Blazer was lifted out in mid December - the yard pressure washed it and chocked it.
She sat there unloved through a pretty cold period - NOT WINTERISED !!
I finally managed to get a week free to visit and drove down on Tuesday.
I had my poor little car loaded with the dinghy ( renovated ) and a short ladder.
I found Blazer to be Generally good condition - very - very dirty - the only frost damage found so far - a cracked filter on the fresh water pump - not bad at all.
I examined the engine without running it and it seems fine - we will see when she is back in the water.!
I stayed on board for 6 days - early starts and long days.
The list of work accomplished -
Returned the dinghy to the rack - not the spot that I had but a nearby one - wonderful.
Scraped the bottom of Blazer to get rid of anything not pressure washed off.
Washed the topsides of the hull and treated half of it with Oxalic acid to remove yellow stains.
Scraped and polished the prop and shaft.
Serviced the toilet sea cocks.
Removed and resealed the thermostat housing on the engine - it had been leaking.
Fitted a new engine temperature sender.
Fitted a new engine anode.
Drained and refilled the engine oil.
fitted a new engine oil filter.
Filled the dinghy dry storage box with - folding anchor + 2mtrs of heavy chain + 20 mtrs of light warp + baler and engine bits + tools.
Vac'd around Blazers engine.
Whipped the ends of the Genoa sail sheets ( ropes ).
Emptied the cockpit locker and cleaned it.
Tried to fix the cracked water pump filter - no good - since found a better replacement - £12.50.
Tightened the Jubilee clips on the prop shaft seal.
Cleaned and checked all the earth bonding cables and terminal block.
Remade one terminal connection to the P bracket.
Moved the two big batteries from the box in the cockpit locker to the empty box under the pilot berth - ( very heavy ).
Checked the batteries for water and gravity - all cells good - 1240.
Removed the empty battery box - to take it home.
Moved my folding bike - in its waterproof bag - into the car to go home.
Moved anything we don't need in the cockpit locker into the car.
Removed a leaking fishing rod holder from the cockpit and fibre glassed the hole - good job !
Gel coated the fibre glassed area.
Next day - gel coat not set !!
Removed second battery cables.
Topped up the leaky gearbox - 1/2 pint !!
Painted the engine exhaust manifold - 2 coats of red Hammerite.
Shopped for antifoul paint - anodes - masking tape.
Searched 4 chandlers for a replacement filter - no luck - found a better one on Ebay !!
Re filled cockpit locker - tidy.
A second attempt at the gel coat with more hardener - Still not setting !! = Very old Gel coat !!
More oxalic acid on the hull stains.
Tidied the cockpit.
Anti fouling day.
Decided to dispense with the red - hard racing boot top line - ( I never ever scrub it and it always looks a mess )
Taped up all round and applied one coat of Hemples - Tiger Xtra anti fouling paint.
Ran out of paint 3/4 done !!
Bought an old set of oars from Nigel at the sailing club boat jumble - £25 - great !!
Went to Burnham - bought another tin of Tiger xtra ( another £65 ! )
Finished the anti fouling - looks good.
New anodes fitted to - the hull - 2 on the prop shaft - 1 on each keel.
Creaky floor board - failed attempt at fixing it !
Applied lanolin Prop Guard to prop and P bracket + shaft.
Replaced broken gas locker hinges with new stainless hinges.
Replaced a broken quick release clip on the guard wires on deck.
Cleaned and lubricated the speed / Distance log.
Glued and cramped up a crack in the old oars that I bought yesterday.
Coffee with Nigel on Blazer - helped me move the outboard engine to the club store room.
3 hours - non stop - pressure washing the deck and cockpit - ( much better )
Heavy duty clean up below - ready to leave.
Vac'd all the water out of the bilges - ( lots - from the filter leak ! )
Left Fambridge at 17.00
Arrived home Derby 20.15 - not bad !
Very successful trip - very satisfied that Blazer is OK - and ready to be lifted back in.
Mike.
