A stern look

• Boatwork

We have recently had some work done on the seating at the back of the boat. This is the way it originally looked:

Original stern seats

If you look carefully, you will notice that there are two separate seats, one either side. However, the new seat looks like this:

New stern seat

My original request was for this setup when the boat was being built, but somehow it never quite happened. Now we can sit facing forwards while cruising, instead of sitting sideways. That said, you have to be a little careful. If something catches the rudder and pushes it sideways, the tiller can knock you off the seat and into the water. Fortunately this should only happen when going backwards and we always stand forwards of the tiller when going astern, so we can reach the controls.

We noticed quite a few England flags on boats in the marina this weekend, so we decided to put in action some plans that we have had in mind for our own flags. We had to combine our respective loyalties somehow and have come up with this:

Welsh flag

IRFU flag

View of the stern

Honour is satisfied!

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Coronavirus upsets plans

• Boatwork

The current Coronavirus danger is affecting everyone, and we are no exceptions. Our original plans for this year were going to take us down the Severn Estuary (a considerable challenge, involving hiring a pilot for the trip). We were then going to head up through Bristol, onto the Kennet and Avon canal and then to the Thames, Wey Navigation and Basingstoke canal.
However, we realised this was going to take us through a number of major conurbations along the way. Not a good idea at the moment! So, not surprisingly, we have made changes. We have decided to extend our mooring for Brandy Pad at Droitwich Spa Marina for a year, whilst we will spend most of the summer in Mumbles. We will also be making a few sorties, on the boat,  through much less densely populated areas (which is fortunately most of the system), but probably out of season – May, June, July sometime.

We had expected to be inviting several friends for a visit this year as we passed close to them – Bristol, Bath, Reading, Hampton Court, Marlow for instance. Sadly, not to be, but hopefully we will be seeing you next year instead.

Out of the water once more

In the meantime, Brandy Pad is out of the water. Although the Blacking (the paint on the hull – underwater) was probably good for another year or two, we decided to re-black it while we were based in a marina. We also wanted to change the propeller again (the fourth one!) to once more try and resolve a vibration problem at tick over speed, which we use a lot when passing moored boats.

Pressure washing the hull

Before the hull is blacked, it needs to be cleaned to remove the algae that attaches to the hull over time.  Using a “high pressure washer” is not like using a domestic one. It knocks you off your feet if you are not braced correctly, and is hard (and slow) work.

High and dry

It is actually quite disconcerting living on the boat when it is on dry land like this. You are used to it rocking as you move around the boat, and when it doesn’t, it is easy to lose your balance as you are so used to the usual movement!

Lastly, here is a short video of the boat being towed out of the water by a tractor. For simple moving out of the water to a stand, it is very efficient, with none of the risks involved in craning.

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Here we go again….

• Boatwork

So, Brandy Pad is out of the water yet again. We are having some changes made to our propulsion system, to remove excessive vibration at tick-over (which we use when passing moored boats). We also decided to have a different propeller fitted to see if it would improve handling and be more robust. Just as well really, since we have now bent our second propeller with an underwater strike. My suspicions about the original type of prop would seem to be vindicated. Here’s hoping the new one is more robust.

Gayton lift_1

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