When we made it back to the poor neglected boat it seemed only fair to give her a little attention. First of all, a good wash off although there were fewer black streaks than we expected. Then we made a start at polishing the hull only the return of VERY chilly weather put that on hold for a few days.
Since the main and wing engines hadn't had a run in many weeks, we did our usual trip around the bay, only it wasn't a totally usual one. There was so much floating debris and huge lumps of timber sloshing around out there that we dare not head as for north as we had before and we ended up dodging some rafts of tree branches and rubbish. A very short and quite worrying run ensued:
The main engine prop is reasonably protected with the keel / skeg and hull shape helping keep the stuff floating around the bay at bay. The wing prop is way more exposed so it didn't get a run, just in case. We quickly gave up after getting the main up to temperature, a few wide open throttle runs to test all was well and lots of swerving around to avoid the bigger logs. We pass no comment on the ability / desire within the harbour authority to clean the place up.
Heading back to the marina, our local expert photographer caught a picture of us topless - no bimini cover on. He's sent us many pictures before that have also appeared in here - usually involving the barrage lock. This time you have the captain sitting on the flybridge in the cold just to get a better view of whatever was floating ahead of us:
When the temperatures killed our desire to do more polishing, it tempted us out on the new Brompton G-line bikes. Basically they are a 20 inch wheel version of the original bike with many other improvements. The ride quality on rough surface is way better and they are trail capable too. We started testing them out on the tricky run to Pret a Manger in Cardiff:
They come in a few boring colours and this rather natty orange finish. As a half-Dutch person, guess which the crew preferred. They were treated to several outings after fighting with one front tyre that refused to hold air pressure properly (they had been converted to tubeless by the selling dealer). Some bad words and another dose of sealant helped sort that. We are deeply impressed with them and had great fun on some longer rides alongside the rivers here.
As you can see, they park rather nicely with the rear wheel folded away.
Fun continued whan Steve (the ex-Cardiff waterbus man) brought his newish pup Emily over. She liked exploring the boat and showing off her tongue too:
She also rather liked Izzy's favourite toy ball. Good job Izzy was not around to witness this little video clip:
Emily is gorgeous. Steve tells us that he is too. No comment.
We did manage to finish polishing the transom and starboard side of the hull but then medical stuff overtook events. The crew had been diagnosed with a cataract in one eye (the other is still 20/20 and the contrast between them was huge) so we headed to the Gower area for a specialised test using some rather posh and expensive looking equipment. The challenge- to get a replacement lens that allows her to return to her previously excellent pot spotting duties out to sea. We spent a happy couple of nights at the quirky New Gower hotel in the "Room with a bath" once more. Yes, it has a bath in the middle of it.
which had to be used of course. We then had a quick dash back to Hythe for the crew to get a pesky hip checked out (bursitis that she has been trying to resolve with exercise alone for many months) and she ended up with a steroid injection. Then it was time for the eye surgery in Cardiff to pop in the new lens. All rather medical really, we must be getting old. Or should that be older? The good news is that the op was quick and successful, long distance pot spotting is back
Maintenance news:
Wayne the trimmer had been busy, all the ceiling panels in the forecabin had gone, leaving us to admire the battens and insulation, together with the dangling wires that normally attach to the recessed lights:
After a significant battle, he had also removed the stuff glued to the timber finishing around the Portuguese bridge area:
The panels are now in his workshop to be recovered.....
We were not totally idle either. The many fuel filters were changed and the usual battle to bleed the fuel system on the genset ensued. Grr. Then the genset was treated to a new raw water impeller - just in the nick of time too as one blade had started to fall apart:
The little bits had gone up to the end of the cooler tubestack so removing them entails draining out the coolant, removing the boot off the end of the cooler and then rebuilding it all. That is going to wait until we change the coolant which is also on the to do list.
Finally, one of the all time fun jobs. The captain cleaned out the grey water tank, braving the smell (which was not too bad this time) and having fun watching the Bio-Blast stuff eat away the soap scum on the walls of the tank. It fizzes so nicely.
Of course, as you clear a job from the to-do list, something else gets added. The RIB was in use for hull cleaning when the outboard decided to cough and stop. It was being run on fairly old fuel (not good) so we are pretty sure that the carburetor is gunked up. That will need to be removed, dismantled and have the jets cleaned out. A job for a warmer and dry day, when we get one. Hey ho.
