Puffing and blowing

Maintenance news:

Yes, normal folks can skip this post. Only those with an unhealthy interest in exhaust silencers and messy jobs need read on.

The next day, after some biblical rain finally cleared up, we took off the grille from the side of the stack and did the horrid horrid horrid and very messy job of removing the insulation from the muffler.:

Like the stuff that we replaced earlier this year in the engine room, the outer foil surface was de-laminating in some areas and the wire arrangement to hold it all in place was great fun to remove.

Did we say how horrid the job is? Sure enough the silencer was pretty rusty overall as we expected at this age:

It also had a small hole in the top of it, the insulation had been holding the loose rusty metal in place and preventing a major leak. Some serious prodding revealed that the metal around it wasn't fit for a temporary repair as the little hole turned into a big one. Replacement earlier than planned is needed:

Cleaning out the rust, soot and general grot after we dragged the wrap out of the stack was another horrid job. Looking at the bolts holding the old unit in place, we can see an angle grinder (messy!) or a cutting torch being used.  We will give them a good bath in penetrating fluid but we cannot see that doing much to help free them off.

How best to support the silencer and pipes during replacement? Time to get advice from the folks who have already done this job at Nordhavn Europe. The new muffler and wrap were already on order so, a quiet time until they arrive perhaps?

Portavadie to Greenock (James Watt Dock)

So, because we wanted to strip the insulation blanket off the exhaust silencer to check it, we needed to go somewhere "big" with stuff to do locally and some engineering help if needed. Where to go? Well, James Watt Dock might not be the most scenic place but it is well sheltered (blowy stuff promised for a couple of days) and has easy access to anything and anyone we might need. Decision done. Robert, the Nauticat and sloe gin man booked a slot for us using his influence and we were good to go.

The route was a reversal of the trip to Tarbert, again through the most lovely scenery:

You can see that the track doesn't start from Portavadie - no shore stations picking up our AIS signal until we were a little further along this time.

As we arrived in James Watt Dock to the nice alongside spot that had been cleared for us (thanks Robert) we spotted Waverley again. Only this time, she wasn't underway with lots of happy people on deck:

The funnels are peeping out from the dry dock next to the marina here. Have a look at BBC news item.  Apparently she picked up a rope around a paddle. Maybe another pot marker? The damage to the bow and possible damage to the propulsion gear means that she is out of service for a few days. Perhaps they will sign the Cruising Association petition against poorly marked and positioned pots too?


During the trip we kept a careful ear and eye on the exhaust muffler. Still a little noise but no signs of exhaust fumes and soot being blown out from the insulation. That was good news, if there had been a hot exhaust gas coming out inside the stack in any quantity, it could easily melt the wiring that runs from the many and varied instruments housed up top. We will have the fun of removing the wrap and examining the muffler once it cools down a little tomorrow. Can't wait.