About this site

Piers and Lin du Pré bought their new Fleming 55 / 129, Play d'eau, in 2003.

She was berthed in Beaucette Marina, Guernsey in the Channel Islands at N49° 30’.197 W002° 30’.350 until she was sold in October 2021.

This site charts the thrilling adventures they had in her.

You can contact us here.

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Recent Posts

Oh no! to Elation

The split fitting which connected the galley tap to the ship’s pressurised cold water supply
click to enlarge

‘We have a leak – a big leak,’ I shouted to Lin.

What the…?

I’d reached into the cabinet under the galley sink for a bottle of Fairy liquid (yes, I really was about to do the washing up) but all I felt was wet. A lot of very wet, wetness.

Quickly looking inside with a torch, there was the culprit (hiding behind the Fairy liquid). A brass fitting was dripping to the point of a constant flow as well as spraying a fine mist courtesy of Play d’eau’s 80psi pressurised cold water supply.

With the water pump isolated and the heads’ taps open to bleed the pressure, I began removing the cupboard contents. Plastic containers were brimming with water, rags were sodden and sponges were dripping. Puddles of water were seeping underneath the cupboard flooring.

How long had this been going on? What was the damage?

Exactly what had failed?

Having mopped up most of the water, I turned to the culprit. On removal, it was obvious. The smaller of the two threads to which the galley tap’s flexible hose connected, had split. Hence the dripping and hence the spray.

But what were the threads? The larger was obvious, but the smaller looked odd. Really odd. Not even our fount of all plumbing knowledge, Richard Poat, knew.

Herm Seaway to the rescue

Out with the old, in with the new
click to enlarge

‘Try Herm Seaway,’ said Richard. ‘They can make anything in metal.’

Showing the brass fitting to Colin, Herm Seaway’s machinist, it was the smaller thread which baffled him. ‘There’s little I’ve not seen over the years but I’ve never seen this before. It’s certainly non-standard.’ ‘But can you make one for me?’ I asked cautiously, almost dreading the answer.

‘It will have to be turned especially out of a block of brass, but yes, I can do it.’ ‘How long with it take?’ I queried, thinking we’d be without water in the galley for days and days. ‘Erm, well, let me see. About an hour.’ Really? Wow.

I’d only just turned into the marina when my phone rang. ‘It’s ready, when can you collect it?’

Is that service, or is that service? Astonishing.

Clean and dry and working

Having cleaned the mess, checked for damage (there wasn’t any) and blow dried everything using a really powerful fan to reach the parts arms and rags cannot reach, Richard installed the new fitting. It had been made to perfection.

With the water pump fired up, pressure built. Was it leaking? Any signs of water?

No, all bone dry. Thank you Colin of Herm Seaway and Richard (plumber supremo).

Piers
with head under the galley sink
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

2 comments to Oh no! to Elation

  • Pip and Pete Flynn

    Wow, what incredible service – and weren’t you lucky that there was no damage caused by the water leaks. There’s obviously a morale to this story – you should do the washing up more often!!! P&Pxx

  • You are right, the damage could have been really extensive if the leak hadn’t been found quickly. Me do the washing up? Hmmm.

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