More News for May

Hi everyone,
Have been out of the water since the end of the classics, and have taken great care to address any suspect seams. I identified were the last big leak was coming from, which has now been fixed, the only seam I didn't do during repairs.
Had a fuel leak problem too, I have during the fix, modified the position of the fuel supply rail, if it ever happens again I won't need to take the dam engine to bits to fix it.
It is holiday weekend on Saturday, so I am trying to launch the boat tomorrow. Will need to stay alongside for a day or two, to sort all the tools out and tidy up.
Will know today if I have to go to St Martin for some bits and pieces, I could get them here if lucky.
The next plan is to take the boat somewhere safe, I then hope to go to UK for THE wedding, and of course catch up with as many friends as possible.
Hope everyone is safe and well, I now have no Laptop again, so have lost all email addresses yet again, Antigua and my laptops have not got on very well together.
Will try and keep up to date when I can find another cafe with internet.
Message for Carolyn, "will try and text positions to you for the blog, when cellphone is in range"
All the best to all

Roy

Late update

Hi everyone,
Sorry for the gap in posts, but losing the satellite electronics has made emailing posts and general comms impossible to achieve.
.
I left Coral Bay on the 11 April bound for Antigua and the Classics. I had 2 crew on board Sara and Dougie. The wind was against us all the way, and we took 5 days, stopping 2 nights and one night heaving too. A total of 53hrs sailing time we arrived in Jolly Harbour Antigua to sign in customs, then round to Falmouth Harbour and anchored for the night.
Next day we were on the dock at the yacht club visiting the laundry to dry everything after a very wet trip. Big waves and a hard beat to windward (26-35knts) all the way. GL performed flawlessly.

2 days later on 18th, the regatta started, and in the afternoon 14.00hrs I did the single handed race coming 7th.
The race days started the next day and the wind was high and swell waves were huge. After the 4 races were over and having had the hardest weather, pushing GL more than I have ever done in the 18 years I have owned her, we finished 3rd in class overall.

So now I know after that thrashing if there was any weakness in the repairs that were made after the reef disaster, it would have shown up during this, sailing GL that hard did however show me the one seam I did not re-caulk started leaking, and 3 new plank butts had the caulking washed out. Right now I have hauled the boat out yet again to fix these leaks, The last haul out I hope for a while at least.

The fun we all had was worth every effort I made to get here for the 2013 Antigua Panerai Classic Regatta.

Roy

Mega post with Pics

Hi Everyone,

Well I have a good internet connection just for today, so have uploaded 32 pics of recent work and test journey + more work, I have mentioned all in my last update text post, so only doing captions otherwise I'll be here all day. My present plan as at 02-04-13 is to try and leave St Thomas sometime in the coming 2 weeks, I will be bound for Antigua as the final destination, this is to take part in the 2013 Classic Regatta. After this my mind is a blank page as to what happens next, the interior isn't finished yet, and neither is the deck and cabin roof, but good enough for this little adventure.

first haul out at Roadtown to fix BIG leaks

Launch day

I went for a swim

at anchor on a little island

no one else there, but boat still leaking bad

second haul out at Roadtown Tortola

stopwater repaired

Stern tube ready for repacking

The second hand replacement shaft

refurbished shaft, old shaft (red) and new type coupling note different taper

brand new left hand Dynajet propeller

Fitting the coupling and pully after shaft cut and keyed

fitting the overhauled shaft alternator

a quiet spot in Sopers Hole after re launching and testing

and a beer to celebrate no more leaks

a busy spot in Sopers Hole at Pusser's Bar and shop

view of the anchorage 1 and 2

Back at St Thomas, work begins on windlass and foredeck

Had to remove pad and re drill the mountings to fit new windlass

with pad in new position and sealed to deck, many holes to fill

windlass stripped and being overhauled, all bits being fitted in new housing

with repaired deck cleats and windlass fitted and deck sealed

fore deck, as is now, with temp teak repair to starboard toe rail

repairs to damaged deck begins

caulking the seams

now to clean her up before pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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missing pics of portside bunk

Bang up to date Post

Tuesday 5. First lift out this morning everyone wanting to know why. I got stuck in removing the propeller train. It wasn't looking in very good condition, but it never did, its always been a bit of a bodge job. Kevin Gray came over to see and said you will have to replace that lot you know, I know but I haven't really got the funds to do it, well with a bit of  dealing with Kevin and his contacts I had arranged a new prop shaft, and a new clamp type coupling during the day which should all be on site by Saturday morning. After removing the shaft I found the inboard tube screws were completely loose, pulled the tube back by hand, there was no packing around it.

The old propeller being English taper  will not fit the USA taper shaft so have to order one from the States. The only one they had at 16 x 11 was a left handed one at 1-1/8" which meant a rebore to 1-1/4" and for me to change the transmission over to anticlockwise rotation for ahead. Lucky for me the gearbox is a PRM hydraulic one and can run in both directions with no problem.

Wednesday 6. there was also a stopwater pouring out water when lifted, I removed it to see what was going on there. It was made from a broom handle and that wood is not right as it does not swell up. The sealing had gone and the water was travelling behind the plank caulking, it was then getting to the stern tube and from there every joint and plank seam on the aft end!

Thursday 7. The Stern tube was done and cleaned out as was a new stop water fitted and sealed. (all day)

Friday 8. I sealed the stern tube back in position today after cutting the new shaft to the correct length and fitting it in temp. left it overnight to set solid. Have replaced the screws with 4 x 4" 5/16" Lag bolts. aft bearing is being turned out to 1-1/4" to fit the shaft, and got it back today, I fitted the bearing retainer with 3 bolts as a mod in case it should fall out. Friday night I received the new propeller from USA Frank and Jimmy's via FedEx. so now I just need a keyway cutting in the shaft at the engine end.

Saturday 9. Had a recommended engineering firm take the shaft and cut a new keyway fit a key and the new coupling on the shaft today. Then after getting it back finished at 12 noon, spent the rest of the day doing a dry fit of the complete shaft, propeller and coupling. 4pm after filling the shaft tube with grease I gave the engine a run and put it in gear. All worked A1. will fit properly tomorrow.

Sunday 10. Spent all day taking the shaft out and putting everything back together greased up and tightened down. This included fitting the pulley drive on the shaft for my sailing hydro generator. Spending the day upside down hanging over the engine sort of took it out of me a bit, but again by about 4pm everything was back together, and I must say I was very pleased with the  resulting very professional looking finished system, just hope it works as good as it looks.

Monday 11. as this is the second long holiday weekend here today is a holiday again. spent the day tidying up the tools and putting everything back together. As the new propeller is a Dynajet I am really looking forward to testing it tomorrow.

Tuesday 12. I was launched this afternoon about 2pm, I ran the engine and did a test of engine in and out of gear whilst alongside, all controls working AOK, have reduced the speed at which the gears engage and made sure the engine wasn't going to stall when put into gear. I was checking the bilges like a hawk every couple of minutes and think I can say now the water leakage has been sorted. I then dropped the mooring lines and went out for a trial run. Did many manoeuvres and a full speed run, this propeller drives the boat along beautifully 7knts at full power, and now 3.2knts with engine just ticking over, it never did that before. The last test was something I would never have done before with the old setup and that is a crash stop! so revved her up and when doing 7knts + ahead, threw her straight into astern up to full power....GL stopped so quickly with the prop churning up the water aft, Magic!

I now at last have my confidence back in my boat!

More Text

Text update continued:

So really making sure everything was ready I dropped the mooring and went round the point into Sir Frances Drake Channel into the wind I put up the outer jib, then the main went up

........the first sail I've had since October 30 2011........

The wind was still a bit stronger than I wanted for a first sail, but GL had the bit between her teeth and was off like a rocket.

I have to say I was not a calm person, and was running about the boat checking everything, and not even enjoying the ride, my adrenalin level must have been through the roof, my past confidence in the boat had gone long ago and it wasn't coming back easy. I then thought in for a penny and put the staysail up as well, whew I was beating into the wind at over 6 Knts going like stink, while this was happening on the 3rd tack I ran into a valentines classic regatta which  all my friends from Coral Bay were taking part in, and which I had forgotten all about. When they saw me blasting past they were all jumping up and down shouting and waving like mad. I then got a VHF call from Kevin Husky who owns Huskies Salvage, his salvage boat pulled me off the reef! and it was acting as the committee boat for the race. We had a quick chat then I changed course and went to chat with the guys on the boats. They all wanted me to go into Nanny Cay with them to celebrate, but I wanted to get to Road Town, as I turned round I went past the stern of Kevin's boat and said "hello I look a bit different from last time you saw me over a year ago" he said "yes and it was worth the cost of pulling her off" I was non committal on that point he laughed and said she was looking really good though.

I continued on to Road Town and ended up on a mooring at Fort Burt.

Today Monday 18 is another story.

Monday, After arriving at Road town I had to find somewhere to anchor, or find a mooring ball, there is a couple or three posh marinas which I would be ignoring, so everything else is rather limited. Village Cay Marina which skyline is dominated by the Cruise ships alongside the special pier does have an anchorage, I tried but my anchor wouldn't hold in the wind. So leaving there I went to the west side and found a mooring ball opposite Conch Charters slips. This area is known as Fort Burt.

During the sail my bilge pump was playing up a bit so I concentrated on finding out what was going on. There had been a serious increase in the water coming into the boat, and this was worrying me a lot. After an investigation I had a feeling that either the shaft tube or rudder stock tube were leaking, as that was the area I could see the water ingress. The pump was struggling to keep up with the amount and was not pumping right either. I have had a few probs now with this dam pump. This time I felt it just maybe the hull fitting, as this reduces from 3/4" to a 3/8" hole and as the pump is a 500 gall an hour, maybe this was to small for it. I must say I never had the prob before. It was a very serious leak, and as I didn't know which bit it was I was very concerned.

Knowing the chandlers were I could get a new one was the other side of the bay, i set out in the dingy from the boat in a high wind and parked it next to the road, in a bit of shelter. Then a long walk ensued, finally arriving at the Golden Hind Chandlers. I got the fitting ok and investigated the Tortola Marine Services shipyard next door, just in case.

On the walk back I saw that MiMu had arrived at Village Cay and I made my way there to make contact. They had a few ongoing probs, so I did a bit of a survey and after a free lunch and a big bag of food from the chef, left at about 5pm with a promise to put a full days work in on Tuesday.

Tuesday 19, got picked up in MiMu's tender by Alex the Eng and spent all day sorting bits and pieces out, they were due for the Owners arrival about 5pm so I was due off before that,  didn't quite work out and they arrived before I left. I had a pleasant time

saying hello again, as its nearly a year since I met them last, and they are very nice people. After being dropped back at GL I saw them leave on their cruise.

Wednesday 20,  Well my prob hadn't gone away, so with the input of cash from Tuesday I again walked all the way round the bay to the shipyard to book a haul out to find out what's leaking. managed to book it for 10am Thursday 21.

Thursday 21, prepared the boat and took it to the yard, I was hauled out and again I am in a shipyard high and dry. Started the 'look see' around the stern, the stern tube is OK and tight, the rudder stock tube on the other hand was loose, the sealing packing had just about all come adrift,  when moving the rudder the tube itself moves, not a good sign. Only 1 aft seam showed any sign of water draining out, and one fwd seam so they need looking at too.

Friday 22, I put a full days work in today, and concentrated on the rudder. The stern inside has not been touched since going on the reef, it took quite a while to unpack it and get access to the rudder tube itself. I had never even considered looking at it, all the time in the yard during repairs! I found my rat, dead and decomposed! during this, but more important I found the tube had been lifted up and turned about 30 degrees off centre line, the six 3"x16 securing bronze screws had sheared off! so the tube was free to move. I have drilled the plate today and re secured it with four 3"x3/8"hex head lag bolts, or coach screws as we say in uk. Its now solid again and only requires re caulking outside. The two seams were raked out to allow to dry as well.

Saturday 23. I spent the day cleaning out the seam aft, and after a bit of considered thought decided to put a few screws in that aft plank. Eight screws later, all fastened and plugged, I will leave that seam to dry out.

Sunday 24 I removed the caulk and cleaned up the seam fwd. This seam is between the lead ballast and wood keel. Its the only place I was weeping from in the fwd bilge. Whilst cleaning it out it was obvious the caulking had failed here. Now clean and drying out.

Next little job whilst out of the water was the engine water intake valve, this had a little drip drip drip coming from the outboard thread. So removed it and after a full overhaul and re sealing its back together again.

Monday 25. Did the fwd seam today, all cleaned, made a filler piece out of teak, and fitted this in the port side of the seam, I should have said the seam is the extreme fwd end of the lead keel and goes from one side to the other, the original red lead and putty has long since been washed away aft of this its still there, but there is now a 3/8 gap for just over a foot. Even with the teak filler piece it took approx 3lb of Oakum hammered in to pack it tight, and after priming that, in went the 5200. Its not going to leak again for a bit. I have prepped and primed the aft seam ready for Oakum.

Tuesday 26. As I had left all my sealing compound, primer and antifouling at Chris's dock, I decided it was worth the journey by ferry back to St Thomas to pick it up and bring it back. The cost of replacing it was over $500, the ferry ride $35. Set out early and was just in time to see the ferry leave, there is only one ferry a day so I walked back, there was plenty still left to do. I have now fitted the wash down pump permanently in the engine room instead of it being in the head, fitted a valve at the galley sink and piped it all in. That will save a lot of hassle.

Wednesday 27. 05.00am went to the ferry and was in time, I would be clearing back into US at Crux Bay St John on the way to Red Hook St Thomas. Crux bay Boarder Control and Home Security; That woman was on duty, It took her over 15 minutes delaying everyone before she understood that I didn't live in St Thomas and was only visiting for the day. Arrived in Red Hook at 07.00am and spent a chilled out day, saw a lot of friends and caught the 5.00pm ferry back to Road Town.

Thursday 28. with everything finished primed and antifouled I was now ready to launch as last boat in Friday, same deal as before to sit in the dock overnight or for the weekend, this being a holiday weekend I could stay till Tuesday if  I needed to.

Friday March 1. Spent the day cleaning and tidying up in general, a bit of shopping for food and at 4.00pm I was put back in the water.

Then monitored the bilges for leaks.

Saturday 2. Well the big leak from the rudder was now dry as a bone, as was the area underneath the mast step, and the leak in the fwd end of the engine bilge had stopped too. However there was water coming in somewhere which wasn't obvious as to where exactly, nowhere as much as before, so, decided to take advantage of the pleasant breeze and go sailing, as maybe I would be able to find the leak with the boat moving about a bit.

I left the dock at about 11.00am and had the first real stress free sail! Ended up at 5.00pm at Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island, to a very warm welcome to the bay by many of the charter boat parties and shore staff. Went to the hotel bar for a couple of sundowners then back to the boat to eat and sleep!

Sunday 3. A bit more wind today and as I didn't find were the leak is yet decided to sail to the top of Scrub Island and maybe go right round Tortola.. It didn't quite work out like that. I had a nice sail again, stress free, and as I was passing the top of Scrub Island a place called Throw Away Bay and Wife Bay the beach was so nice and it looked so idyllic I decided to stop and go ashore for a swim, which I did. I spent a bit more time there than planned, its very shallow so didn't want to stay there for the night so headed back to Road Town while sailing back and still looking for this leak down aft, horror of horror's, I found the new coupling bolt only just replaced had again sheared off, so although there was now no water coming from anywhere around the shaft tube or shaft itself I knew that this set up although its lasted me 19 years has just got to be seen too. I ended up at anchor in the channel at Village Cay Marina for the night.

Monday 4. Phoned up the shipyard and moved round back to their dock and will be lifted out again next day.

text update

Hi Everyone,

This will only be a text update as I am not really getting good internet enough for pic's.

After finishing the Head, I carried on with the portside for the first time. There were a lot of issues to deal with on this side of the boat too, I just hadn't started it yet.

So I was still cleaning sanding and either varnishing or painting all the interior wood that has been stored outside in the tropics for over a year. It had all suffered from this treatment and it took a lot of work to refurbish it all. But I finally finished all the bits and pieces for the port bunk, had a trial fitting and after a modification to the bunk board itself, (I have cut three hatches out of the top so I can use this space better than as was) I gradually assembled it all together, this time no glue was used at all, this so it will be easier to take apart when needed. Once this was completed I concentrated on the remaining wood pile, and that was all finished as well........Now it was time for  something completely different. A Holiday!

Feb 27 was the date I had to leave USVI, so I have left a bit earlier. That's because Guiding Light and myself need to be tested as a viable means of travel again.

Its amazing what I have forgotten about the routines of  cruising in a boat! I didn't do it all and paid the price.

So with the help of Grace we set out from the Nye's dock at about 17:30hrs on the 11 Feb. bound for Crux Bay St John USVI. No sails just a journey on the engine to test it under load after a year of idling, and just charging batteries. It performed very well except it ran a little hot. We anchored the boat right next to the ferry dock, in everyone's face! then, when happy, we went ashore and joined in a shore party on the beach, I must admit to getting very drunk, think I bought myself a 'Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster' at some point during the evening, the hangover the next day felt as though I did.

Next morning I noticed the bilge pump was coming on a lot, and, it wasn't pumping properly. I had a look around the engine room and found to my horror that the bolt stopping the shaft flying out had sheared off. (I hadn't checked that) So found the spare after a lot of searching every dam place I could think of, and fitted the new bolt. Then attended the bilge pump. Ended up replacing the float switch as it had a high resistance and the pump couldn't pump. The      extra water coming in is from around the stern tube, not the shaft. I'm afraid that's something else I hadn't checked. Secured some pipe's back into position and at 18:15 called it quits and had a dinner ashore with Grace as a thank you to her. (fell down the bilge whilst forgetting it was open, and had grazes all over elbows and other bits that stick out!)

Thursday was a lot better and I put back loads of little items I haven't had time for. Even made up 2 name boards as I haven't got the stickers yet.

I went to customs for a quiz on rules for leaving, and got the low down on that. Then went to the fuel dock for a quiz on their procedure as well, now armed with this knowledge I would be ready to checkout, fuel up, and leave for Jost Van Dyke early Friday morning.

When I tell you I didn't leave till 12 noon should give you all a clue it didn't quite go as planned! But I did arrive in Jost at 1500hrs safe and sound. Then rowed ashore and signed in to the BVI, couldn't row back as the wind had come up so strong I couldn't get back against it. Oh well back to the pub!

Saturday morning I woke to a howling hooligan blowing straight into the bay, very uncomfortable on the hook. But I had 2 jobs that just had to be done right away. After doing those, alternator excitation fault, and getting 110 volt ac supply to charge phone and computer and camera, I left Great Harbour bound for Sopers Hole Tortola. On the way across I met MiMu coming there with charter quests, first time I've seen the boat moving without being on it, Had a chat on VHF with Angus the captain and might even see them tomorrow. I managed to get ashore but only for a short time during a lull in the wind. Its a bit expensive there as well.

Sunday I had to sit and think a bit, I have promised MiMu to look at a few problems they have, and to meet at Road Town, but the wind has been a bit stronger than I would have preferred for my first sail, engine could have got me there, but I would normally have sailed. I decided that I will have to do this sooner or later, and the wind wasn't as bad, so with a lot of trepidation on my part, I prepared the boat for a rough journey to Road Town.

update to today

Hi all,
A post at last. after the bunk was fitted work began on the head door and cabin door suports and framing, this has taken quite a while to do trying to line and fit it back now that its all changed.

First job then was painting and properly refitting the toilet floor and frames for the whole area.

Second job was fitting the remade non removable floors and varnishing them, then screwing them down in place. Then I fitted the tiolet and cabin doors after a varning sesion on them too.

next came the tonge and groove panel going fwd, after a lot of sanding and cleaning fitting then varnishing this part was fitted.

Then again the next planks were given the same treatment.

And a view of inside the head.

And then the planks that fit to the hull side were fitted and then varnished and fitted in position.
Finally I have the head back together, and now for the next bit. so a pic of me working on the wood I need, sanding, painting, varnishing and remaking all the bits.
She is begining to look good inside again though.

So more later when I can
Roy

Hi Everyone, Hope all had a good a holidays as myself.
I have been working hard fitting back the furniture during this time and have made good progress.
As there is no power or water on the dock many other things had to be done as well. The main thing was power, this was stopping me keeping my laptop charged up. On the other hand I had no internet for quite a while as well. As at today only 2 pics can be sent as it is a very slow connection, lots of pics missed out. But it shows how far I have come since the last post.
After fitting the oak panel the area behind it and in front was all cleaned sanded and painted out. The floor support, bunk front and new floor below bunk was finished, the bunk then and doors were fitted, all by the way sanded and varnished. I then have started on the fwd head bulkheads, toilet door and fwd cabin door, also the new floor support on the portside. So its been all go for me.

All for now
Roy

Interior reinstallation starts

Hi Guys,
So at 23-12-2012 installing the inside woodwork is in progress and pics follow:-

First job was the battery compartment, batteries have been on the cabin roof since I temp wired them up after coming off the reef. This compartment was never finished in 1994 refit, but now it is.

after 19 years its painted out inside

After batteries installed with all new cables, nav station reinstalled

then fwd facing partition could be refitted

to enable live aboard status, the Bog had to be recommissioned

Then the hull side in way of the head compartment was painted out

 

 

And the job just finished was to fit the aft head, oak paneling partition. This partition was smashed during the two days on the reef, assembled it is to big to remove from the boat, but during the time ashore, I took it all to pieces, reassembled and glued it all up again, then about 4 coats of varnish to finish it. This was all done inside the boat, and it was a pain trying to move it about the whole time as the other work to the hull was being done. But all worth the effort now.

I move back on board today, so I do not know yet if I can get Internet on the dock, if not it may be a while, or till after Xmas and New Year before the next post.

Feeling a bit more relaxed I went to the local bar at Bottoms Up (Carigas) and attended their
'End of the World' party on the 21st. They had it advertised as... 6-30pm until the end of the world!
I lasted till they got fed up waiting at 01-30hrs on 22nd and closed! giggle giggle.

All for now dear readers. MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL
Roy