Rolling in the Channel Islands
Here's a peaceful anchorage off Sark in the Channel Islands, or so you may think...!
However, an hour or even two before High Water it all starts to get a bit interesting, first a gentle roll, then bit by bit, more and more discomfort until you can be almost rolling on your beam ends.
Out of date Flares
Here we go again, what do I do with these old flares. I was aware that the rules have been changing, and in the back of my mind I seem to remember getting into trouble turning up at Falmouth MRCC unannounced with a carrier bag of old explosives!
Windlass Maintenance
Your windlass takes a lot of hardship over the course of the sailing season. Though designed to take a certain amount of punishment from the exposure to wind and waves, if you ignore the basic maintenance, it will eventually seize.
Maintenance is very simple, and will only take half an hour of your time.
This is my Lofrans Tigres electric windlass which I have had for 5 years now and
served me very well. Though the pictures and instructions serve for this
windlass, they will also be relevant to all types of anchor windlass.
Anode Bolts in Wooden Boats
I thought this might be of interest.
There are many thoughts about the fitting of anodes onto wooden boats, which I have no desire to replicate; there is plenty of information available on the Internet.
The problem is that whenever wood and metal come into contact, a chemical reaction takes place that sometimes cause denaturing of the wood, and eventual structural breakdown in the wood fibres.
The wooden boat I work on has had such problems. The boat was fitted with 2 anodes, 1 for the seacocks, 1 for engine and shaft. We noticed the area around the anode bolts inside the hull showing a white powdery substance and the darkening of the wood in the area.
Winter Lay-up
Keeping your boat in seaworthy condition starts here. It may be the end of the season, but you can’t just lock her up for the winter and walk away. A few simple tasks will ensure she’s snug for the winter and ready in the spring.
My winter jobs include;
- Engine Winterisation
- Sails
- Rigging
- Batteries
- Inside
- Outside
- Anchor Chain