BLUEMOMENT

I didn't want to hijack the The Other Chentleman's Cruise thread.

I haven't committed to any definite plan yet but the likely scenario will be.

We're currently afloat in a berth which is paid for until 31 March, we'll pay for another year at Ardlui, use the boat as she is for the start of the season, and when work runs out for me ( July/August - maybe June ) we'll lift her out so that I can fit a replacement engine.

Much the same as Nick, I want to fit the 13.5hp Beta with a normal gearbox, replace propshaft, prop, sterngland, stern bearing, morse control, etc. Then there is the knock on jobs - the current switches for the nav lights are built into the engine control panel so I'll need a new switch panel, take the opportunity to replace the sound proofing plus I'm sure that I'll find plenty more.

I hope that I don't lose too much of the best of the season, but I'm too busy work wise during the off season, and things should be a lot easier with long warm ( dry even ) days.

Ash

Paid a wee visit to Ardlui yesterday and took a wander down Pier 2. Mistral looked fine though someone has stolen your mooring warps and replaced them with crappy old halyards and bits of polyprop.

Silkie wrote:crappy old halyards and bits of polyprop.

Tell the whole world - why don't you. I won't be able to hold my head up in this forum again - may need to create a new identity.

It is bad though - pay top dollar for halyards with minimal stretch then expect to use them as mooring warps.

I might have claimed that the polyprop provides the stretch, but you know that it's only a piddly little bit which floats nicely for SWMBO and her boathook.

I only just missed you - I was up on Wednesday - removing the mainsail, stackpack, and boom - so many bits of string now. I know, I know, it's a bit late - it'll all be going back on again soon.

Ash

Don't beat yourself up. You should see Silkie's string miscellany.

Silkie wrote:Paid a wee visit to Ardlui yesterday and took a wander down Pier 2. Mistral looked fine though someone has stolen your mooring warps and replaced them with crappy old halyards and bits of polyprop.

Hi Silkie

I'm happy to announce that the crappy old halyards have been replaced ( though they might make a re-appearance as security during the winter ). I bought a length of navy 10mm polyester 3 strand ( listens for the sounds of sharp intake of breath and teeth being sucked ) and over a couple of wet afternoons have made up 4 permanent lines with soft eyes spliced at both ends. I bought it online and didn't want the line to be so heavy that I wouldn't get any benefit of stretch but must admit that if I'd had it in my hands then I might have gone up a size.I'm hoping that they won't squeak during windy nights.

Last time that I saw 'Silkie', I saw that she had two sets of mooring lines of different diameter. I assumed that the idea is that the smaller dia gives the benefit of stretch with the larger taking up the strain in heavier conditions - except that both sets of lines seemed to be the same length.

Ash

Yes, that was the plan but it obviously wasn't working very well if the lines were the same length when you saw them.

However, NEW FOR THIS SEASON, Silkie now has a complete new set of bargain-priced (90p/m) 12mm nylon multiplait warps. Lovely!

Silkie wrote:You should see Silkie's string miscellany.

I think that I may have worn a pair of them in the winter in the early 60s. I thought that that they were grossly overrated.