Polishing and then warming up the engine

What to do in lockdown? Well, on a chillier day the wing engine had a coolant change. Such excitement. Naturally the disposal area for old oil / filters etc is in the boatyard and is locked down so the engine room is still full of waste oil containers etc. However, lots of warmer weather allowed us out to polish. Time and time again. And again. As we had neglected the superstructure last year, most of it needed a gentle cut back too which rather elongated the whole process. As you can see, it was tremendous fun:

We are slowly working our way around, most of the port side of the superstructure is completed, the pilothouse and flybridge exterior too. Got to brave the leaning over and sorting out the white GRP around the bow sometime which is a bit of a back killer. That is currently on hold - we have plenty of time it seems......

A boating neighbour very kindly brought his extending ladder set down to the marina so we could use it to try and give the satellite domes and sat compass a much needed clean up. They are nicely spattered in bird poo and green gunge from the very wet winter here. Sadly, we found that the access once the ladder was in position just didn't really help much so it will be back to the old technique of using window cleaning poles and getting soaked / covered in the aforementioned green goo and poo. Expect a photo sometime.

On a particularly warm and windless VE Day, we needed to pump out the black water tank (avoiding using the marina facilities during the Covid risk time) and as the pump out station is outside the marina on the barrage it meant a serious trip. Yes, out of the marina lock and onto the barrage pontoon. Almost far enough to get the engine up to operating temperature by the time we had returned. Again, we fired up the AIS to please our stalkers and record the monumental voyage so we can look back upon it in years to come:

As we were leaving the marina lock one woman called out that she was jealous of us having a boat trip. We explained how far we were going and why. She seemed less jealous after that.

We are saving you from pictures and the aroma of the pump out station itself and our efforts there. Instead here is the view aft to the barrage bridges and locks:

Coming back into the marina felt strange - a little bit like going back into jail? Or perhaps naughty schoolchildren who have been playing truant being readmitted?

No matter, it allowed the boat to float a little higher after removing around 400 litres of "stuff". This didn't help us getting back onto the berth though - the depth sounder showed -0.1 metre and the copious weeds were grabbing at the keel in an attempt to stop us turning around under engine alone. Luckily the bow thruster overcame their grasp and chewed up / spat out some without breaking the drive pin in the  mechanism. That could have made berthing here entertaining and been a tricky failure to fix.