It was only my “Father’s Day” present this year that made me start thinking seriously about the challenges of doing any sort of navigation, pilotage or log keeping on a small boat. Can you realistically achieve anything in the cockpit? What about the saloon table ? Do I have a solution ? – Well I… Continue reading A space saving solution to a navigation station.
Surely there must be other things going on while waiting for a ship registration ?
Well – Yes and no. There has been a lot going on at home in the last few months ranging from the family all seeming to go house moving mad through to acquiring a temporary “family” to fully replace them at home. But all that has slowed down boat progress. The younger daughter has moved… Continue reading Surely there must be other things going on while waiting for a ship registration ?
A farewell to my most reliable helper.
It has been rather a sad week as we had to take Charlie on a final trip to the vet on Monday because his kidneys had failed. Now I am going to have to find another first mate or sail solo. If you have read any of the brief mentions of holidays earlier in this… Continue reading A farewell to my most reliable helper.
How hard can it be to get a ship’s radio license ?
The rules for using the Humber estuary require you to have a VHF radio on the vessel unless it is impractical to power anything electrical that is larger than than a torch. Having a radio makes a lot of sense given the size of some of the ships that use the Docks at Hull, how… Continue reading How hard can it be to get a ship’s radio license ?
November – Finishing the sail cover.
Do me a favor – If you ever see the boat for real, dont look at the sail cover too closely! I was definitely not cut out to be a sail maker or to have anything to do with sewing machines. You may have already seen the first steps with this job back in July. … Continue reading November – Finishing the sail cover.
August – Caravan holiday so nothing got achieved. Except a few beach visits and a harbor or two. September – Guard rail repair.
Another of my rather irregular posts but that’s a reflection of the fragmented time I get to work on the boat while still working at a notional 37 1/2 hours a week job in the NHS. The reality is definately slightly on the higher side of 50 hours, with some paid overtime but a lot… Continue reading August – Caravan holiday so nothing got achieved. Except a few beach visits and a harbor or two. September – Guard rail repair.
Where did that summer go ? (May to the end of July 2021)
It’s hard to believe that it was May when I wrote the last blog post. The last few months seem to have vanished in a blur of trips to Aberystwyth to collect one daughter from university, trips to Norwich working on the other daughter’s house and time spent re(?)-decorating our son’s house ready to let… Continue reading Where did that summer go ? (May to the end of July 2021)
Hull painting again.
Not a lot got achieved during yet-another lock-down in response to the Covid virus. This time I didn’t have the boat on my drive before hand so had to be patient and wait until travel was allowed again. Particularly difficult as the boat storage is in another county so I was having to keep an… Continue reading Hull painting again.
Marine ply replacements for “exterior” grade temporary parts.
If you have read the first few bits of the restoration story you will be aware that I did some quick fix work on the companionway boards and the cockpit locker lids using the best plywood I could find at the time. Every boatbuilding book I own warns you to use proper marine plywood and… Continue reading Marine ply replacements for “exterior” grade temporary parts.
Bilge pumps big and small. – Getting a dry interior at last.
One of the common themes of this whole boat restoration has been the family reminding me of the pensioner who hit national newspaper headlines and the evening TV news a few years ago having spent years restoring an “old” boat only to sink within an hour or so of the launch. As you might expect… Continue reading Bilge pumps big and small. – Getting a dry interior at last.