Category Archives: Servicing / Technical / Nav

Some of the more interesting facets of boat servicing, technical details, and navigational goodies

Servicing / Technical / Nav

Home at last

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Play d’eau enters the narrow Doyle Passage
between the shore and the outlying reefs
click to enlarge
Captain Kim Hollamby and Executive Officer Guy Nicholls cast off from Shamrock Quay, Southampton, at 2248 hrs on 28 December 2014 under a clear night sky, to bring Play d’eau home after her plastic surgery.

The temperature was well below freezing, ice was on the decks, but inside the central heating was working perfectly.
——————–

Capt Kim reports…

The pontoons crackled with frost as we approached Play d’eau at Shamrock to prep for her night return to Guernsey. It was cold, but eerily still, a welcome lull after the high winds of recent days. So far so good.

Underway by 2250 we were soon heading away from the shore lights of the Itchen and Southampton Water, revealing a captivating canopy of myriad stars from horizon to horizon. The decks were slick with ice outside but inside we were toasty warm in the pilot house, faces basked by the warm glow of Play d’eau’s mission control array of screens.

Traffic

…and passes inside Platte Fougère
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All of her electronic capability was put to good use throughout. Off Hurst we had to keep a wary eye on an inbound Cowes Southampton car ferry well off her patch – was she lost or returning from a secret assignment?

Then, a few miles south of the Needles we had to dodge two large cruise liners as they headed with purpose towards the Western Solent. With no quarter given by them, we conceded to ‘might being right’ and dutifully made our turns to starboard as per ColRegs.

An hour or two of peaceful cruising followed and a chance for a late night bowl of soup and a few Zzzzs. Me first, Guy later. But then more traffic as we entered the English Channel’s busy shipping lanes, with several course alterations needed.

In a final hurrah no less than seven ships presented themselves in Froggerlike formation. With them plotted on radar, we made our move and crossed safely ahead of all.

Sunrise

Play d’eau about to enter
framed by Eabora’s masts
click to enlarge
The winter sunrise was a late waker – but sudden in appearance, zooming though hues from dark blue, to grey to lighter blue. It also heralded a freshening wind on the quarter with Play d’eau cheekily wiggling her bottom in deference to the odd white horse or two. Our consolation? A plate of steaming bacon sandwiches.

Then finally the run down from the Casquets to Beaucette, under sunny blue skies, with Guernsey, Herm, Sark, the other island (Jersey), France and Alderney all visual, waves calming a little.

Final Approach

Our final approach along the narrow Doyle Passage included a fly past one very windswept camera toting Piers on Fort Doyle, before we sized up the swell for an entrance through Beaucette’s narrow, rocky jaws.

I could see Piers watching up from the Harbour Office, again, with camera at the ready. No pressure then!

We were all lined up for a grand and stately arrival until another playful wave slapped Play d’eau’s quarter in a final giddy up. This couldn’t end in tears though, her gleaming flanks could not be scarred and she responded quickly to corrective action.

Through the entrance channel
and turning to port to enter the lagoon
click to enlarge
We were through and into the idyllic lagoon beyond and ready to perform gentle final manoeuvres before handing her back over to rightfully proud owners, Piers and Lin.

Lines secured, my shoulders sagged. Relax. Mission accomplished!

Kim Hollamby
————————–

Play d’eau’s home

Capt Kim, naturally, manoeuvred Play d’eau with precision to her berth, whilst Guy was officer in charge of fenders and warps. Although somewhat salty from the crossing, Play d’eau was gleaming whilst Kim and Guy were glowing.

With teas, coffees, welcomes and comments of admiration from many Beaucette residents, Play d’eau, home at last, looked regal albeit in need of a good soapy bath.

The crew’s return

After lunch at the marina restaurant, we drove a weary Kim and Guy to Guernsey’s International Airport to catch the 1615 Blue Islands flight to Southampton, and bade our farewells to Play d’eau’s tired crew.

Welcome home, Play d’eau.

Piers and Lin
from the ‘toasty warm’ Saloon of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Capt Kim brings Play d’eau to her berth
click to enlarge
A triumphant Guy Nicholls and Kim Hollamby
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Capt Kim, taking well earned applause
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Servicing / Technical / Nav

Launched and waiting

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Launched, sea-trialled and waiting to come home
(photo courtesy Kim Hollamby)
click to enlarge
Play d’eau’s been launched and awaits a weather window to come home.

Gleaming

As Play d’eau gleams in the late afternoon light, she’s moored and floating free at her berth with sea-trials and pre-flight checks completed. It must be so good for her to feel the water, again.

Captain Kim Hollamby

Kim Hollamby, who has taken time out to oversee the launch and sea-trials, will bring her to Beaucette at the first opportunity.

Guy Nicholls of Solent Marine Surveys, the surveyor for Play d’eau’s blister and GRP correction work, will crew.

When?

With an area of high pressure about to settle over the UK bringing chilly but calmer weather, Kim is planning to cast off on the evening of the 28 December to arrive at Beaucette at midday 29 December, to coincide with high water.

We’ll be waiting.

Piers and lin
from the Christmas Meteorological Office
of our eldest son’s house
not on Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Servicing / Technical / Nav

Launch delay

4 Comments

The chart for 0001 Tuesday 23 December 2014
click to enlarge
Why can’t the weather behave and do as it’s told? But then I suppose it’s no more then expected.

Although one of the fronts moved slightly north, the other moved south and is hovering over the north coast of France sandwiching the English Channel like jam in the middle with WSW F6 winds gusting F7 and rain.

Post surgery

So after plastic surgery, is it really fair to send Play d’eau into such weather? Even for a sea-trial?

No. Certainly not. She’d have to battle her way straight into high breaking waves and rain for more than fourteen hours without being able to pull off the road, so to speak, and take a break. The passage would be really nasty and certainly no Christmas present for her, let alone for her crew.

So we wait

So we’ll wait. There’s bound to be a break in the weather, sometime. We’ll take it and arrive in Beaucette Marina in glorious style after a good and gentle crossing, feeling and looking good.

from the Meteorological Office
of our temporary abode
not on Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Servicing / Technical / Nav

Ready for launch

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Tent removed and ready for launch
(photo courtesy Julian Willmott)
click to enlarge
With Play d’eau’s three and a half months in the Plastic Surgery Operating Theatre to deal with her extensive blistering and GRP issues, the finishing touches to her new bootline and antifouling have been completed.

Play d’eau is perfect, ready for launch, sea-trials, acceptance testing and departure to Beaucette Marina, Guernsey, on Monday 22 December.

Weather or not

But as much as she’s straining at her warps to cast off and come home, she has a wary eye on the weather. With two cold fronts stretching west-east across the UK’s Midlands, the forecast for Monday midday is W’ly F4 gusting F7 with rain.

Sea-trials should be OK since they’ll be in the shelter of the River Itchin and Southampton Water, but departure for Guernsey could be a completely different story. Strong winds have been blowing for so long that the seas will have been heaped up and are likely to be really uncomfy – to say the least.

So we’ll see.

from the Meteorological Office
of our temporary abode
not on Play d’eau
Fleming 55

The forecast chart for
midday Monday 22 December 2014
Isobars 4mb apart
click to enlarge
The ECMWF forecast chart for
0001 Monday 22 December 2014
Isobars 5mb apart
click to enlarge
Servicing / Technical / Nav

She’ll be home soon

3 Comments

Dawn rises over another tent for Play d’eau’s bootline painting
(photo courtesy Julian Willmott)
click to enlarge
Having delivered Play d’eau to Southampton over three and a half months ago, I took a call from GRP Repairs Ltd’s MD, Julian Willmott today to let me know she’ll soon be ready to come home to Beaucette Marina.

What’s the plan?

Julian said, ‘Provided the weather holds out, the plan is to launch her first thing on Monday 22 December, go straight to sea trial, acceptance testing and handover, before she sets off for Guernsey to arrive Tuesday morning.’

So what was wrong?

Well, rather than start explaining the issues, I will wait for my UK surveyor’s report.

Since arrival in Southampton he has analysed the problems and kept a photo diary of everything that’s been found. It’s a long report but hopefully one which will explain why the repairs have been so extensive – and expensive.

‘You’ll be wowed’

Through all the work, Julian of GRP Repairs has kept in close contact with us, explaining exactly what’s been happening. A great example of project management.

Lately, he’s been reassuring Lin and I. “She looks amazing. You’ll be wowed! Showroom.” We can’t wait – expectations are high.

On the plus side

Having had all the issues corrected, Play d’eau will be ‘bullet-proof’ and set for at least the next ten years.

Piers
From our temporary abode
not Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Servicing / Technical / Nav

Play d’eau and South Africa

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We left beautiful Beaucette Marina soon after midday
click to enlarge
1 September 2014. A decision had been made.

Having prepared our Fleming 55, Play d’eau, for the journey, Kim and I left sunny Beaucette soon after midday delivering a long and triumphant blast of the Kahlenbergs echoing around the marina’s quarry walls, and set sail (set motor?) for the journey. Not to South Africa, but Southampton via Alderney where we’d have a few hours break for supper.

Casting off from Buoy 20 in Braye Harbour, we travelled throughout a moonless night in a rather emotional sea and arrived in a flat calm Solent just as the sun rose, casting her fire orange hue over the water.

Having completed the handover to GRP Boat Repairs Ltd at Shamrock Quay, I caught the 1440 Blue Islands flight back to Guernsey and was tucked up and asleep by 8pm.

Why Southampton?

The sun rises over Cowes in the Solent
click to enlarge
Well, Play d’eau is in need of extensive repair work which will be carried out by UK specialists. Whilst there, Lin and I will take the opportunity to visit South Africa for the two months Play d’eau will be under cover in a heated shed.

A great friend of ours, Kim Hollamby, had flown to Guernsey to accompany me to Southampton. Lin was staying behind to make final preparations for our extended South African adventure.

Why South Africa?

Readers will remember that our youngest son, Toby, married his fiancé Amy in April this year in the Tala Private Game Reserve just outside Durban. We spent a month sightseeing this beautiful country and meeting members of our new extended family. We agreed that this, our first time in South Africa, would not be the last.

Why two months?

The chart plotter shows exactly where we are
click to enlarge
Simple. The work needed on Play d’eau will take two months, and since she is our home we have taken the opportunity to return to beautiful South Africa.

There’s so much to explore. Magnificent mountain ranges, wines, exotic game reserves, wines, family to meet, wines, journeys to be made, and have I mentioned the fine luscious South African wines?

What’s up with Play d’eau?

Good question. The main problem is hundreds of blisters on many of the surfaces above the waterline. Above the waterline? Yes, above the waterline.

Apparently, when she was built a water-attractive filler was used in some places under the gel coat rather than an epoxy water-repellent filler. Hence, any water resting on surfaces was ‘sucked’ through the gel coat, into the filler, causing blistering, looking just like a bad rash of teenage acne. Given her debut was at the 2002 Southampton Boat Show, she’ll be thirteen in a year’s time, so teenage acne isn’t a bad metaphor.

The Blisters

The hundreds of blisters look like a teenager’s bad rash of acne
click to enlarge
So, Play d’eau will be in a heated tent, with the blister correction work being carried out by a Fleming recommended facility. Work will be monitored by a marine surveyor and finally signed off as complete and corrected.

Other work will include blasting the hull back to the original epoxy coating, applying additional epoxy, re-antifouling, reseating caprails, remaking any loose caulking in the teak decking, repairing any ‘dinks’ in the internal wooden flooring, certifying the fire protection systems, replacing a gearbox oil seal and servicing the Glendenning engine synchroniser.

And that will all take two months. But at least she’ll be ready for next year’s cruising with not a hint of acne.

Piers and Lin
from a friend’s bungalow near Cobo
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Servicing / Technical / Nav

No water pressure

7 Comments

I removed the water filter which
looked reasonably clear to me
click to enlarge
For some time, Play d’eau’s domestic water pressure had been reducing. And now there were times when the taps ran dry before slowly starting to run again.

Not very helpful when you’re in the middle of washing your hair.

Where oh where?

Drawing on my long forgotten schoolboy ‘A level’ Physics, I assembled the facts.

The water tanks were full; the Headhunter X-Caliber pump was set to its maximum power (500 watts); the cut-in pressure was at its highest setting; all isolation valves were open; and the water strainer was clear.

Watching the accumulator pressure gauge, it would rise when the pump ran, only to fall slowly when the pump stopped. Hmmm.

Analysis

Being quick and feeling proud of myself I came to the conclusion there had to be a leak. Yet finding no evidence I went back to the drawing board.

Then it dawned on me. There had to be a non-return valve to prevent pressurised water being forced back to the water tanks. This valve had to be faulty.

I found it. It was called a ‘check-valve’ and mounted on the inlet to the Headhunter. I felt so proud of myself – again.

I changed it with my spare and fired up the pump, full of excitement.

Un-manly

…but the filter was the culprit
click to enlarge
No change. Same problem. My high expectations of success were dashed. I thought I’d been a genius. I hadn’t. I went and stood in the corner.

Being un-manly, I started to read the instruction book. The troubleshooting guide advised to change the check-valve. Really helpful.

I emailed the manufacturer.

Pressure tune-up

By return I received a ‘Pressure Tune-up’ guide. Stage 1 was to check any in-line filter. Apparently a blocked filter would exhibit the exact symptoms we were experiencing.

Now why didn’t I think of that? I’d checked the strainer but not the filter. Although it looked reasonably clean to me, I changed it.

Success.

Back to the man-cave

So how much time had I wasted? How much easier would it have been if I’d contacted the manufacturer in the first place? Don’t ask. Don’t even think it.

Back to my man-cave to hide and consider my future as ship’s engineer.

Piers
from the man-cave of
play d’eau

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Servicing / Technical / Nav

Back home and back in the water

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Play d’eau
on holiday at M&G Engineers, Guernsey
click to enlarge
Play d’eau is back in the water today (hurrah!) after being on hols for almost four weeks at M&G Engineers at St Sampsons.

The full works

So whilst we’ve been on our hols in Norway visiting the Arctic Circle on Hurtigruten’s MS Midnatsol, Play d’eau’s been pampered with a full spa treatment below her waterline.

She’s been pressure washed and antifouled, her shafts have been pulled, four new cutless bearings installed, stuffing boxes removed and cleaned, shaft seals replaced, and some GRP blemishes repaired.

With new external anodes all round and a full polish from the waterline up to her caprails, she’s been spoiled.

Internally

We head out of St Sampsons harbour
into fifty shades of bright orange over Herm
click to enlarge
Internally, we were able to do some small jobs such as dismantling and cleaning four engine sea-water strainers, changing the anodes on the two generators (the stbd is a real pain to do), and giving the engine room a good clean up.

She was ready. Ready for launch. Ready to go home to Beaucette.

Today’s the day

The alarm was set for 0420. After a quick cup of coffee (tea for Lin) we jumped in the car and headed to St Sampsons.

It was cold. The sky was clear but it was still dark; the sun hadn’t woken. The good news was that the wind had calmed right down to almost nothing from the ferocious winds of the last few days.

Opening M&G’s gate we climbed onto Play d’eau. ‘Good morning,’ we said. Was it me or did we hear her say, ‘Come on, let’s get going!’

Lin manoeuvres Play d’eau to leave St Sampsons
click to enlarge
The plan was to be lowered into the water at 0630. Then, once the new fittings had been checked, we’d be released from the hoist’s strops to head for the open sea through St Sampsons harbour.

Provided the remnant of yesterday’s swell wasn’t too uncomfortable we’d turn NNE for Beaucette. If it was still lumpy we’d simply turn around and berth in St Sampsons harbour until the evening’s high tide.

Launch time

Checking all was ready, the hoist picked us up, Steve antifouled where the support legs had been, Kerin donned the remote control, manoeuvred the 75 tonne hoist and began to lower Play d’eau into the water.

We could almost feel Play d’eau shudder as her hull touched the cold water but we knew she was happy to be floating again. Steve became Captain Steve of ‘HMS M&G Dinghy’, commanding the fine vessel on its 10 metre sea voyage to Play d’eau's transom. Ship’s Engineer Shane joined us for the journey to Beaucette to check everything was working properly.

I wonder if Play d'eau shudders as she feels
the temperature of the water
click to enlarge
With the seals, strainers and logs checked for integrity, we started the engines. After a thumbs-up from Shane we launched just as the sun rose over Herm in a bright shower of fifty shades of bright orange.

Beaucette Ho!

Exiting St Sampsons, we turned to port and headed for Beaucette.

Although the swell had quietened it was still evident. Taking the inside passage there was only one patch of rough sea between Platte and Corbette D’Amont before it straightened itself out as we entered Beaucette’s approach channel.

Point of No Return

I had a Point of No Return (PNR) which was just before the last port hand marker where I must decide whether to continue into Beaucette or turn around and return to St Sampsons. Beyond this, I have to commit and continue.

Captain Steve commands HMS M&G Dingy
with Ship's Engineer Shane
for the 10 metre voyage to
Play d’eau
click to enlarge
Although the swell was creating large surges and spray against the rocks to port and starboard of the approach channel, the channel itself looked good.

Decision made. I continued past the PNR and entered the channel. Play d’eau took it in her stride, no problem. I’m so proud of her.

We moored temporarily on the Fuelling Pontoon before taking her to her berth.

Welcome home

It's great being home again. We have many warm welcomes. ‘We’ve missed you.’ ‘It's been wrong seeing your berth empty.’

Sadness

One sadness. John, from the small white yacht behind us, has died whilst we’ve been away.

Kerin, Officer in Charge of the hoist, manoeuvres Play d'eau to the launch site
click to enlarge
Sometimes fondly known as ‘the old man of Beaucette’, John hadn’t been well for some time, and in a way his death was expected. But it's still a shock and a sadness.

For me, he’d occasionally given me fresh lobsters from his pots.

We had one thing in common. We both had really bushy eyebrows.

His funeral’s next Tuesday. We’ll be there.

Piers and Lin
from the saloon of
Play d’eau

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

With the hoist ready to lift
Steve removes the support legs
click to enlarge
Twin shaft anodes
are secured in place with jubilee clips
click to enlarge
Shane adds the split pin to lock the prop nuts
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Shafts and props are installed
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Shane ‘encourages’ the shaft to a snug fit
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The shaft fits through both bearings
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Through the first, en route to the second
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The shaft is guided through the first cutless bearing
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Shane greases the inner cutless bearing
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Two new cutless bearings are installed
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Servicing / Technical / Nav

What’s in Play d’eau’s make-up bag?

5 Comments

Often I’m asked if I have any favourite products for looking after Play d’eau.

Wurth Brake Cleaner
click to enlarge
I do, and here are some of the key items you’ll find in her ‘make-up bag’.

Engine Room

De-greaser and oil remover

When carbon tetrachloride (‘carbon tet’) was taken off the market because it was too dangerous a chemical for us lesser mortals to use (inhaling it apparently caused all sorts of illnesses, some more fatal than others), the task was to find a powerful degreaser which left no residue.

A great engineer introduced me to Brake Cleaner from Würth UK Ltd which I’ve found to be better than ‘carbon tet’. To make it easier to use and to reach difficult areas, I use Brake Cleaner in Würth’s 1 litre pump spray bottle.

The info says ‘A fast, effective removal of soot, grease, brake dust and oily residues. Residue-free cleaning. Acetone free. High material compatibility to paints, plastics, seals and rubber. AOX and silicone-free.’

Comes in various sized pressurised cans, or larger containers for use with a Würth spray bottle. A brilliant product.

Spray grease

This is another Würth UK Ltd product and one which I’ve used for years. HHS-2000 is a ‘highly adhesive, pressure-resistant, synthetic grease’.

Wurth HHS 2000 spray grease
click to enlarge
In other words, a thick sticky grease in a penetrating solvent.

Spray it and the solvent penetrates the smallest of orifices taking a thin film of grease with it. As the solvent evaporates the grease is left.

I use it for linkages, moving joints and for keeping camper hood press studs easy to use.

Verdigris and Rust remover

Now here’s a great product. Biox from Conservation Resources UK Ltd.

It’s a bio-degradable gel which literally eats verdigris and rust. Brush it on, wait for to do its work, and wipe and wash it away. Result? Clean, gleaming metal with no residue.

Far better than using wire wool or carborundum paper which leaves ‘bits’ which are so difficult to remove completely and which will cause further problems.

I use Biox on Play d’eau’s water strainers and stuffing boxes, and anything that’s become rusty that I hadn’t noticed!

Engine room cleaner

More recently, I’ve found Muc-off Marine to be a great general cleaner for around Play d’eau’s engine room and transom.

Spray it on, and using a soft rag or small scrubbing brush the area comes clean as a whistle. Note: Don’t use a scrubbing brush on polished gel coat!

Biox verdigris and rust eater
click to enlarge

Body Work

Gel coat cleaning is an area that’s guaranteed to start endless debate from both ends of the spectrum. So without ducking for cover, theses are some Play d’eau basics.

Household cleaners like Cif and Fairy liquid all have abrasive particles within them leaving a minutely abraded surface which will trap dirt more quickly next time. As time goes on, the surface becomes more and more damaged and harder and harder to keep clean. Not a good scenario.

Now for the products we’ve found which work really well without damaging Play d’eau’s bodywork gleaming.

Gel coat cleaner

I’ve replaced my usual Farecla Deep Clean with Muc-off Marine which lifts off those stubborn black streaks really easily.

Fender and dinghy cleaner

In the same way you shouldn’t use abrasives to clean gel coat, don’t use them on vinyl.

Instead, Play d’eau’s make-up bag contains Poly Marine Ltd’s Inflatable Boat Cleaner and Inflatable Boat Finish. Spray the Cleaner on and leave it a minute or so before cleaning using a small gentle brush, or a rag. Dirt just lifts off.

Muc Off Marine general cleaner
click to enlarge
Then don’t forget to use the Polish. Again, it really works keeping the surface shiny and less able to attract dirt.

Teak

Now here’s a real point of contention. So many of us will dig our heels for what we believe works, so for what it’s worth, I’ll start with some Play d’eau basics.

  • Teak is a natural oily wood, so there’s no need to add oil to it. Adding a dressing of oil does nothing for the wood apart from attract dirt.
  • Scrubbing teak will damage it by taking out the soft wood leaving ridges of hard wood. In time, the teak will need sanding back.
  • Brushing along the grain will also take out the soft wood. We don’t do it.

The three main issues teak suffer from are litchen (light green when wet), mould (black), and dark green algae. Left untreated, the litchen especially can cause damage. So what works?

  • General cleaning should be with a hose with not too much pressure. Follow this with a dousing of salt water to discourage lichen and mould.
  • If you feel you have to use a brush, only use a soft brush and only across the grain.

However, maybe once a year, a more radical treatment is necessary to rout out lichen and mould so out comes the Wessex two part Treatment, an acid and an alkali. When applied properly your teak will look brand new and will have suffered no damage.

Poly Marine Ltd’s Dinghy and Fender cleaner and polish
click to enlarge

Pressure Washers

I won’t have a pressure washer anywhere near Play d’eau.

On teak, pressure washing rips out the soft wood leaving the grain standing proud and soon sanding will be the only option for any restoration provided the teak is thick enough to withstand sanding.

Gel coat is also damaged by pressure washing. Not only is gel coat easily scratched, we know it’s porous (aka osmosis). Put both these together and you can see that pressure washing can so easily cause damage. Although ‘instant’ results can be achieved, the longer term is damage requiring repair.

For gel coat, there’s nothing like elbow grease and a low rpm electric polisher. Takes a lot more time, but the results are so worth it.

Piers
from the Engine Room of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Servicing / Technical / Nav

Exterminating bugs

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Robin of RES replaces the GPS1 aerial of the Furuno satellite compass
click to enlarge

Bugs – the bane of Play d’eau’s new Pilot House electronics. Can we really exterminate them?

I remember seeing mother-in-law size cockroaches in Delhi years ago in my flying days. There’d been a flying ant swarm and cockroaches, led by these five inch monsters with their armour plated backs, had come out with their armies to hoover a three Michelin star dinner.

In the airport terminal, some local lads were playing football with them but despite severe kicking and smacking against walls, these monster cockroaches just picked themselves up and carried on scurrying about searching for ants as though nothing had happened. They refused to be exterminated.

We now had a monster somewhere in the electrickery on Play d’eau.

Andy Craig of MEI

Andy Craig of MEI had come to Beaucette Marina on 1st May 2013 and resolved all our electronic woes – or so we all thought.

A few days later, a friend had come from the UK to see us, and in the middle of demonstrating (code for showing off!) our new pilot house equipment, the dreaded ‘Heading Data Missing’ alarm on the nn3d re-appeared with the associated ‘Steering Compass Missing’ warning on the Simrad autopilot, activating every possible audible alarm from the Chart Plotter, Radar, Instruments, and this time, from the Satellite Compass as well which also displayed an ‘Aborting’ message.

Arrrgh! An unknown mother-in-law cockroach had crawled out to mock us.

The GPS1 aerial works again, with the same HDOP as the other two aerials in the array
click to enlarge
After re-booting the satellite compass many times, I called Andy of MEI. Having listened to my woes, Andy’s gentle voice came back with, ‘You won’t believe this, Piers. We’ve just had a Tech Bulletin from Furuno advising us there’s a potential fault in the GPS aerials they use in their satellite compass. From what you’ve said, the GPS1 aerial has failed which could have been the source of all the original problems.’

Robin of RES (Guernsey)

In the moments that followed, Andy spoke with the warranty desk at Furuno which immediately accepted the warranty claim, arranged for a spare aerial to be despatched from Holland direct to RES (their authorised agent in Guernsey) and authorised them to effect the repair. How brilliant was that!

Yesterday, Robin of RES appeared on Play d’eau and checked the fault remained. It did. Climbing the radar arch and pony mast, Robin unscrewed the cover from the aerial array, removed and replaced the faulty aerial and appeared back in the Pilot House to check it was now working. It was. Brilliant, again.

One mother-in-law cockroach exterminated.

The dreaded Heading Data Missing alarm returns to the nn3d which will be hunted down and exterminated
click to enlarge

Any more bugs?

Yes. Two hours later, three more bugs dared to surface. The original ‘Heading Data Missing’ on the nn3d, and two relatively new ones showing as ‘Log’ and ‘EPFS’ in the Radar alarm log. Yet all with no indication of equipment failure.

To me, I don’t believe there’s anything more wrong with any of the equipment. Deduction tells me these bugs are more like mosquitoes hiding in the sentences being dropped onto the nn3d backbone or the speed at which they are talking. A mismatch or confusion somewhere. Time will tell.

So, having exterminated a cockroach we now have three mosquitoes.

Now where’s that DDT?

Piers
from the Nav Table of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55