The First Overnight Away From the Marina!

20th and 21st June 2016

David,  good friend of mine who I met through learning to fly wanted to come for a trip on the boat along the Thames, so as I'd recently fitted the Ruddersafe I thought it would be an opportunity to try it and to make sure it didn't fall off!

On arrival at Thames and Kennet Marina the weather wasn't great but it was scheduled to improve in the afternoon so we just chilled for a while until it brightened up.

We left the marina and headed east, soon we were at Sonning Lock, David's first and as luck would have it we had to operate it ourselves so he could play at being the lock keeper!

The cruise down through Shiplake to Marsh lock was pleasant and uneventful, we just admired the beautiful houses we passed along the way. Marsh Lock was attended so we were swiftly through.

 

We passed through Henley bridge and around the regatta course, there were many people busily setting up marquees and stands on both side of the river plus lots of rowers practising.

We thought about pushing on to Marlow but decided Henley would make a better stop for the night so we turned around, back down the regatta course, under the bridge and moored up on the park.

We experimented with the hood, just to see how easy it was to open it up to enjoy the sunshine, I'm sure it would be neater to remove it completely!

After some beers in the sun we headed into Henley where we enjoyed a lovely meal in Cau (steak) with a few beers, then back to the boat. The rest of the evening was spent talking about flying and making some rough plans about places to fly to meet up again. Time for a drop of port then some much needed sleep!

Next morning we started the day with bacon sarnie (is there any other way??) then headed back to the marina.  The approach to Marsh Lock was a bit challenging due to strong current from the weir and gusting cross-winds (to use a flying term!). The boat was being bobbed about a fair bit but as I approached the shelter of the lock it was fine.

Marsh Lock

We motored back up river past the lovely houses again, through Shiplake Lock and then tied up at the lay-by for Sonning Lock.

Val Wyatt Marina, with contentious 'house boat' office

Some pontoons heading downstream, leaving Sonning Lock

Once through Sonning we tied up on the bank and went for a snack at the cafe behind the lock, very nice it was too!

Moored at Sonning, first time the stakes have been used!

Soon we were back at Thames and Kennet Marina.  We stopped at the fuel pontoon so I could fill the tank (from a jerry can, but still best to do it on this pontoon) and we brimmed the water tank ready for  the next trip.

Finishing off the Ruddersafe and New Cleat

19th June 2016

Today I returned to the marina with future son-in-law Lewie to finish fitting the Ruddersafe, yet another fender and a new foredeck cleat. Lewie and my daughter Alex are getting married next weekend and will be using our boat for their honeymoon - I want to make it as easy as possible for them and the Ruddersafe has a good reputation for making the boat more controllable.

A couple of weeks ago when I tried to fit it there was a fault with the bracket on one side, Norfolk Marine sent me a new one straight away but I haven't had the chance to fit it before now. As I'd done most of the work previously it didn't take long to switch the bracket over (utilising the paddling pool once again!)

I think the Ruddersafe is designed to be a bit closer to the propellor than I've got it.  The anti-cavitation plate on this engine gets much narrower further forward and the curvature means it would be hard to get the clamps on properly so I'l try it like this and see how it goes.

Next up, the cleat on the foredeck. The standard item is not very big and struggles to take the 2 mooring ropes and the one for the anchor, so I decided to fit something a bit more useable.

To access the fixings meant removing the forward headlining inside, quite easy to do. I was surprised that the cleat was only held on with 2 M4 fixings, the 2 on the stern are fitted the same and already both are loose.

I chose one of these to fit and used 4 M6 fixings (and bedded it on silicone) so it should be fine.

I wasn't able to use the 2 existing holes as they weren't quite spaced the same (and not straight!) so I filled them with Araldite and drilled 4 new holes.

From underneath you can see that the ply lining has to be drilled away so that the washers and nuts are recessed, otherwise the roof lining won't be able to go back on. So the cleat is only fixed to the outer layer of GRP, but this looks quite thick and with 4 fixings it should be fine. Drilling upwards with a 16mm bit to counterbore the 4 holes was a bit nerve-wracking, one small slip . . . . .

Lewie re-fitting the headlining panel

New post has plenty of room for all the ropes

The new bow fender was easy to tie on.

Once the work was finished (we also added another 25l fuel tank to increase range) we went for a trial run up to Caversham lock and back, the Ruddersafe makes a very clear improvement to straight line stability.

Odd Job Day and Fitting a Ruddersafe

4th June 2016

I made a visit to the boat today to do a few jobs and to fit a Ruddersafe unit, but I also took a few photos of the fixes that have been done to resolve some of the snags we found after buying the boat.

Ballast boxes on the hull floor (under the rear cockpit) and up the transom containing lots of builders ballast to  level the boat correctly

A useable step/footrest in front of the co-pilot seat (a locker would be more useful so I might modify this)

A block to raise the dinette table a couple of inches, makes it easier to sit around

A plywood bulkhead to keep the water tank off of the bow thruster pump, temporary fit to be revisited later

I bought the Ruddersafe from Norfolk Marine who provided excellent  service and a good price.

When I opened the box I was initially impressed with the quality of the contents, it looked like a well thought out piece of kit made to a good standard. Unfortunately there was a problem with one bracket - two holes for the grub screws were over-size so the screws were a very loose fit, but I decided to try to fit it anyway.

The contents of the kit 

This would be a much quicker job with the boat on land, but mine isn't so with the boat in the water and the engine raised I'd have to do it by reaching across from the pontoon. Fearful of dropping tools or parts of the Ruddersafe into the marina I came up with a simple solution.

A 5' paddling pool is a perfect fit to catch tools or anything else I drop!

In theory this should be an easy job, there are only are few fittings to fit! In reality, it's a bit fiddly and much of it has to be done 'by eye'. The rudder blades clamp onto the cavitation plate, they must run parallel to the centreline of the outboard and the blade needs to be 2.5cm away from the propellor, so the alignment process is a bit of trial and error.

First rudder blade fitted

Both blades fitted, not quite in their final position yet. Excess studs to be cut off later

While I was making final adjustments and tightening up the fixings it became clear that the 2 over-size holes were going to prevent me from tightening the 2 grub screws correctly and I couldn't risk fitting it and having it come loose and move or fall off. I called Norfolk Marine and they are putting a replacement bracket in the post for me so I can finish off the job next week.


Unable to finish this job I set about adding a couple more fenders to cover a point we realised could easily be knocked, adjusting the positions of the fenders and trimming off the excess ropes (leaving about 30cm spare, putting a little heat shrink on the ends and sealing using a lighter).

Soon I'd like to add a bow roller so I can tidy up the mounting/stowage of the anchor and possibly replace the fairleads on the bow with cleats - if I can access the fixings from inside.