2015: In the Yard & Keeping Busy

Preveza, Greece

Welcome to 2015....... Who'd a thought!

In the Yard

(The plan this year was to do a loop of the Adriatic ending back in Preveza.  Given all the work we'd done on WJ3, we figured on an "easy" prep time in the yard...  Of course you'd never believe that just didn't happen.  Our plans were delayed - big time - and we had to cut short the route.  Still, I'm probably not telling boat owners anything new.) 

All's quiet at Aktio

A view from on high

Engine Raw water inlet Hose.  Last year the hose started to leak and I taped it up (with you-beaut very stretchy silicone tape) so it no longer leaked.  Nevertheless, the hose was clearly failing so this year I replaced it, this time with clear stainless steel reinforced hose.  It runs cold water only as it is between the inlet raw water filter/strainer and the raw water engine pump.  This hose was different to the ‘black’ hose I threw out (which was also looking decidedly worse for wear and likely to leak in one or two other spots) but advice was that this clear hose was quite adequate for the job and, besides, you can observe the water in the hose.  So, as soon as it was fitted, would you believe, there was another water leak – water could be observed/felt dripping from the (new) inlet hose near the water pump.  See up-coming post for the result under Siphon Valve Broken.

Sewing.  The dodger, bimini and the dinghy boat cover needed extensive resewing of most seams plus some repairs to rips in the bimini.  Stitching has been the first to go on these coverings, unlike the acrylic which seems to last forever, and the more I repaired the more I found it needed work. 

It’s quite simple really, just pull on the area around a seam and, if the sewing comes apart easily, then it needs to be resewn.  I reckon I did most of the bimini and dodger.   Same for much of the dinghy cover. 

The (summer) awning also needed repairs and I discovered that ‘shade cloth aint shade cloth, Sol’.  Our shade cloth is easily chafed so I will replace it next year even though it’s only a few years old.  Many boats use shade cloth and they are not well supported on the boom etc and flap around madly, unlike our awning which was made to measure and is well secured to stays etc.  Nevertheless, they don’t seem to damage as readily as ours has done.

Baby donkey had grown quite a bit during our absence

Standing Rig Check.  Our insurers, Pantaenius, asked for a rig check as the rigging was now eight years old.  A local rigging company in Preveza duly obliged and the rig was thoroughly inspected over the space of an hour, no problems found and passed by insurance.  The riggers were a couple of local guys, as helpful as could be with all sorts of advice and just thoroughly nice blokes.  Their shop is located at Cleopatra Marina.

Chandlery.  We'd discovered Cleopatra Marina/Boatyard's well stocked chandlery and obliging staff on arrival in 2014.  And made very good use of it in 2015 too!

Another view over Preveza taken whilst servicing the mast
Can you just imagine Cleopatra & Augustus having a big boating battle in here!