Never a dull moment as Ravensdale puts us to the test

The window that sprang a leak when the heavens opened after a long dry spell

The past week has proved the accuracy of a well-known boater’s saying - while you’re enjoying a glass of wine and relaxing on your boat something somewhere is breaking.

I laughed when I first read it, but it’s definitely been true on Ravensdale this week.

No sooner had we sorted one problem on our 43ft seagoing cruiser than another one developed.

The first real rainfall after weeks of hot, sunny weather here at Maryport in Cumbria, UK, gave us a nasty surprise with three windows developing leaks last Friday and over the weekend.

The cooker packed up just before lunch on Monday.

And, on Tuesday evening, it was a bit cooler than of late, so we switched on Ravensdale’s diesel heating system to discover it had stopped working.

It quite literally never rains, but it pours 😊

Phil’s theory is that if we stopped drinking wine then things would stop breaking but I don’t somehow think it would work - or that we would even consider such drastic action 😊

Ravensdale springs a leak – or three ☹

Heavy rain after a long dry spell created a new problem for us.

One of the great things about our Neptunus 133 cruiser was that, unlike so many other boats we’ve come across, she’s never had any leaks, so we stayed warm and dry inside whatever the weather.

But that all changed when the skies opened and delivered a deluge of rain last Friday morning.

The worst leak was along the top of the window onto the aft deck

It started to fall around the time we got up and I needed a waterproof jacket to go up to the marina facilities for my shower, but the real downpour arrived while we were having breakfast.

And I discovered the problem after we’d finished eating when I went down into our bedroom to dry my hair.

The wooden steps leading down from the saloon into the aft cabin were very wet and there were regular drips falling from the top of the aft deck windows, one of which is a sliding door.

A bowl and towel on the steps to the aft cabin

I couldn’t believe it when I discovered water pouring in.

We put a towel over the steps with a washing-up bowl catching the worst of the drips on the top step.

The previous day, we’d arranged to spend Friday in the Lake District with a photographer friend who was visiting the area.

When we discovered the leak, Phil said he had to stay and deal with it as soon as it stopped raining, but he was happy for me to go and leave him to it, so that’s what I did.

While I was out, he stripped out the old sealant across the top and down the side of the window frame where it joins the superstructure.

He dried it as well as he could then resealed it using sealant that can be used in wet conditions.

I didn’t manage to get any photos of him doing this as I was out photographing lakes and mountains 😊

We’re hoping its done the trick, but we haven’t had any more really heavy rain yet.

I asked if we could point a hosepipe at it to see if it had worked, but Phil thought it was better to let nature test it when the time comes.

The only reason that we can think of as to why it suddenly started leaking is that the long spell of hot sunny weather had dried out the sealant causing it to pull away from the window frame and/or the gelcoat.

It rained again on Sunday evening and overnight into Monday. We discovered smaller leaks on two of the windows in the dinette, but no water came in through the one on which Phil had replaced the sealant.

On Tuesday, he removed the bow hatch to discover the sealant in the corner that had been leaking was badly discoloured.

Discoloured sealant around the bow hatch

He scrapped the old sealant off and replaced it with new.

Phil scraping off the old sealant

Phil sealing around the leaking port side window

And yesterday (Thursday) he was planning to do the same thing to the long window on Ravensdale’s port side that stretches across the back of the dinette and into the forward cabin.

He removed the window trim to expose the screws but could not get any of them to turn.

At this point, we had a bit of a rethink and decided that it looked as though the water was getting in between the frame and the glass. This window doesn’t open so he was able to seal all the way around with translucent sealant.

All that remains now is to see what happens the next time we get heavy rain. Fingers crossed that it all stays outside this time 😊

Cooker problems

Our propane gas cooker decided that it didn’t want to cook any more on Monday of this week.

When I went to light it to make lunch, it refused to play so I had to microwave our food.

Our galley with the cooker and fridge pulled out

After we’d eaten, Phil started to investigate the problem. He pulled out the cooker and the fridge to get to the wiring behind them.

It looked as though neither had been moved for a very long time as the outside of the appliances and the cooker housing needed a good clean.

That was the easy bit.

Identifying the problem was considerably more difficult.

The two cables going to the cooker were dead. Phil tried to trace the wires back to the fuse box, but without success.

After much searching, he decided the best solution was to put in new cables from the cooker to what we thought to be the 12V fuse box.

Thankfully, he tested the fuses before connecting them up to the cooker as, although they are clearly labelled “12V”, they’re actually 24V.

Phil connecting up the new cables for the cooker

As we haven’t added anything to these fuses so far, we’re assuming that everything connected to them is actually 24V and they've just been mislabelled, but it definitely needs further investigation.

Meanwhile, the cooker is back doing what it is supposed to do – cooking 😊

Our diesel heating system refuses to work

Phil was already beginning to think he’d spent most of this week working on Ravensdale when she decided to throw another problem into the mix.

Ravensdale's Webasto 5 heater

We really couldn’t believe it when the Webasto 5 diesel heater we had installed 18 months ago apparently broke down this week.

It had been so warm here that we hadn’t used it for weeks, but we were feeling a bit chilly on Tuesday evening, so we decided to run it up for a while to warm the boat up.

We switched it on and waited, but nothing happened. I turned it up a bit, but still nothing happened. I then noticed the green light on the console controls was flashing.

The Webasto heater controls

Last time that happened it was because the power had been accidentally switched off, so Phil checked that and found it was still on.

It was getting late, so we decided to leave it for the evening and take a look at it in the morning.

After attempting to start it by turning it on and off at the switch three times, it refused to even light up.

Phil assumed it needed resetting, so he found the fuse to the system and removed it for a couple of seconds.

He replaced the fuse and found it had restarted, which gave him three more attempts.

He had to repeat this process three times before he got it working.

Phil checking the pipes on our Webasto 5 diesel heater

Phil checked the hot air pipes had not been crushed and were securely attached to the heater.

He then took off the fuel filter, noticed that there was no fuel coming from the feed pipe and decided this was probably because it hadn't been used for so long that the fuel had drained back into the tank.

He then changed the filter for a new one, left the pipe undone for a minute and turned the fuel supply off and on at the tank several times.

Shortly afterwards, some muck came out of the pipe into the filter and the heater started working again.

We then had to leave it to run for a while to clear the system of any coke, which meant we were sweltering and had to open all the windows. Thankfully it wasn’t raining.

Phil was pretty pleased with himself when he’d finished and commented that 12 months ago, he probably wouldn’t have been able to tackle the job himself.

Before long, we will hopefully know everything there is to know about the various systems on Ravensdale.

Cleaning the aft deck

Another job that Phil undertook while I was out this week was using teak cleaner and brightener on Ravensdale’s aft deck – hence the lack of action shots again ☹

He tackled this task while I went along to soak up the atmosphere and take photos of Maryport Carnival on Saturday afternoon.

Phil removed the tables and chairs and other items from the deck and used Teak Wonder cleaner to remove the dirt, algae and fish stains that were spoiling the look of the teak. He then applied the corresponding brightener.

Ravensdale's aft deck looking spotless after cleaning and brightening

Knowing he was planning to do this, I made sure all the windows in the aft cabin, which is our bedroom, were closed as last time we deep cleaned the aft deck we forgot to close them.

The windows open inwards, so all the dirty water poured in and soaked a pile of clean washing that I’d just brought back from the marina launderette.

It was neatly stacked ready to put away when we’d finished what we were doing outside. Instead, it was dirtier than before I’d washed it and had to go back in the machine for another wash.

Sadly, I didn’t get any before photos of the deck, but this photo of Phil baiting a hook on a recent fishing trip shows that it needed something more than its usual hose down.

Ravensdale's dirty aft deck during a recent fishing trip

The deck now looks great, so we’ll have to try to keep it that way.

Last year, when we gave it the full cleaning treatment, we then used a product to dress and seal it, but it was only supposed to last 12 weeks so we’re undecided as to whether to bother this time.

Replacing the antifreeze in the port engine

Phil drained the fresh water cooling system below the heat exchanger on the port engine on Sunday.

One of Ravensdale's two 300hp Volvo Penta engines

This was long overdue as it probably should have been done when he replaced the heat exchanger and intercooler after they’d been cleaned earlier this year.

When he changed the water in the heat exchanger at that time, he was hoping the water in the system was good enough to top up, so he just replaced the water and antifreeze he’d drained out.

He’s since checked the water that was sitting in the engine below the heat exchanger and discovered it needed replacing.

So, this time, he drained all the water out of the system and flushed it through with a hosepipe several times before replacing it with a new 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze.

Phil pouring the new antifreeze/water mixture into Ravensdale's port engine

He used a 50/50 mix to provide a higher level of anti-corrosion protection.

The heat exchanger and intercooler on Ravensdale's starboard 300hp Volvo Penta engine were removed, cleaned and replaced by a local man, who keeps his family's fishing fleet running, to cure an overheating problem. He showed Phil how to do the port engine himself.

The starboard engine was just topped up so Phil's considering draining it and hosing it through before refilling that one as well, although he's checked the mixture and it doesn't seem to be too bad.

Maryport Carnival

Up until last Saturday, I would’ve said I wasn’t into carnivals – not at all.

However, I decided to go up to Fleming Square in Maryport, where the carnival was congregating before it set off through the town, to get a few photos.

I left the boat at about midday telling Phil I really wouldn’t be long - probably about an hour at most – and, at that time, I meant it.

However, I was so impressed by the floats and costumes and the acts that the various groups and organisations put on that I just couldn’t tear myself away.

A mermaids and pirates float at Maryport Carnival

It was a beautiful sunny day, which helped a lot, and the atmosphere was brilliant.

I already knew that Maryport people were some of the friendliest I’d encountered anywhere I’d lived, but they surpassed themselves on Saturday.

Everyone was in party mood and the kids were having a ball.

Local children on a Votes for Women float at Maryport Carnival

A pensive moment for a young girl on one of floats

The streets were packed with people of all ages trying to get a good view of the procession as it passed and many of them were happy to have a chat as we waited for the next group to arrive and perform for us.

The emergency services led the parade.

And there was a big cheer for Cumbrian hero Simon Lawson, a Paralympian who won the bronze medal in the T54 event at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and won the men’s wheelchair race at the 2017 Great North Run.

All in all, it was a great day and my “hour at most” turned into almost four hours 😊

I then faced the prospect of looking through more than 800 photos and processing the best of them to put on a local Facebook group.

I will definitely be going to the carnival next year, if we’re still in Maryport…

Lake District photography trip

A photographer friend, who was visiting the area, offered Phil and I the opportunity to join him on a photography trip in the Lake District last Friday.

We both accepted but Phil had to pull out at the last minute when water started coming in around the window and door from Ravensdale’s aft deck.

He told me to go without him as he knew I was really looking forward to the trip and I had a great day out.

I was very glad we hadn’t been put off by the heavy rain first thing as it quickly dried up and, although it remained fairly cloudy, we only had a little light drizzle during the morning then it was dry for the rest of our outing.

In fact, the moody, grey, cloudy skies were much better for photography than clear blue skies and bright sunlight would’ve been.

Cloudy skies over Lake Buttermere in the Lake District

Tree roots and reflections in Lake Buttermere

A dead lone tree on the shores of Lake Buttermere

We went to Buttermere and Crummock Water, stopping at several different locations to take photographs.

A tiny white building on the shores of Lake Buttermere

Conifers reflected in Lake Buttermere

A small island in Crummock Water in the Lake District

A closer view of the island with two swimmers in the water

A gate in a stone wall at Crummock Water

Mountains on the far side of Crummock Water

It really is a lovely area that we need to get out there and explore.

Splash party

We were invited to an impromptu splash party on Tuesday when a friend’s 26ft Robert Clark sloop went back in the water after seven years on the hard standing at Maryport Marina.

Tony invited everyone who was on their boats, the marina staff and some of the folk staying in their caravans and campervans on the marina’s caravan site.

Considering how few people were here on Tuesday, there was a good turnout for drinks and the buffet he laid on in the marina’s customer lounge.

Some of us then carried on with the party at his boat, Janina of Dorset.

Tony (left) with some of his party guests

Phil (third from left) chats to Tony at his splash party

Janina of Dorset back in the water at Maryport Marina

Tony was very glad to see her floating again and is now looking forward to being able to take her out to play on the water.

And his party turned into a double celebration.

On the same day, Marcus from the US bought a catamaran that is currently berthed in the marina.

Marcus, his friend Oscar and Marcus’s dog Ruby also came along to the party, so we drank a toast to his new acquisition.

Marcus (right) and Oscar at Tony's party

He’s planning to keep Kuri Moana in Maryport for a while before sailing her down to London, where he intends to live on her on the Thames.

Marcus’s maiden voyage on Kuri Moana

Marcus and Ruby

Marcus and Oscar took Kuri Moana out for a sea trial when the marina gate opened on Wednesday afternoon.

He’d hoped the previous owner would join him for her first outing after he’d bought her, but this was not possible.

He asked us if we’d like to go along for the ride, but we had things we needed to do here so politely declined his invitation.

But I offered to pop along and get some photos of his boat leaving the marina and heading out into the Solway Firth for the first time.

The wind speed was higher than we would’ve wanted to take Ravensdale out in and he seemed to be having a few issues with the wind, but he took her out and brought her back safely.

I took some shots of her leaving her mooring, going out through the marina gate into the basin and then heading out between Maryport’s twin piers.

Kuri Moana in Maryport Basin

Kuri Moana heading out into the Solway Firth

Meanwhile, Phil helped catch the ropes of another catamaran that had been stuck on the mud at the entrance to Maryport Basin since the previous tide.

The catamaran stuck on the mud at the entrance to Maryport Basin

It refloated as the tide came in and returned to the marina just before Kuri Moana headed out to sea.

Phil (right) helps to moor up the cat when it returns to Maryport Marina

A change in the weather

The long spell of warm, dry weather in Maryport ended with the torrential downpour last Friday morning.

But we’ve still had plenty of good weather over the past week and it hasn’t been cold enough to stop me wearing shorts and vest tops.

However, we’ve also had more clouds and some rain, but more is desperately needed as falling water levels in the reservoirs that serve this area mean a hosepipe ban is due to come into force in Cumbria on August 5.

Last Friday started wet but it stopped raining during the morning. It stayed fairly cloudy throughout the day but was still quite warm.

Saturday was sunny, dry and warm with a top temperature of 18.7C (66F) and a top average wind speed of 15mph.

Young lads having fun in the sun in Maryport on Saturday

We had similar conditions for most of the day on Sunday when the mercury reached 19.1C (66F) and the average wind speed peaked at 16mph.

Rain on Sunday afternoon 

It rained later on Sunday and into Monday morning. It was then overcast for much of the day, but it remained fairly warm.

The top temperature was 17.5C (63.5F) and the top average wind speed recorded at St Bees Head was 7mph, but it was definitely higher than that in Maryport.

There was more rain overnight and Tuesday was a day of cloud and sunny intervals with the temperature peaking at 16.9C (62F) and the average wind speed reaching 14mph.

Cloud and sunny intervals on Wednesday

Wednesday started dry, overcast and fairly windy. It brightened up during the morning giving way to broken cloud and sunny intervals. The temperature rose to 18.6C (65F) and the top average wind speed was 14mph.

Yesterday (Thursday) was dry, bright and sunny from the get-go, but there was still a good wind. The highest temperature recorded locally was 18.6C (65F) and the top average wind speed was 10mph.

Blue skies at Maryport Marina on Thursday afternoon

So far, today (Friday) the weather has been horrible. It started raining around the time we got up and has been doing it on and off ever since, but it's only supposed to last for one day and the forecast is much better for tomorrow.