The Not So Good - or what went wrong
This is a very different post, with any cruise of more than a 1000 nautical miles there inevitably will be things going wrong wit the boat. You hope they are only minor. This page is a record of the things that have challenged us.
1) The broken toilet valve (Cost $500 including the lift out)
On the way up to Southport the handle on the ball valve that closes the toilet outlet in one of the aft cabins came loose. It became apparent that the vale was broken, luckily in the open position. In Mooloolaba, Bavaria provided us with a replacement valve but we needed Galadriel lifted out of the water to replace it. We tried in Urangan but the lift was too small so in Bundaberg the boat was lifted out of the water and the valve replaced (the valve provided by Bavaria was the wrong size but luckily the chandlery at the marina had one valve the right size). You can read more about the lift out in the blog from the Blog of 13th June
2) Main sail halyard block failure (Cost $0)
We were sailing along and changed tack when one of the blocks that controlled the main sheet failed. It turned out the screw connecting the block to the rope had fallen out. Luckily we could keep on sailing. A temporary replacement of the bolt solved the problem, but luckily the next day when we were washing the deck we found the missing bolt resting against the gunwale. It was replaced but this time with some locktite to ensure it did not happen again
3) Bimini locking pin (Cost to date $0 plus 2 cable ties)
One of the locking pins that holds the bimini in place has decided to come loose. Rather than pull it apart two cable ties has held it in place until be get back to Sydney. Only a minor issue as the pin is still in place just loose.
We also had one screw on the bimini fall out, luckily onto the deck so some more Loctite fixed the problem as soon as we stopped for the night
4) Blocked toilet hose (Cost $0 plus lots of David's sweat and skinned knuckles)
Our main cabin toilet refused to empty. We suspected a failed joker valve so in Mackay we replaced the valve. This did not solve the problem, it turned out to be a blocked hose. A lot of struggling to disassemble and remove the hose eventually allowed the blockage to be cleared.
5) Swim Platform proximity sensor (Cost $125 including a second spare)
The swim platform has a proximity sensor that makes it stop when it is being raised. This failed when meant it would not stop and would trip the circuit breaker. An afternoon of diagnosis identified the issue as the proximity sensor and some searching on Mr Google identified one supplier in Australia who had the spare part as it is not a normal marine spare. A replacement (in fact 2) was ordered but it did not arrive in time for our departure from Airlie Beach. We were eventually able to get is delivered to Cape Gloucester where the replacement as effected in 10 minutes, much quicker than the half a day to diagnose the problem and the 1 week to get is delivered. Were so lucky that someone from the resort at Cape Gloucester was driving to Airlie Beach and picked it up for me otherwise the only option was a $125 each way taxi ride).
6) Ripped Furling Reacher (sail) (Cost TBA)
Unfortunately our big yellow sail got caught on one of the shrouds resulting in a small tear. With the wind this soon became a much bigger rip. This can be easily fixed but will have to wait until we return to a marina
7) Slow leak in the dinghy (Cost $0 so far just lots of frustration)
One of the most frustrating is a slow leak in the dinghy. It is not enough to be able to detect it and will need it to be put in the swimming pool at home. At the moment we just need to put a small amount of air in it when it goes a bit soft, Just enough to be annoying.
8) Pelican hook failure (Cost $0 plus a piece of string)
At the stern we have two life lines that un-clip to open up the back of the boat, The pelican hook as a tiny pin that holds it closed. Unfortunately the pin has come loose and fallen into the ocean. However a ready supply of cable ties has provided a way to keep it closed. Once again a easy fix when we can access a chandlery.
1) The broken toilet valve (Cost $500 including the lift out)
On the way up to Southport the handle on the ball valve that closes the toilet outlet in one of the aft cabins came loose. It became apparent that the vale was broken, luckily in the open position. In Mooloolaba, Bavaria provided us with a replacement valve but we needed Galadriel lifted out of the water to replace it. We tried in Urangan but the lift was too small so in Bundaberg the boat was lifted out of the water and the valve replaced (the valve provided by Bavaria was the wrong size but luckily the chandlery at the marina had one valve the right size). You can read more about the lift out in the blog from the Blog of 13th June
2) Main sail halyard block failure (Cost $0)
We were sailing along and changed tack when one of the blocks that controlled the main sheet failed. It turned out the screw connecting the block to the rope had fallen out. Luckily we could keep on sailing. A temporary replacement of the bolt solved the problem, but luckily the next day when we were washing the deck we found the missing bolt resting against the gunwale. It was replaced but this time with some locktite to ensure it did not happen again
3) Bimini locking pin (Cost to date $0 plus 2 cable ties)
One of the locking pins that holds the bimini in place has decided to come loose. Rather than pull it apart two cable ties has held it in place until be get back to Sydney. Only a minor issue as the pin is still in place just loose.
We also had one screw on the bimini fall out, luckily onto the deck so some more Loctite fixed the problem as soon as we stopped for the night
4) Blocked toilet hose (Cost $0 plus lots of David's sweat and skinned knuckles)
Our main cabin toilet refused to empty. We suspected a failed joker valve so in Mackay we replaced the valve. This did not solve the problem, it turned out to be a blocked hose. A lot of struggling to disassemble and remove the hose eventually allowed the blockage to be cleared.
5) Swim Platform proximity sensor (Cost $125 including a second spare)
The swim platform has a proximity sensor that makes it stop when it is being raised. This failed when meant it would not stop and would trip the circuit breaker. An afternoon of diagnosis identified the issue as the proximity sensor and some searching on Mr Google identified one supplier in Australia who had the spare part as it is not a normal marine spare. A replacement (in fact 2) was ordered but it did not arrive in time for our departure from Airlie Beach. We were eventually able to get is delivered to Cape Gloucester where the replacement as effected in 10 minutes, much quicker than the half a day to diagnose the problem and the 1 week to get is delivered. Were so lucky that someone from the resort at Cape Gloucester was driving to Airlie Beach and picked it up for me otherwise the only option was a $125 each way taxi ride).
6) Ripped Furling Reacher (sail) (Cost TBA)
Unfortunately our big yellow sail got caught on one of the shrouds resulting in a small tear. With the wind this soon became a much bigger rip. This can be easily fixed but will have to wait until we return to a marina
7) Slow leak in the dinghy (Cost $0 so far just lots of frustration)
One of the most frustrating is a slow leak in the dinghy. It is not enough to be able to detect it and will need it to be put in the swimming pool at home. At the moment we just need to put a small amount of air in it when it goes a bit soft, Just enough to be annoying.
8) Pelican hook failure (Cost $0 plus a piece of string)
At the stern we have two life lines that un-clip to open up the back of the boat, The pelican hook as a tiny pin that holds it closed. Unfortunately the pin has come loose and fallen into the ocean. However a ready supply of cable ties has provided a way to keep it closed. Once again a easy fix when we can access a chandlery.
No comments:
Post a Comment