be flying a replacement engine to you and installing it.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • GilesG
                              Giles
                              IHUK Crew
                              Joined:

                              Yes, there is, and all the work we are doing is under warranty, and I don't mind getting involved because it increases my sum of knowledge. But we have to work out what the problem is before we can fix it. Fuck all use replacing the engine and it turns out to be a tank issue or vice versa.....

                              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                              • goosehdG
                                goosehd
                                Mod Squad
                                Joined:

                                Congratulations on figuring it out and being able to replicate the problem. Hopefully the Volvo guys can take it from there and you can sail with peace of mind.

                                "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • MattM
                                  Matt
                                  見習いボス
                                  Joined:

                                  Understood. I’m sure your knowledge of fuel systems is a hair more extensive than before. And I’d imagine a course in marine mechanics and fuel systs wouldn’t be cheap if the boat mfctr weren’t paying for it. Carry on.

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • GilesG
                                    Giles
                                    IHUK Crew
                                    Joined:

                                    Thank you cap'n.....

                                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • GilesG
                                      Giles
                                      IHUK Crew
                                      Joined:

                                      I thought about this a bit longer last night. Yes, I could be a complete prick about what has happened and where we are and how long it is taking to resolve. But, we can manage the situation. Our range currently is about 800 miles and not 1,100, so it's not a massive issue. Do we need to get it fixed? 100%, and I am sure we will.

                                      But being reasonably reasonable is not an awful place to be. We've got 2 free lift-outs and another years free berthing (probably £15k altogether) and I am sure if I was being a complete pain in the arse about stuff, we would not be getting favours like that.

                                      I liken it a little to our relationship with our retailers. If they are complete arseholes and make our life difficult when stuff does not go 100% to plan, or we make a mistake (yes, we are human), then when we release something special or super limited, guess who gets offered it last.....

                                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                      last edited by todyT MattM 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                      • todyT
                                        tody
                                        啓蒙家
                                        @Giles
                                        Joined:

                                        @Giles It is interesting that you brought up that thought - I am following the thread for some time now, and it didn't even cross my mind that you could have been a total dick about it. Sure, you paid shitloads of money on that boat and can expect them to do better. But do you really want to be THAT guy?
                                        That is probably because I'd look into the situation myself as someone who likes to tinker with stuff, and really understand everything involved in it.
                                        It probably also has to do something with the fact that it's a boat. If it were a brand new luxury car, you would have brought it back to the dealer immediately. But in my eyes, buying a boat is not the final goal, it's the start of a journey...

                                        last edited by GilesG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • GilesG
                                          Giles
                                          IHUK Crew
                                          @tody
                                          Joined:

                                          @tody said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

                                          and it didn't even cross my mind that you could have been a total dick

                                          That'd be a first then 🙂

                                          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                          last edited by Giles 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • GilesG
                                            Giles
                                            IHUK Crew
                                            Joined:

                                            SAKURA was built in The Mediterranean, where obviously they do not suffer from steamed-up windows (or at least it is obvious now I realise we do not have a window demister system installed 🤬 )...

                                            So today's job was to start the installation of the window demister system. I have bought a 24volt truck cab heater with 4 vents....

                                            image.png

                                            which I need to get installed by someone who knows what they are doing with relays and the like....

                                            image.png

                                            Vents and Heater ducting have been done....

                                            IMG_9992.JPG

                                            IMG_9990.JPG

                                            IMG_9991.JPG

                                            There are 2 other vents that are sort of hidden, so useless to photograph....

                                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                            last edited by Giles goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
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