Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

[Giles]

[Giles]

Diesel Dippers are up and running. This is the one on the port tank. I had a few issues with air being drawn in through some of the joints, so was getting cavitation in the flow indicator. I disassembled and applied loads of general sealant and thread sealant in the appropriate places and all is good:

https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/924587204

In any other news, we think we have found the issue with the fuel. When we get down to the level of the outlet valves, we start drawing air into the fuel. So we believe there are faulty welds internally.

[louisbosco]

another issue for volvo?

[Giles]

No, it is a yard fault. Either it is their bad welding or the tank manufacturers' bad welding. Whatever, the tanks should have been pressure tested....

[louisbosco]

I guess no one's gonna own up at this point. what's the fix/solution?

[Giles]

Can't get into the tank to weld, can't take tanks out to replace. So I think we will end up sealing the existing outlet valves and installing a new fuel outlet on each tank. We could do it like I have on the Diesel Dipper where I put a dip tube through the top of the tank and draw the fuel from the bottom. Issue is currently with Sasga for them to work out what to do.

[Giles]

A few weeks ago, I decided to "upgrade" our pontoon mooring warps (the ones that do not travel with us). I got some super 26mm double braid - over-engineered of course, I think 22mm would do.

Just a small spool..............I got a really good price from a local rope seller....

I have already made the springs, today I made the midships warp....

[A Former User]

Over engineering is the only way to go

[Giles]

Ex-fucking-xactly........

We have some serious winds coming through tomorrow and I am so bleeding relaxed. The worst thing that can happen is that someone who does not understand the over-engineered-is-always-the-best principle has his boat break free and hits SAKURA, but she ain't going anywhere......

[A Former User]

Over engineerd is your middle name G

[motojobobo]

Such good looking mooring warps there! Curious if they ever get stolen sleeping out at night all alone? I’m assuming not every boat has equivalent over-engineered warps.

[Giles]

I guess they could, but our current marina is pretty well CCTV'd up. So good in fact, that a few months ago, I got a call from the marina office saying that they had seen that one of our warps had come loose and would I like them to go and re-tie it......

[Giles]

We had another storm come through on Weds/Thurs. Glad of the overspecced mooring lines This is no more than 2 miles from where SAKURA is berthed.

[Giles]

It was irritating me that the fender lines were black and the mooring warps were gold and white. Got a few new ones spliced and whipped....

[Giles]

Ten weeks ago we lifted her and gave her good old jet wash.

And this is what she looks like today. A veritable underwater jungle attached to the hull.

Won't be getting 23 knots any time soon

Anyway, in 2 weeks she is being lifted again, I have a few jobs to get done which are easier (or possible) when she is not floating. The main job is to get the hull rubbed down, filled and 2 coats of ant-foul applied

[Giles]

A few more completed, just 2 long ones for the bow ball fenders to do now....

[motojobobo]

Wondering how the moorings are holding up. Any wear/tear visible due to the last storm?

[Giles]

Our mooring is fine thank you. I have over-specced the warps and have way more than I actually need. Excuse the crappy commentary,

[motojobobo]

My bad…I meant to ask about the warps.

[A Former User]

@Giles this looks sturdy as hell! So nice to see the overengineering