Friday 27 September 2019

Lessons learned from other boats breaking down…and why we’re glad we haven't got a mast 😊


Photo of Phil changing the fuel filters on Ravensdale's port engine

Phil changing the fuel filters on Ravensdale's port engine


Two boats from our marina broke down at sea on consecutive days due to engine failure.

One also had problems with communications.

These incidents provided timely reminders that we needed to carry out some routine engine maintenance to the two 300hp Volvo Penta engines on our Neptunus 133 motor cruiser and to replace our VHF radio.

Meanwhile, we took Ravensdale out fishing on the Solway Firth at Cumbria, UK, on Saturday.

And we’ve learnt that there’s a hidden benefit to having a cruiser rather than a yacht – it’s less attractive as a bird perch 😊



Saturday’s fishing trip

Photo of Ravensdale leaving Maryport Marina

Ravensdale leaving Maryport Marina


The forecast was for calm conditions during the time the marina gate here at Maryport in Cumbria, UK, was due to be open on Saturday so we were keen to go fishing again to see if we could do better than on the previous day.

We drove around to the pier to check the sea state before making a final decision and the water didn’t look too bad at all.

So, we decided to head down towards North Workington as Phil fancied fishing in a different area for a change.

Photo of Andrew, one of the marina staff, waving us off after he'd opened the sea gate

Andrew, one of the marina staff, waving us off after he'd opened the sea gate


We left the marina at around 2.20pm but it was pretty bumpy on the way down towards Workington, so we decided to turn around and go to Allonby Bay to see if it was any better there.

Photo of Ravensdale heading towards North Workington before we decided to go the other way

Ravensdale heading towards North Workington before we decided to go the other way


It was much calmer in our usual fishing spot, so we dropped anchor and Phil set up his rods.

Photo of Phil waiting for a fish to bite

Phil waiting for a fish to bite


The fishing was very quiet to start with, then he started catching dogfish.

He was beginning to lose heart when he caught his first codling of the day.

Even though it was undersized and had to be returned to the water, it gave him hope that there may be other larger codling around, so he carried on fishing.

He pulled in two more codling, along with more dogfish, and one of the codling was big enough to keep so it wasn’t the most successful fishing trip we’d ever had but at least he brought home one fish.

Photo of Phil with the codling that we kept to eat

Phil with the codling that we kept to eat


Ruby wasn’t very interested in coming out on deck at all on this trip. She stayed in her cage for ages before venturing out.

I put her life jacket on her and took her out on deck, but she was soon back indoors and stretched out on the seating in the saloon.

But I’m not complaining. I want her to be wherever she's happiest, and it gave me the chance to take more photos 😊

Photo of Sun breakimg through the heavy clouds over the Solway Firth as Ravensdale's flag blows in the wind

Sun breaks through the heavy clouds over the Solway Firth as Ravensdale's flag blows in the wind


We were treated to some amazing skies while out on the water and I took loads of photos of the sun breaking through the heavy clouds.

It looked as though it could rain at any time but, thankfully, it stayed dry.

Photo of Ravensdale returning to Maryport on Saturday evening

Ravensdale returning to Maryport on Saturday evening


We returned to the marina at around 6.20pm after about four hours out on the water during which time we’d travelled 6.9 nautical miles.

Photo of Ravensdale heading back into Maryport Marina

Ravensdale heading back into Maryport Marina



We were delighted to discover that a friend had taken a photo of Ravensdale on her way into the marina. Thanks Roy!

Photo of Ravensdale in Maryport Basin. Photo by Roy Simmons

Ravensdale in Maryport Basin. Photo by Roy Simmons



A dramatic rescue


A yacht from our marina suffered engine failure in the middle of the Solway Firth while we were out fishing on Saturday afternoon.

We were totally unaware of this until we got back to the marina as there was no call over the VHF radio.

By the time we heard about the situation, friends with a similar-sized but considerably faster cruiser than Ravensdale had gone out to tow her home.

Photo of our friends' boat Andromeda on the Solway Firth on Saturday before they went to rescue the yacht

Our friends' boat Andromeda on the Solway Firth on Saturday before they went to rescue the yacht


We later heard that they’d had trouble locating the broken-down sailboat as her VHF radio wasn’t working and the mobile phone signal was intermittent.

They managed to find her and the two people on board were fine and they got her under tow, but the sea was very lumpy, and the tow rope kept snapping so they called the Coastguard.

The stricken vessel was towed into Whitehaven Marina – 14 miles from Maryport - and our friends had to go into Whitehaven as well as, by this time, the sea gate to our marina had closed due to the falling tide.

Our friends returned to Maryport on the morning tide, but the yacht had to stay put as her engine had ceased.

We were asked if we’d go and tow her back to Maryport but had to decline as our insurance allows us to tow a vessel back to port in an emergency but not to act as a pick-up truck to tow a boat from A to B.

We hated having to say no but couldn’t risk messing up our insurance.

They still haven’t managed to get home to Maryport yet so really hope they’ll be back here soon.


Changing fuel filters


Photo of the new fuel filters on Ravensdale's starboard engine

The new fuel filters on Ravensdale's starboard engine

We’ve been meaning to change the fuel filters on Ravensdale’s two 300hp Volvo Penta engines for some time.

We ordered the filters last week and went to collect them on Saturday morning.

And, after towing in our friend’s fishing boat when his engine cut out on Friday, we were very glad we’d decided to do it now, especially after we later learned that his engine problem had been caused by dirt getting into the engine.

We’d intended to ask someone else to fit them for us.

However, after the engine problems this fishing boat and the yacht experienced while out on the water, Phil decided to do it himself, so he’d be able to do it again if he ever needed to do so while we’re away from our marina.

Changing the fuel filters was fairly straightforward until it came to priming the filters on the starboard engine because a fuel pipe had been fitted against the top of the pump handle so it couldn’t be operated.

Photo of Phil changing the fuel filters on Ravensdale's port engine

Phil changing the fuel filters on Ravensdale's port engine


This meant that we had to prime the filters by turning the engine over a few times until Phil found fuel in them.

The handle on the pump on the port engine was clear so that was simple to prime.

We also needed to replace the pre-filter cartridges on both engines as they were very dirty, so it looks as though it was a very good job we decided to do them now.

New cartridges were ordered on Tuesday.

Photo of Phil removing the bowl from the pre-filter on Ravensdale's starboard engine

Phil removing the bowl from the pre-filter on Ravensdale's starboard engine


Meanwhile, Phil stripped down the pre-filters and thoroughly cleaned them, so he’d be ready to fit the new cartridges as soon as they arrived.

Photo of one of the pre-filters before cleaning

One of the pre-filters before cleaning


Photo of both pre-filters clean and drying

Both pre-filters clean and drying


They turned up the following morning and Phil fitted them during the afternoon.

The pre-filters on both engines are very low down making it difficult to get a receptacle under the drainage tap so he’s planning on lifting these up in the near future.

He then turned to the fuel purifiers.

These don’t take cartridges so just needed to be drained and to have any air released from the top.

After he’d completed the work on each engine, he started it to check it was running OK to discover, unsurprisingly, that they were both running better than they had before he changed the filters.

Photo of the fuel pipe on the left previously ran across the top of the wheel on the manual pump

The fuel pipe on the left previously ran across the top of the wheel on the manual pump


Phil then went back down into the engine room and rerouted the fuel pipe that was obstructing the pump handle on the starboard fuel filters so that job will be much easier next time he changes the filters.

He was so pleased when he’d completed the task.

There really is nothing like the satisfaction you get from doing a job yourself and the comfort of knowing that you’ll know how to do it the next time 😊


New VHF radio

Photo of our old VHF radio on Ravensdale

Our old VHF radio on Ravensdale


We’ve had a few problems with the marina hearing our VHF radio transmissions on our fixed radio.

We can hear their calls clearly, but they often have to ask us to repeat ours.

We’ve been switching to our handheld radio whenever this has happened, but it wasn’t ideal.

A while back, we changed our VHF aerial in the hope that would cure the problem and it has been better, but still not right so we decided we’d have to bite the bullet and buy a new radio.

This was reinforced by the communication problems experienced when our friends were trying to rescue the yacht that broke down on the Solway Firth on Saturday afternoon.

Phil checked out various reviews and it seemed that the Standard Horizon GX2200E would be perfect for our purposes, so he ordered one online from Marine Superstore on Monday.

We decided against paying for next day delivery as we weren’t planning to take Ravensdale out of the marina for a few days and were amazed when it arrived the following day.

Photo of our new VHF radio

Our new VHF radio


Phil has been busy in the engine room this week so hasn’t had a chance to fit our new radio yet.

I’m guessing it will either be done over the weekend or early next week.


Why we’re glad we haven’t got a mast
😊

Photo of the crane the starlings used to sit on before it was removed

The crane the starlings used to sit on before it was removed


A flock of starlings used to spend a lot of their time perched on a tall crane on the boatyard next to the marina.

But the crane was recently sold and taken away (wishing I'd taken a photo of the starlings on it now )

At this time of year, the starlings make a real mess of the boats, mainly the yachts, when they perch on the masts, rigging and spreaders after eating blackberries.

But this year, without the crane, they’re spending even more time on the yachts than usual and they are ending up covered in purple splodges.


Photo of a few of the starlings that spend a lot of time at our marina

Just a few of the starlings that spend a lot of time at our marina


The cruisers only get bombed occasionally when the birds relieve themselves in flight and, so far, we’ve been very lucky as Ravensdale hasn’t been hit once.

Whenever Phil gets our hose out to wash our boat or fill up with water, he’s been hosing down some of the yachts near us while their owners aren’t around to save their gel coat from being stained by the purple birds’ mess.


Locked in the car


Ravensdale likes to keep us on our toes by finding us plenty of jobs to do but our car is usually relatively trouble-free.

However, this week, she decided it was her turn to get a little TLC.

She refused to let Phil get out when we drove to the motor spares dealer in nearby Workington to collect new fuel filters for Ravensdale on Saturday.

The driver’s side door just wouldn’t open so Phil had to climb out of the passenger side, which isn’t easy for him as a knee-replacement operation on his left knee has left him with less flexibility than he would’ve liked.

He tried the door again before heading home, but it wouldn’t budge so he climbed back in the same way to drive back to the marina.

Typically, this happened just after the garage we use had closed so we couldn’t contact them about it until Monday when we were told to take it in on Tuesday and they’d get on to it asap.

So, we ended up carless again – she had to go into the garage for new rear brake discs a while back and, for the first time since I got rid of my car when I left work, we had to walk everywhere we wanted to go, which was no bad thing 😊

We were delighted to get a call from the garage yesterday (Thursday) but sadly it wasn’t to say they’d fixed the problem as they couldn’t find an obvious cause.

The door seems to be opening at the moment so we’ve brought her home to use while the garage orders a new door lock, which will hopefully be fitted next week.


Ruby of Ravensdale

Photo of Ruby with her teddy

Ruby with her teddy


Ruby enjoyed watching Phil change Ravensdale’s filters this week.

She walked around the edge of the hole when we’d lifted the floor to expose one of the engines and peered down into the engine room to see what was going on.


Photo of Ruby watching Phil work in the engine room

Ruby watching Phil work in the engine room


Photo of Ruby checking out Ravensdale's port engine

Ruby checking out Ravensdale's port engine


She was less impressed when she dropped her favourite antler chew down into the engine room while Phil was working and had to wait for him to retrieve it for her when he’d finished.

Ruby was also pleased when we returned from a food shopping trip with a new red, beef-flavoured bone chew yesterday (Thursday).

She went through her usual new toy routine – creeping up on it, barking at it then jumping away from it over and over again until she decided it was safe to chew it.

She really is totally hilarious 😊

Photo of Ruby with her new chew

Ruby with her new chew


Ruby also cracks me up when I'm trying to type or work on photos and she wants me to hold what's left of her favourite antler chew while she's chewing it.

She keep putting it on my mouse hand or on the table next to it in an attempt to get me to do as she wants ðŸ˜Š

Photo of Ruby trying to get me to stop using my laptop

Ruby trying to get me to stop using my laptop


Photo of Ruby chewing her antler on the back of my hand

Ruby chewing her antler on the back of my hand


And she's really funny when we’re eating a snack she fancies, her favourites being anything involving cheese, especially cheese sandwiches or cheese and cream crackers.

She patiently sits and watches in the hope she might get a bit and, when we’re nearing the end of our food, she puts a paw on an arm or sometimes both paws on a shoulder to remind us that she’s there – as if we could ever forget 😊

Photo of Ruby patiently waiting for a bit of Phil's cheese and crackers

Ruby patiently waiting for a bit of Phil's cheese and crackers


Photo of Ruby's patience is rewarded 😊

Ruby's patience is rewarded ðŸ˜Š


Meanwhile, she’s been enjoying her walks this week despite them being a bit restricted due to her being in season but I bet she can’t wait until it’s over so we can get back to normal and let her have a proper run off the lead again.


Missing parcel!


I have no idea why Royal Mail would deliver a parcel addressed to Phil with our address correctly displayed on the front to a business address on an industrial estate in Maryport.

I can’t see any similarity between Ravensdale at Maryport Marina and Chimney Sheep on the Solway Industrial Estate, but it seems to have caused some confusion 😊

Amazingly, it so happened that Miriam, a Facebook friend who I’d never met, works there and spotted our name on the parcel.

She messaged me to tell me it was at their premises, and we picked it up on our way to collect our car from the garage yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

An added bonus was getting to meet my Facebook friend.

Many thanks for getting in touch, Miriam. It was good to meet you 😊



Photography

Just for a change, most of the photos I've taken this week are from our trip out on the Solway Firth on Ravensdale on Saturday ðŸ˜Š


Photo of Yacht Manatee on the Solway Firth

Yacht Manatee on the Solway Firth


Photo of the sun breaking through heavy clouds over the Solway Firth

Sun breaking through heavy clouds over the Solway Firth


Photo of Maryport from the Solway Firth with Andromeda in the basin

Maryport from the Solway Firth with Andromeda in the basin


Photo of cormorants on a navigation marker in the Solway Firth

Cormorants on a navigation marker in the Solway Firth


Photo of Maryport from the Solway Firth with the northern fells in the distance

Maryport from the Solway Firth with the northern fells in the distance


Photo of Maryport charter fishing boat Venture West on the Solway Firth

Maryport charter fishing boat Venture West on the Solway Firth


Photo of another view of Maryport from the Solway Firth with the northern fells behind

Another view of Maryport from the Solway Firth with the northern fells behind


Photo of a yacht on the Solway Firth

A yacht on the Solway Firth


Photo of the northern fells from the Solway Firth

The northern fells from the Solway Firth


I also got some lovely sunset shots of Maryport Basin and the marina while walking Ruby on Sunday evening.

Photo of Maryport Lighthouse at sunset

Maryport Lighthouse at sunset


Photo of the Coastguard station on Maryport Basin

The Coastguard station on Maryport Basin


Photo of Maryport Marina at sunset

Maryport Marina at sunset


Photo of Maryport Marina at sunset

Maryport Marina at sunset


Photo of another view of Maryport Marina at sunset

Another view of Maryport Marina at sunset



Weather watch

Photo of today's (Friday) view through Ravensdale's windscreen

Today's (Friday) view through Ravensdale's windscreen


The weather really hasn’t been much to write home about this week.

The main theme for this week seems to have been rain followed by more rain 

Saturday was the best day of the past week. It was dry, sunny and very warm for the time of year but there was still a good breeze.

Photo of Maryport Marina on Saturday afternoon

Maryport Marina on Saturday afternoon


The top temperature was 21C (70F) and the top average wind speed at St Bees Head, which is our nearest weather station, was 31mph, gusting 44mph.

While we were out on the water the average wind speed at St Bees Head was 13-30mph, gusting up to 40mph. It was certainly windier than we’d expected here but nothing like the speeds given here.

We had heavy rain overnight. It was still raining when we got up on Sunday morning and it kept it up until around mid-morning when it was cloudy with light showers. 

Sadly, I forgot to check the last 24-hours weather data for Sunday so I can’t provide the figures for temperature and average wind speed

Photo of Maryport Marina on Sunday afternoon

Maryport Marina on Sunday afternoon


It was bright and sunny first thing on Monday with increasing cloud cover as the day went on, but we still enjoyed sunny intervals. It started raining early evening and kept it up until we went to bed.

The top temperature was 15C (59F) and the top average wind speed was 22mph, gusting 30mph.

Photo of the same view of Maryport Marina on Monday morning

The same view of Maryport Marina on Monday morning


It continued to rain heavily overnight, but it had stopped by Tuesday morning.

We then had light rain from late morning followed by heavy rain later in the afternoon.

The top temperature was 17C (63F) and the top average wind speed was 15mph.

Photo of heavy cloud at Maryport Marina on Wednesday

Heavy cloud at Maryport Marina on Wednesday


Wednesday was dry but cloudy and fairly breezy. The top temperature was 14C (57F) and the top average wind speed was 13mph.

Yesterday (Thursday) started wet. The rain cleared but we continued to have heavy showers until mid-afternoon. It then remained cloudy but thankfully there was no more rain.

The top temperature was 15C (59F) and the top average wind speed was 23mph, gusting 32mph.

Photo of Thursday morning at Maryport Marina

Thursday morning at Maryport Marina


We had more rain overnight and, so far today (Friday), the weather has been cloudy with
heavy showers. The top temperature was 14C (57F) and the top average wind speed was 23mph, gusting 30mph.