Rail for small shelf

I have been looking for a solution for the small shelf below the control panel. Due to the boat rocking, especially when boarding the boat/when rushing about, I needed a rail fitting to stop objects falling off it. The solution was to obtain some sort of rail, but, sourcing it proved difficult. In the end I bought two brass handles and fitted them adjacent to the shelf - works ok and stops my dab radio falling off - one broke recently.

Back to the future

Great scot - saw this badboy when stuck in a traffic cue last week

Fishy business

Randomly, i decided to buy a fishing licence - gives me an excuse to visit the boat now that most of the jobs are done. Here are a couple of my catches - mostly skimmers but a couple of perch and a nice roach. I think most of the big fish i.e. the carp, tend to stay in the marina nearby.

 Regarding the boat I removed the rest of the peeling coating from the toilet window and fitted a brass bar to keep the curtains flat to preserve modesty. The curtains are a tad short but I didn't want the bar too high.

More exhaust work

Carefully unwrapped the upper exhaust bandage and as I suspected the upper exhaust was broken as the lower exhaust. I bought another fixed repair clamp and fitted it - sorted for now. Unable to source a flexible pipe.

On a positive note the boat started ok, the cable to the solenoid was loose and is now secure and the starter looks fairly new.

Test run 29.6.13 and 30.6.13

Fitted a solar charge controller and re fitted the small solar panel on the roof as the batteries have been holding charge well. The solar panel must have been causing problems to the charge circuit so will not be plugged in during cruising. The boat started well and it is a lot quieter at high revs since the exhaust was repaired. Took it to Mercia for 10 mins to blow off the cobwebs. We are taking it out tomorrow for a short cruise. Took the boat out this afternoon and got the click on trying to start the engine again, but it turned ok after a few turns - will try fitting the new battery, but, starting to think that the starter motor might be on the way out.

Top of steps

Decided to put a new ply panel on top of the steps - existing panel is very thin ply and is delaminating as well as the hooks becoming less secure - the screw threads have got loose, the chipboard behind has also bulged out. Using long wood screws has pulled the wood sections together and made the surface solid to hold the steps and hooks in place.

Exhaust repair

 I cut off the insulating bandage of the lower section of the exhaust and noted that there was no flexible section in the exhaust - this means that the exhaust is being stressed by any engine vibration. I noted that the original exhaust that looks about 4mm thick from the manifold had been sleeved with cheap bendable pipe and had been riveted to the manfold pipe. The cheap pipe had sheared at the end of the overlap section and was only held in place by a thin thread. The cheap corrugated pipe was 45mm. I went to midland chandlers and would have had to replace the whole system with screw fitting pipe and manifold, including a flexible section. In the end I decided to go for a cheaper temporary option of a repair sleeve available from a motor factors. The sleeve has substantial pair of bolts and I put some repair putty in the joint - clean break to assist the seal. After tightening I put more putty around the edges. On starting the boat I noted it was a lot quieter and I will be less embarased to cruise now as it was very noisy at high revs. I then replaced the bandage on the exhaust after checking for leaks. A good day and I hope the repair last for the rest if the year. The battery isolation is working as the boat started first pull.

I also bought a battery operated pump to empty the bilge fully as the bilge pump leaves about 1.5 inches of water in.