SURVEY - PROBLEM 1, 2, 3, 4 . .

Here is SONFLOWER in the dry dock. She has been water washed and is waiting for inspection.








PROBLEM ONE: The boarding plank was rotten. Alternative means of access was imediately saught!

 

PROBLEM TWO. It is not difficult to spot that an anode has been comletely ripped off the stern starboard side of the boat.

A new one is to be fitted a little further forward where there is a little more "rake" on the side of the boat.

 Here is the inspector at his work tapping the plates to see if he can dislodge rust to reveal pitting from galvanic action. There was a little but nothng serious.

PROBLEM THREE  The fungus  had done its worst at the stern end of the cabin of the boat. My inability to keep the bilge dry and the lack of a drying stove during the winter months has meant that there is rot in the woodwork that needs to be dealt with. Maybe it is time to think about the refit on the bathroom and bunk room that is well overdue! No photo: it is too distressing.

PROBLEM FOUR Minor cosmetic welding work required to the rubbing strake on the port bow. The hollow section has rotted from the inside out.

RESULT: Nothing that prevents the boat floating and she is likely to keep afloat for the next five years.

So on with the blacking.

Then the engine service.....

. . .  . then getting the bilge dry   

............then the re-fit?                    

Anxiety

I am getting anxious!

One never knows what a survey will throw up. Five years ago SONFLOWER floated into the dry dock and recieved a report that indicated that it would not float out again! The problem was the weed hatch. There was NO ULLAGE (air space). Although the weedhatch was bolted down and sealed the water under the bolted cover was below the water line! If the cover had been taken off the boat would have sunk! A new weed hatch was fabricated and fitted to give 6 inches of ullage  below the hatch to the waterline. This could well have been the problem that caused CRT's Problem here . We also removed a considerable amount of ballast to ensure that the swim was, correctly, only just submerged. It looks like the tug was too deep inthe water too!

I wonder what the surveyor will find this time!

Getting Ready

I visited the boat today.

I have a visit to Tooley's Dry Dock booked for 6th to 9th March.

SONFLOWER is thirty years old so has to have an "out of the water" hull survey every five years for the Insurance Company. She will also be blacked.

As she has lain idle for so long I wanted to make sure she will start! Batteries are at 12.4v. A little low but acceptable.

The cruising season will so soon be upon us and it was so good to be along the towpath chatting to boaters who are already on the move. Some said they have not stopped this winter because ot has been so warm. Another confessed that he had had four weeks in Greece! He had overstayed on teh 14 day moorings! Good luck to him.

CO monitor, batteries and breeching?

I went ot SONFLOWER on her mooring today. I was greeted with a beep beep sound. The CO detector had flat batteries. the first job of the day was change them. That way they would not get so flat while we were off the boat that teh beep beep beep stopped and we would be in danger of not knwowing especially withthe state of my meory at the moment.

I started the engine and charged the batteries. The engine was a little reluctant and I might invest in a can of "easistart" for when the weather is really cold.

I chatted to a couple of other moorers: there is little news except that it is reproted that below Banbury lock the three mile pound has little water in it! Considering the amount of water that was flowing through the lock paddles over the weekend this is very surprising. We are wondering whether there has been a breech or culvert collapse.

I also spoke to Sue, nb "No Problem",  who is waiting for work at Tooley's Boatyard before heading for Gloucester or some other beauty spot. She was disturbed by the news above as she certainly needs to turn round to head north. She is therefore toying with backing to Tooleys. We know that is very possible.

Smoke Detector; A thank you

The smoke detector operated on Saturday lunch time and I reported to my guests "it is real!" I  had turned the chicken and meat sauces up high instead of turning it down!

The place is filled with smoke again today! French bread toast for croutons in the squash and sweetcorn soup were a little "over cooked"!

The reason for all this is because the BEST MATE is not very well and so the cooking is all down to me. I think that I am a little distracted at times and not quite concentrating on the task in hand. It is at these times that I realise how much I depend on her. When one of us is not functioning properly it is very evident in the results.

Thank goodness I have a smoke detector to tell me when things are cooked.

Bye Bye Spike: RIP

What can one say about a funeral? It represents the last farewell of family and friends. And the funeral today of Ian "Spike" Mason, late of nb Samara, was as respectful to a respectful man as it could be. With well chosen words from the civil facilitator, Spike's brother Shaun, a friend and with the reading of the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling. It was a good time to reflect on the man that we had known for only a short time. He was referred to as a "rapscallion" and "likeable rogue". He may not always have followed the rules but he did no harm to us and always had time to chat.  His staffie, Millie, was loved by all.

He will be missed by the boating community who turned out in good numbers from far and near to remember him. We also learned  more of his artistic side and were able to view his cartoons at the wake in the Castle House after the service at the Crematorium. Respect.

It is really sad that the cause of their death was probably carbon dioxide poisoning, a truly preventable event with good maintenance, correct ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm.

Test it or fit one TODAY!  And clear the vents too.

Happy New Year

As the rain continues to fall, I wish you all a happy New Year.

Our new year cruise is now officially cancelled.

Happy Christmas

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO OUR READER

SONFLOWER is safe on her mooring and, thanks to Piglet who lengthened her mooring lines this afternoon, she is riding the rising levels in the pound.

For the second year running we are watching the sky for dark clouds rather than angels in the starry frosty night.

We hope that you all have a very safe New Year and enjoy all the waterways have to offer. Love, Peace and Joy are often more evident afloat!