Fell In The River !!

Friday 25th Of January 2019

I managed to fit in a quick visit to Blazer and drove down alone on January 22nd.
The marina had brought Blazer alongside the visitors pontoon for me because I thought that I would be late arriving and it would be unsafe to got out to Blazer in the dinghy in the dark.

She was in good shape - dry - batteries still full - just a bit grubby from the birds roosting on her.
Very cold - heavy frost on the pontoons - very slippery.

Wednesday - I fitted the replacement Tortoise stove and fired it up - wonderful.
Also fitted a new pair of wheels to the bottom of the transom on the dinghy - the first ones that I fitted were too small and had tyres that kept coming off.
Thursday - I discovered Blazer's engine had seized !!
I un-seized it and got it going but is seemed like compression is down on one pot !
I will investigate more on the next visit.
Friday - time to go home.
No frost this morning.
I cleaned Blazer from end to end and put all my gear in the car.
No rush - low water at 09.46 so the dinghy park would be high and dry.
As soon as there was enough water, I launched the dinghy and motored out to the mooring buoy.
I like to untangle the mooring lines to make picking them up easy when I bring Blazer to the mooring.
I then motored back to Blazer and secured the dinghy to the stern.
I motored Blazer to the mooring buoy - picked up the lines first attempt - perfect.
I drained the engine block - left everything as it needs to be for cold weather and motored the dinghy back to the dinghy park ramp.
I climbed out of the dinghy and pulled it onto the ramp until the outboard clanged onto the lower edge of the ramp.
I thought - it would be better to lift the outboard instead of it rattling up the ramp ( I like to look after my ancient outboard )
I walked down the ramp - put one foot behind the transom - lifted the outboard and WHOOSH !!
The dinghy launched itself and took me with it. !!
I was not injured at all - I hung onto the port quarter of the dinghy but it filled with water - My life jacket inflated - THANK GOODNESS.
I realised that the dinghy was no use to me so I let it go.
I was not cold - the water seemed comfortable for a while.
I knew that there were no other people around - No visiting boats - no point in shouting for help.
I was wearing lots of upper body layers including a thick padded jacket which made the life jacket a bit too tight and it restricted my breathing a bit.( the life jacket was outside the padded jacket )
I swam to the ladder on the end of the visitors pontoon - installed for just such an occasion.
It is constructed of stainless steel U shaped rungs linked together like a chain.
I managed to get one foot onto the bottom rung - two hands on the top of the ladder but I could not climb it !!
My life jacket was holding me away from the ladder and also the rungs were not rigid- as I tried to stand up my leg just went under the pontoon.
I realised that there was no point in just hanging onto the ladder - I would just get too cold and weak very quickly.
I also realised that it was two days after spring tides and the current runs really fast three hours after low water - I was careful not to stray further into the river than the visitors pontoon.

I decided that my only option was to go back to the dinghy park but when I got there I could not climb out - I could not find a foothold low enough.

I decided to go hand over hand along the dinghy park - this worked but half way along it the current pulled me away and I lost my grip on it.

No option now but to swim for the shore - luckily the current wasn't too strong in that corner and I wasn't getting swept up river.

Swimming on my front was no good the life jacket was holding me vertical in the water.
I flipped onto my back and swam easily - after a few minutes, I turned over and my feet touched the mud - Great !! - all over now.
WRONG !!
The mud on the Crouch is very thin and sticky - as I tried to walk waist deep in water my feet sank deep into the mud.
I realised how dangerous it was to get stuck in the mud on a fast rising tide - I threw myself onto my back - the life jacket gave me enough buoyancy to allow me to use both hands on each leg and pull them free - THANK GOODNESS.

I then swam / slithered and crawled ashore - my hands were sinking deep into the mud - I held my cap in one hand to help.

It was slow going but once I got beyond the water line the mud was a bit more supporting - it had been draining for hours I suppose ?

I made it to the concrete launching ramp and just laid there exhausted.

                                     Aerial shot of the pontoons - my track indicated in white.

I didn't have time to think of what to do next - a car stopped at the top of the ramp with two people in it.
The man driving looked at me - he couldn't work out what was going on so I waved him to come to me - he ran down the ramp - realised that I needed help and shot off in his car - he found Paul in the boat compound and he arrived at my side seconds later.
Paul raised the alarm via his VHF and Danyal arrived in the van soon after.

They helped me to walk to the Yacht Station office - I washed my hands - danyal took off all my wet clothes - he gave me his overalls (too small ) - Paul arrived with lots of coats and towels to try to warm me up - I was shivering by now.

Two ambulances arrived - the paramedics warmed me up - Danyal made me some hot tea.
The paramedics said that I had second stage hypothermia - my temperature was down to 33.6
but soon recovered.
I felt OK at that point but they wanted to get me checked out at the hospital.
They took me to one about 15 miles away - Very busy - 4 hours later they said that I was OK and could go.

I had no phone - Jackie still did not know what had happened.
I could not remember any phone numbers and the hospital staff failed to find a land line number on line.
They called me a taxi - I was wearing a pair of overalls that didn't fasten at the front + a hospital gown that covered me a bit - no shoes ( hospital socks )
I had my wet through clothes in a bag that was dripping water all over.

The taxi took me to a cash machine and then onto Fambridge - £55.
He waited while I tried to start my car - no joy - the fob on the key was not working - the immobiliser was stopping me starting the engine.

The taxi took me to the Ferry Boat Inn - I walked into the bar looking like a drowned rat and asked for accommodation.
The landlady - (Kerry) was very unsure about me but said OK - we walked round to the chalets behind the pub and I told her the story.
She was so moved by the story - she laid on a good meal in the room - quickly sorted out fresh bedding because the room was not ready - sorted out a phone I could use - ALL FREE OF CHARGE !!
At that point the police walked in and said they were searching for me and had spotted the taxi.
Apparently - Jackie had asked her son Scott what to do when I didn't phone or turn up at home.
He is a detective Sargent in the police and he had initiated a search for me.
The police had found my car in the car park and feared that I had fallen in and drowned - Scott was wondering how to tell his mother !!
I used the policeman's own phone to speak with Scott and he reported the good news to Jackie.

Shortly afterwards - I spoke to Jackie on Kerry's phone.

After a hearty meal and a bath, I slept until about 5am - got dressed with the spare clothes from the car - still no shoes !
Then - over a cup of coffee - I remembered that a previous car used to suffer key fob trouble and a way round it was to open the car door with the key only - then it would start.
I tidied up - left a thank you note - and walked in my socks from the Ferry Boat Inn through the boat compound to the car park.
IT WORKED !! - the car started - I posted the keys through the pub letter box and drove home.

So - thinking it over -

All totally avoidable - a stupid mistake on my part - I assumed that the dinghy was secure on the ramp - totally forgot about the new, bigger wheels.
the outboard engine skeg was all that was holding the dinghy onto the ramp !
All I needed to do was pull the dinghy up a metre further until it was on the level platform.

Good thing that I was wearing my life jacket - ancient but serviced by me every year and yes - I was wearing a crotch strap properly fitted.

Many thanks to Paul and Danyal from the Marina - they recovered the dinghy within minutes and stowed it in the rack.

Many thanks to the Ferry Boat Inn for looking after me so well.

It has shook me up a bit overall - but I will be back on the river soon.
Next time in the dinghy I will carry my hand held VHF radio - it floats and is waterproof.
I will find out which channels the Marina monitor as well.

I do also have a PLB satellite rescue beacon that I can put in my pocket - I do when I sail single handed !

All's Well That Ends Well.

Mike.

More Work at Fiona's

October 2018

Fiona and family have been in the new house for a year now and it became clear that an upgrade was needed to the conservatory.
The ceramic floor tiles were uneven - unattractive and had to go !
The sliding door to the kitchen limited the dining space and only opened half the opening.

I was asked if I could lay a new laminate floor - NO PROBLEM.

The job then expanded significantly - (as they do ).
Here is what I accomplished.

Fiona's son Jack removed the patio doors and frame neatly.
Luckily the floor levels were only 25 mm different - I framed the aperture with 19mm ply and a custom made threshold to account for the two floor levels.
Taurus architrave framed the conservatory side.
This opened up the dining space niceley.

The TV was in the right hand corner on top of a chest of drawers - not ideal.
I moved it to the left hand side - installed hidden sockets for power and Sky cables.
I extended the Sky cable and routed them through the threshold and behind skirting.
I made a floating shelf for the Sky box in pine to match the other wood trims.

There was a defunct air conditioner through the brick wall below the TV - I removed it and framed up a cubby hole for a candle feature using 19mm ply.
I replastered the Tv wall to blend in the new features.

I managed to find 23 matching bricks locally and rebuilt the short wall behind the cubby hole.

I then laid the new laminate floor which went well - trimmed with new 5 inch Taurus skirting.

I swapped all the sockets for much nicer metal ones with hidden screws.

James redecorated throughout - the result was very pleasing - Fiona was very happy.

I then went on to install a proper power supply to the summer house - SWA cable - breaker board - the lot.

The last job was to rebuild the porch on the wall above the back door - it was a mess - falling off the wall - badly made etc.
I took it down - rebuilt it - refixed it with 5 10mm Rawl bolts - it won't fall off now !!
I re glazed it with reclaimed polycarbonate sheets - fitted a new gutter and fall pipe - then trimmed each end with PVC foam board and angle trim.
Fresh Flashband sealed it to the brickwork.
I gave the woodwork a coat of grey cuprinol colours - looks good.

A lot of work altogether - about 6 weeks in total - all done now.
I even managed to squeeze in sorting out overloaded sockets in the utility room as well - safe now.

No more projects for family for a long spell now - I started renovating my flat in Sheffield in November - NOW THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

Mike.

Trip to Blazer at long last !

Tuesday 2nd of May 2018

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.

Nether Edge House - Refresh

Thursday 15th of March 2018

                                               My house in Nether Edge - Sheffield.

This house has been rented to an American family for the last two years and inevitably it needs a lot of TLC even though they left it in reasonable condition !!

I gave myself two weeks to do the work but was delayed starting - then the new tenants asked if they could move in two days early !

The work consisted of -

Jackie did a great job of refreshing the white emulsion in the lounge and stairs - plus touching up the kitchen and other rooms.

Lots of work in the kitchen -

Two floor tiles replaced and the rest re-grouted.
A new centre light fitted.
Cooker hood deep cleaned and a new filter fitted.
The oven deep cleaned.
All the appliances moved to clean underneath.
Back door re hung to fit better.
Cupboards cleaned out properly.
Under cupboard lights - new bulbs / tubes fitted.

The original tumble drier that we had for years was a gas one ( rare ) - it had its vent pipe on the right.
All electric ones seem to have the vent on the left which gave the previous tenants a problem.
I core drilled the wall - carefully missing the socket wires - and fitted a new vent kit on the left.

The new tenants asked if they can bring a cat - so - I fitted two new cat flaps to match the woodwork.

There was a bad stain on one of the main bedroom wardrobe doors - so I repainted a pair so that they match.

The biggest job was to remove the electric shower in the bathroom and fit a thermostatic shower valve.
The new boiler can easily power a shower - so it will be much more efficient with a new one.

I lifted the boards in the cupboard behind the shower to get access to the pipework and discovered a leak !!
It was only a drip but I am so glad I found it.
It was from the centre of a copper pipe ( not a joint ) that I re used when I put in the new boiler two years ago.
It had corroded through !!

I swapped the pipe and piped up the new valve.
I had to replace 5 white tiles where the electric shower was fitted and I removed the feed cable back to the pull switch - all tidy.

The new shower will be unaffected by the seasonal water temperatures and won't go hot if someone turns on a tap !!

In the event the new tenants didn't move in on Monday - they just signed up then - so I had a few extra days to finish off more little jobs -

Emptying the garage of all the rubbish that the previous tenants left ( 4 tip runs )
Repainting the outside of the porch and conservatory woodwork.

So - it is a lot of effort to turn around the house - lets hope the new tenants stay for a few years !!

Mike.

Fiona's Project.

Wednesday 14th of February 2018.

My daughter in law Fiona and family moved back to Derby from Cornwall late last year.
They bought a four bedroom detached house in Oakwood than needed some alterations and TLC.

I volunteered to help - there was the deadline of a month before they moved in !!

Floors upstairs first.

All four floors had the same laminate and all new Taurus skirting.

                                                              Main bedroom

                                                               Second bedroom

                                                                Guest Bedroom

                                                          Fourth / Walk in Wardrobe.

Additional work -

All upstairs doors off then made to fit properly.
Storage cupboard in main bedroom sagging shelves supported.
Radiator in fourth bedroom rehung and leak sorted.
Major leak in main bedroom en-suite shower found and sorted.

Built in wardrobe in the second bedroom - doors removed - casing remade properly - doors rehung - to a good fit this time and a door stay fitted to the left hand door.

Downstairs -

Integrated dishwasher fitted and wine cooler installed - plinth made up from redundant panels + a small infill piece made and fitted.
Water pipework and a double socket behind the dishwasher moved to fit the dishwasher in properly.

The conservatory was cold so we decided to fit two radiators in there - fed from the feed to the dining area radiator - micro bore !! - but we tried it any way - IT WORKS !!!

Plaster chopped out behind the skirting - just enough room to hide all the new pipework.

A big hole drilled through to the conservatory - skirting off - chopped out behind and all piped up - mainly in copper - just the bit through the wall in plastic.

Skirting back on - nice and neat.
A lot of work but worth it - nice and warm in there now.

The garage is now the utility room -

I installed the washer and drier on a 300mm  raised plinth to make it easy to load /unload.
installed all new pipework and waste pipes.

Removed lots of rickety / odd shelves and installed fifty feet of heavy duty plywood shelves with lots of brackets - a solid job.

Made up a Dog wash station from a small shower tray - thermostatic mixer and a shower head with a trigger.
All tiled back splash and sealed up properly with non setting mastic.
I devised a PVC foam board front splash guard - removable on magnets works great !!
A used cupboard and worktop from another part of the family - for dog grooming and dog stuff storage - remade and renovated it.
It even has a powerful dog hair drier !!
Fiona is very pleased with it all !!

There were numerous other little jobs -
Fitting new lights in the dining area.
Making the Bi-fold doors to the lounge work properly.
Fitting the American style fridge freezer and piping up the water supply.
New radiator in the downstairs loo.
New towel rail radiator in the main bedroom en-suite.
Re- fitting skirting in the lounge.
Making the lounge / hall door fit properly.
New lighting in the lounge.
Working with the decorator - taking lights down - banister off and back on etc.
Dodgy wiring in the main bedroom sorted.

Still oddments to do but they did move in on time as planned.

It was a busy run up to Christmas to say the least !!

Mike.

Almost Finished At Barry's House.

Friday 9th of February 2018.

                                                                   BEFORE

                                                                  AFTER


I am very pleased to say that after months of hard work the renovation of the front of Barry's house is complete.
I am very pleased with the result - it might just be the best looking house on the street ?

The list of work completed -

New gutter brackets and gutter sealed up properly.
New gutter on the porch roof.
All the window locks repaired.
New porch roof.
New timber cladding.
Porch roof flashing replaced and done properly.
New PVC cladding between the upstairs windows.
New PVC sills under the cladding.
Rendering repaired ( Barry )
Masonry repainted  ( Barry )
Fascia boards re-painted.

A lot of work - to say that I only signed up to fit a boiler !!

The last job for me on the outside is to replace the rotten sills between the upstairs windows at the back - ( next week ).

Other jobs completed here in the last 12 months -

                                                   Before                          After !

Replaced a back boiler heating system with a new combi boiler and smartened up the airing cupboard a bit !

All the heating system flushed out - a magnetic filter installed - new thermostatic valves on every radiator.

All the loft tanks removed and made good.

Heating loop refill valve + instructions made accessible.

New thermostatic shower in bathroom fitted / electric shower removed and made good.

New drain from boiler in heat proof solvent weld pipework + all new drain plumbing in the bathroom + new brass bath and basin wastes.

New toilet and basin - all new plumbing and waste - new towel rail radiator + vinyl flooring taken an inch up the wall all round ( as in Denmark ).

Bath re-sealed with CT1 ( good stuff ) and new seal to shower screen + reset hinge.

All the tiles with cracks or redundant fixing holes replaced.

A tiled box made to space the toilet from the wall to miss a floor joist with the waste pipe.

Boxing in done with PVC foam board and made removable.
Plus window reveal clad in PVC board - all silicone sealant scraped off  (everywhere ) - plaster filled.

All upstairs door frames repaired with inserted hardwood sections where the hinges were ( shot)
Four new doors fitted.

All the gas pipework in the house upgraded and replaced.

New gas hob in the kitchen with flame failure.

Reclaimed kitchen cleaned / made to fit and installed.

Shelves in the kitchen.
Missing and broken tiles sorted.

Disgusting kitchen plumbing and electrics sorted.

Horrible cooker wiring replaced / re-tiled + under cupboard LED lights made and fitted.

Cat flap through the wall removed / made good / tiled and new skirting + new radiator.

Air brick installed - water supply / power and vent installed for tumble drier.
Water to outside tap made good ( hose pipe originally ) !!!

Base units and washing machine installed with an extra small cupboard in the corner.

Cooker hood vent piped up under the bedroom floor and vented to the outside.

Laminate floor laid in lounge and fireplace installed ready for gas fire renovation.

Badly twisted lounge door renovated by adding hardwood stiffening to the top edge - re-glazed one panel and made to fit.

Original hall floor Laminate removed and re-laid in the porch - new laminate floor laid through from the lounge to the front door - new skirting.
Hall wall damp plaster under the radiator chopped out and replaced with sand and cement.
Hall radiator re-plumbed with pipes sleeved with PVC through the wall.

Plywood door made up for cloakroom under the stairs.

Existing Bi fold doors to kitchen renovated and rehung properly with a new kit.

Front door renovated ( joint opened up ) filled and painted.

Hall - stairs and landing walls stripped of paper - plastered where needed - filled and sanded multiple times until good enough to paint. ( took weeks ).

Completely re-decorated right through the house with Jackie's help.

Really nasty crack in the main bedroom chopped out - PVA glued - filled with sand and cement - plastered and sanded - Gone !!

Unsightly strip of wood removed from main bedroom window - plastered - filled and sanded.

Laminate floor laid to all three bedrooms and landing.

Aluminium trim fitted to the top stair tread.

There has also been lots of little jobs - light fittings - sockets sorting out - roller blinds plus hours and hours of cleaning / hoovering + 25 trips to the tip in my poor little car !!

I have really enjoyed the whole job and am quite proud of the result.

The jobs outstanding now are minor - should be wrapped up an about a week.

Its been a busy year !!

Mike.