First of all, the fuel filters for the main engine and wing got swapped out. The main caused trouble - we always replace the standard plastic drain fitting on the bottom of a new filter with the metal one that was originally on the boat. The standards and safety folks like metal ones to prevent leakage in case there is an engine room fire.
Every other swap we've done (about 11 of them) has been fine. This time, despite using the new sealing ring, it leaked like crazy under pressure when the engine started. No idea why, we reverted to the plastic one and all was well:
Just lots of nice smelly diesel to clean up from the engine drip tray.
As part of the main engine filter swap we also fitted a new vacuum gauge to the Racor primary filters. This one is a special from Dent Marine https://dentmarine.com/ that works way better than the standard Racor offering. Nicely engineered bit of kit:
The wing engine also got some nice new fuel filters just so it did not feel left out.
What else? Well, the job from hell. Wait we hear you cry, there are plenty of jobs from hell on a boat. True, but this one is the job from hell that also involves the heads (toilet for the landlubbers reading this).
The offending item, ironically named a Joker Valve:
Looks kind of innocuous doesn't it? If only.... As anyone who has played with marine heads knows, they are the work of the devil. We needed to replace this nice little valve in our main cabin heads. I had asked the M and G guys in Guernsey to do so when the sanitation hose was being renewed but it was forgotten - mainly because the guys who do the work there get moved around from job to job before finishing the first one we think. So, instead of replacing the joker with the sanitation hose off, we had to try with it attached. The fitting had no desire at all to come off the pipe again. Yes, for the non boating people, the joker valve sits in the toilet outlet pipe with all that entails......
Getting the fitting bolted to the toilet assembly meant getting it parallel to it. Getting it parallel meant no space to get a hand in behind it let alone see anything. Whilst struggling to refit the **** thing, the captain leaned over the toilet and managed to hit the flush lever. A second and less than clean shower ensued. The crew found it amusing....
Eventually after many bad words it was in place (both bolts had to be fitted by feel only and tightened up in the same way. Relieved (only not in that way) a flush cycle was attempted. It leaked mightily as the joker valve had become twisted in the flange fitting. So, it all had to come out again and the "refit by feel only" rerun. Together with all the bad language of course only more so this time. We are so happy that the M and G organisation gave us this fun challenge. So happy. Anyway, it was a wonderful way to waste a lovely blue sky, calm, crisp winter day. Much wine was consumed after a long long shower to remove any traces of the job.
Dylan sitting:
Andrew and Linda (the Zephyros folks who you should know well from earlier posts) had taken their daughter on a ski trip. That left Dylan the Welsh Terrier at home or in a kennel. Well, seemed like a harsh thing to do to such a cuddly cute dog. So, we offered to dog sit. Actually he sat or lay on us:
and enjoyed his new toy:
He kept us sane during "headsgate" (the joker valve job from hell) and other fun activities. The need to take him for long walks meant welcome breaks from work. Thanks Dylan Or Dyl (Dill) the dog as he is known, If you cannot remember the character, look at Wikipedia, The Herbs
Dylan is a bit of a tart dog really. An actor friend arrived, sat down and had Dyl on his lap instantly. Captain Birdseye (a recent gig in Mark's career) meet Dylan:
Mark and Julia managed to stay over on the coldest night of the winter so far. The marina had ice on the surface and that made some interesting reflections:
Oh, and after they left us, the dredging started just opposite, that made some interesting noises:
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Thanks for your ideas / cheek / corrections / whatever! They should hit the blog shortly after the system checks them to make sure they will not put us or you in jail.....