Play d’eau’s new (almost white!) carpet click to enlargeWe started planning this year’s upgrades by having new carpets in December 2018, ready for Christmas.
New carpets
After 16 years of sterling service the backing of our brown saloon and companionway carpets was sad and disintegrating.
Due to a broken arm, the original carpet supplier was out of action (how thoughtless was that?) and we couldn’t find anyone in Guernsey with the equipment to whip carpet edges.
But all was not lost. Turning to trusty Google, we found Marine Boat Carpets and entered into long and encouraging discussions with boat carpet maker Toby Butlin. On the appointed date, I was at the airport to meet him and after a fortifying coffee and Jammy Dodger, the choice of an almost white, 80% woollen carpet was made, and Toby painstakingly began creating templates.
The plan was for Toby to make the carpet and send it to us. ‘What about fitting?’ I asked. ‘Just unroll it. It’ll fit, but if it’s not as you want, I’ll come straight back.’
Play d’eau’s old (brown) carpet click to enlargeIn time for Christmas, we carried our material prize to Play d’eau, and as Toby had instructed, we rolled it out. Perfection! A bonus? With the off-cut, Toby had made a fitted carpet for the engine room…
By the way, we really aren’t paranoid about marking the new carpet. Really. No. Not in the least…
Electrics
The electrics upgrades to happen from March onwards, include,
Wiring the ability to parallel both alternators whilst underway to charge both 24v battery banks, using an automatic charging relay
Adding 2 voltmeters to monitor both 24v battery banks above the existing 12v battery panel
Potentially, replacing the existing transducer with an Airmar UDST800 Doppler speed and depth transducer
The existing 12v battery panel click to enlarge
The ‘usual’ Marine and General annual hoist
And then in April, Play d’eau will be lifted at Marine and General for her annual spa and flattery treatments. The works list includes:
Power wash and clean below the waterline
Clean and polish the running gear, trim tabs and props
Anti-foul with Teamac
Instal a replacement sea-cock for the port engine
Refurbish all sea-strainers
Plus, completing the works to remove the last traces of the second time she was covered in iron filings.
Whilst chocked ashore, Lin and I will replace all 26 anodes and work on the engines and generators to ensure all is ready for the new season.
Piers and Lin
from the Planning Office of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
We’d suffered the most horrendous effects of a NNE storm whilst moored in St Peter Port’s Victoria marina in October 2018.
It had taken 11 of our 18mm multiplait ropes to hold Play d’eau but seeing the immense strain they’d suffered, we knew they should be replaced. But this time, they’d be bigger and tougher.
PLAM HT Popeye Double Braid
With advice from members of the YBW Motor Boat forum, I approached the Italian company PLAM for their High Tenacity Popeye Polyester Double Braid.
After discussion and much measuring, I ordered 6 new 26mm warps. 4 x 7m and 2 x 9m, each with spliced loops and tails.
26mm would have an approximate breaking strain of 14.6 tonnes.
Result?
Ah, what can I say? they arrived courtesy of FedEx and they’re just beautiful. the braid is lovely and the splicing just perfect. So much so that it’s almost a shame to use them.
But, needs must, so they’re in full use, and drawing many admiring comments.
The end splice of our new rope click to enlargeGood question. We can’t bring ourselves to throw them out so they’re all in the lazarette in a large and overflowing box until we can decide.
Maybe we’ll choose the best and have them for light mooring use. The rest? Maybe cut out the worn bits and use the remainder for short breast warps or similar. We’ll see.
Piers and Lin
from the overflowing warp locker of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Our new Dockside Filter click to enlargeWe’d become irritated with having to change Play d’eau’s costly onboard 2 micron water filter every few months. The removed blackened filters showed just how dirty local water supplies were, wherever we happened to fill the 1,150 litre water tanks.
Lightbulb moment
Whilst waiting for the tide in St Peter Port late last year, a Nordhavn 60 moored in front of us. ‘We need to fill with water,’ the Skipper announced as I admired his boat.
One of his crew appeared carrying a filter arrangement. Being nosy I was told, ‘We use this to pre-filter the water we take on board, making sure it’s clean before it reaches the tanks.’ Now why hadn’t I thought of doing that? Hindsight is great, isn’t it?
The solution
Finding the Dockside Pre-Filter on the ASAP Supplies website, I had one in my hands within a few days. Its 3 micron filter would certainly do the job, and the best part was that back-flushing cleans the filter so its life should be really long.
There’s always a ‘but’
Herm Seaway comes to the rescue to make new fittings click to enlargeThe problem was the fittings. They were not standard UK. However, Herm Seaway came to the rescue, again, and machined two brass connectors so standard hose fittings would fit. How perfect is that?
Is the Onboard filter still needed?
Good question, to which the answer is ‘yes’. Why? As well as filtering to 2 micron, its carbon content removes chlorine and any nasty tastes and smells which might lurk in local water supplies.
All water on Play d’eau now comes through the Dockside Filter as well as the onboard carbon filter.
Result
The great news is that we haven’t had to change the on board filter in over 3 months, and there’s no sign of it becoming dirty. And as far as the Dockside Filter is concerned, we give it a quick backwash each time we fill.
Job done.
Piers and Lin
From the water purification department of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Carentan marina click to enlargeAfter 21 years we’re back in Carentan on the Normandy coast. I was first here with the MBM Cruise in Company fleet in the mid-1970s (can anyone remember those days?) and then with the family in 1997.
But seeing the mile long yet narrow marina now, I just wonder if it’s become a forgotten destination?
Fat, rolly, polly seals
The 8 mile approach from the fairway buoy through the estuary and along the river is just gorgeous. Hundreds of fat seals basking on the beach and flock after flock of birds flying up from the wetlands. Approaching the end of the river you see the lock which opens HW-2 to HW+3.
And here’s the ‘but’. After 21 years the marina doesn’t seem to have changed. Same old bouncy pontoons mostly covered in gull and duck pooh, same old 5A power supply in lichen blackened boxes, looking dowdy and unkept.
Yes, there’s a new-ish Capitainerie and shower block (water is somewhat tepid) and a Brasserie but it’s shut for the summer hols. A number of boats seem to have been left to die, covered in green and unloved.So many unloved and dying boats click to enlarge
Far from the madding crowd
What is so, so lovely, is the peace and tranquility. Just perfect for being and unwinding. Apart from Play d’eau, there are no visiting boats and no-one working on their boats. It’s as though it’s a ghost marina.
Walking into the small town with its large 12c church. Again, it’s so quiet. So few people around. Some modern buildings have been shouldered in amongst the old, architecturally more beautiful buildings, many of them shut down and up for sale. From what we’ve seen, there are hairdressers, opticians, pharmacies, clothing shops, but only one small supermarket, two boulangeries (the third is up for sale), one butcher and one ironmonger.
On the other hand, there’s a new indoor swimming pool complex and a separate small sports centre, but neither seem really used – good use of EU money?
Duck a l’orange?
As I’ve said, what we love about the marina is the peace. It’s so, so quiet. No visitors. Only dozens of really vociferous ducks. What if we fed them with oranges? Would they be marinaded ready for the pot?So quiet and tranquil click to enlarge
Having met our Carentan goal we’re undecided on ‘where next?’
Maybe we’ll head back around the Cherbourg peninsula to the north coast of Brittany which we love.
Piers and Lin
from the Saloon of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
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
Play d’eau follows the bright star… (photo courtesy Kim Hollamby) click to enlarge
Happy Christmas, everyone!
May we immediately assure everyone that our radio silence for the last two years has not been because we’ve finally navigated to the great marina in the sky.
No. With considerable quantities of fuel left in life’s tanks, we’ve loved many months in the magnificent country of South Africa, spent time with family and dear friends, cruised the west coast of France (again), remedied some difficult faults on Play d’eau, and, and, and….
I mean, they say that when you retire you become more busy than ever and we can attest this to be absolutely true.
Now it’s Christmas 2017
So after such a long period of silence, the keys of my new laptop have started clattering away as I renew friendship with our website. Hence, we take this opportunity to trust you will all have a magnificent Christmas and an exciting New Year.
The Reason for the Season
As we know, the reason for the season is Jesus. Hallelujah indeed!
2018
Whilst we contemplate 2018 and make plans, one of our New Year’s resolutions is to keep the website up to date. So we thank you for your patience and ask you to keep a listening watch on this channel.
On a personal note
Whilst thinking of the reason for the season, Lin and I especially thank Him for the recent miraculous healing of a dear friend of ours. And we mean miraculous. Reality is reality.
Happy Christmas!
Piers
from the Pilot House of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
The gearbox was separated from the engine click to enlargeWanting to jump straight onto the gearbox technical issues quickly, I called TwinDisc’s UK distributors, The MIT Group on Monday and explained the oil spill from the flywheel housing.
‘We’ll fly in first thing on Thursday and take the late Friday evening flight back to Gatwick,’ said Service Manager, Paul Masey. What service. What a star.
Thursday morning
0935 – Having collected MIT’s TwinDisc gearbox specialist, Gary Downes, and his two large suitcases of tools and spares from Guernsey’s International airport, he was keen to learn every detail of the problem as we drove along the coast road.
On Play d’eau, he donned white overalls. ‘White?’ I commented. ‘Yes, white for leisure and blue for commercial.’ Impressive.
Having made a plan, Gary removed the stabiliser oil pump, the Reverso oil pump-out unit, the gearbox selector and stabiliser sensor, installed bespoke engine brackets to lift the rear to the engine ready for the removal of the gearbox, removed the engine air intake filter, the Aquadrive coupling, moved various wiring looms and pipes, and finally the flywheel housing bolts.
With wooden chocks to support the weight, Gary gently slid the heavy gearbox backwards along the main engine bearers.
Thursday afternoon
Lin had created a lovely ham salad for lunch, and with coffee (tea for Lin) Gary was revitalised. Back in the engine room, he examined the engine’s flywheel and gearbox interface.
‘We’ll change the gearbox transmission input shaft oil seal, clean the input shaft bearing adjustment shims, the SAE adapter housing and oil seal carrier bolts, and clean everything, thoroughly.’
With his head almost disappearing into in the flywheel housing, he added, ‘And whilst we’re about it, I’ll clean the magnetic tachometer sensor. It’s collected some debris possibly from when the starter motor meshes with the flywheel.’
With a final clean up, we called it a day.
M & G Marine Engineers
Gary checked the shims click to enlargeOne point I must add is that the bespoke engine brackets needed additional drilling and tapping. For this, I called M & G. ‘Bring them down, Piers. We’ll do the work immediately and bring them back to the boat for you,’ said Andy Richmond.
Again, what service. So helpful. Perfect.
Friday morning
0730 – Collected Gary from the Peninsula Hotel. In fresh brilliant white overalls (actually, inside out to hide yesterday’s dirt) Gary inspected his work.
‘Good. No further oil’s appeared which might have been hiding behind the engine flywheel.’
With another clean of every surface, Gary planned the re-installation. Step by step, everything was re-assembled ensuring the engine remained aligned on its Aquadrive mounting brackets.
Ready to start, I activated the Starboard Engine circuit breaker, turned the ignition key – and stopped. No engine instruments apart form the engine water temperature gauge running to maximum.
Even with double checking of every cable we’d moved, touched, looked at or even thought of, the problem remained.
Friday afternoon & Operation Wiggle
Our cloud of despondency was interrupted by Lin calling, ‘Scramble eggs on toast is ready.’ Somewhat dispirited, Gary and I surfaced from the engine room and ate lunch whilst wracking our brains.
‘What if you wiggle every cable you’ve moved whilst I monitor the engine instruments and we’ll see if anything happens?’ I suggested.
Back in the Pilot House, I stared at the dead instruments. ‘Ready,’ I shouted. ‘Commencing Operation Wiggle,’ came the cheery reply.
Nothing. Nothing at all. Until suddenly the gauges went crazy. ‘That’s it,’ I yelled, jumping down into the engine room. ‘What were you touching?’ ‘This,’ said Gary, pointing to a large conduit of cables.
Removing the plastic trunking some twenty or more cables came to view. Many had inline crimped yellow connectors. ‘Once more,’ I said, ‘cable by cable.’
We repeated the process. ‘That’s it!’ I shouted again. ‘Gotcha,’ shouted Gary, triumphantly.With the shaft seal replaced and seal plate cleaned, Gary was ready to re-assemble click to enlargeIt was a simple fault. When the cable was originally installed, it needed extending. A connector had been crimped to one end correctly but when it came to the other the cable has not been properly inserted so had not been properly crimped. It was only touching and not secure. Most unlike Fleming.
Job done
Having repaired the cable the instruments were all fine. Yes! Even with further wiggling.
Starting the engine, Gary began extensive checks. Good so far. Now forward gear. Now reverse gear. Now high rpm. All OK. Gary’s checks revealed no further leaks.
‘We still need to run a sea-trial at high speed,’ said Gary, but with the tide out and unable to leave the marina, we agreed it was best not to try high speed manoeuvring around the pontoons.
What can one say?
Although far too early for Gary’s 1800 flight to Gatwick, we needed to leave early to see if he could jump on an earlier flight. Fog had been delaying flights all day.
At the airport what could one say? ‘Thank you’ seemed inadequate. Gary had worked tirelessly, willingly, carefully, and so professionally – and in white overalls.
‘Let me know how she runs,’ he said. ‘I will,’ I responded, as Gary disappeared into the terminal trailing his two large suitcases.
Two technical issues resolved in one go. Gearbox leak and tacho readings. Sorted.
Right, onto the next technical issue.
Piers
from the engine room of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
(click on the photos below to enlarge, and use the left/right arrows)
The gearbox oil leak throws oil out of the flywheel housing click to enlargePlay d’eau has been brilliant and had very few engineering problems over the years. Maybe it’s a sign of her age (she’s 13 now), but we’ve had a few coming to the surface, recently.
Technical Log
So here’s a list of issues from our Tech Log which remain outstanding, together with ones we solved during the holiday.
Stabilisers, port fin – RESOLVED
The stabiliser ram seal and actuator plate seal both failed. Brian George of Golden Arrow drove from the UK to La Rochelle and corrected the faults.
Gearbox, starboard engine – NOT RESOLVED
Gearbox oil started to weep past the shaft seal into the flywheel housing and be thrown out of an inspection hole in 2014.
MDS Marine of Hamble replaced the shaft seal in late 2014, but the issue reappeared soon thereafter and again during this holiday. Oil appears to be thrown when operating above approx 1300 rpm (WOT = 2,600 rpm).
An associated problem is the tacho sensor, located within the flywheel housing, which has had gearbox oil thrown on it causing it to display erroneous readings at low rpm. It needs cleaning after the seal has been replaced.
Since MDS cannot attend for some time, an engineer from MIT Group, the main UK TwinDisc gearbox distributors, will fly to Play d’eau this coming Thursday and Friday to effect repairs. I will report in more detail later.
Alternators – NOT RESOLVED
Given unusual starboard engine instrument readings including low voltage whilst underway, action to investigate and correct will be,
having not be touched for 13 years, both will be rebuilt
having been installed in April 2006, all will be replaced
Note that the battery charger (new Mastervolt in 2013) checks OK.
Electronics – NOT RESOLVED
Ever since the new electronics were installed, we’ve suffered endless problems with the Furuno SC50 Satellite Compass and various NMEA sentences either failing to be sent or received.
Robin of RES Electronics (Guernsey) has been a great help in:
Replacing all three failed aerials in the satellite compass (warranty claim)
Changing some of the wiring where it was incorrect
Changing an NMEA converter to a high speed version
The remaining issues are,
‘Heading missing’ on the Furuno NN3D when configured to the Satellite Compass for the heading source. Average 2 warnings per cruise leg
‘Heading missing’ on the Furuno NN3D when confiugred to the Furuno PG500 fluxgate compass for the heading source. Average 1 warning per every other cruise leg
‘Aborting’ and ‘Output Error’ warnings on the Furuno SC50 satellite compass. No 3 GPS aerial fails at least once a week. Is the satellite compass ever going to work reliably?
Navtex fails to read incoming messages when we continued south on holiday, but jumped back into action when north of Camaret
There has been an additional fault with the AC Services panel:
Starboard bus, shore power selected, current indicator gives wild readings for many minutes before it settles down. This may be a faulty sensor coil
Robin will attend to the above later in the year after the work on the alternators and batteries has been concluded, as above.
Salt water pump – NOT RESOLVED
The Headhunter XRS-124 that provides salt water around the boat has failed. Replacement on order.
Air Conditioning – NOT RESOLVED
The ‘pump trigger circuit board’ which controls water pump activation for air conditioning in the master cabin has failed. Replacement on order.
Captain Lin drove Play d’eau out of the marina and onto Beaucette click to enlargeDrat!
Given a recurring gearbox problem and deteriorating weather forecasts, we made the decision to forgo our two week ‘jolly’ along the north Brittany coast and return straight to Beaucette.
After a bright, sunny day-off with a lovely walk into Roscoff to the supermarché for essentials of cider and local onions, we made ready to leave.
Clear skies with a light W’ly zephyr and little forecast swell encouraged us to set sail (set motors?) on the last leg of our holiday.
The planning
It was a neap tide and given the time of high water at Beaucette, our planning showed we should leave at 0730.
The route would take us across the bay to squeeze between the mainland and Les Sept Îles before the 47nm leg direct to St Martin’s Point on the SE of Guernsey before heading north to Beaucette.
En route
A Mach 2 fly-past click to enlargeThe passage was really lovely; enjoyable, peaceful and uneventful. A joy.
Mind you, the first two hours were spent dodging concentrations of lobster pots and their trailing markers seemingly laid out specifically to trap Play d’eau.
These traps were augmented by clutches of keen fishermen bobbing around in their small Merry Fisher boats, appearing to block our homeward path.
Highlight
Suddenly, Lin shouted, ‘Look, quick, dolphins, port side.’
For ten minutes, a large pod of dolphin played and competed like Russian dancers in Play d’eau’s wakes as if they were performing a last farewell spectacular especially for us. We could almost hear them saying, ‘Look what we can do!’ before rushing off to jump and splosh on another wave.
It was a heart stopping, captivating moment of wonderment. We’ve tried but can’t find words sufficient to describe ‘rapturous’ so we’ll let the photos paint the story instead.
Arriving back in Beaucette was lovely. With greetings and hugs, we were made to feel so welcome again.Au revoir, la belle France. À la prochaine. click to enlargeA perfect way to end a great holiday.
Date: 9 August 2015
Departed Roscoff: 0731
Arrived Beaucette: 1645
Pinchpoint: Entry over the sill into Beaucette
Longest leg: 47.3nm
Time en route: 9hr 44min
Planned distance: 78nm
Tech issues: None.
Piers and Lin
from the Pilot House of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
(click on the photos below to enlarge, and use the left/right arrows)
Another spectacular sunrise light show click to enlargeEven though we’d had a somewhat tiresome passage yesterday, it had been unexpectedly rewarded by the second best dinner we’ve had whilst on holiday this year.
If ever there’s a reason to visit Camaret, it’s the Restaurant of the small Hotel Vauban.
Although tired, we felt back on form.
Go or no go?
With the morning’s forecast and actuals to hand, we plotted our next move over an early morning coffee (tea for Lin).
All looked good apart from a tight frontal system swirling around the peninsula, yet being so tight it was unlikely to present strong winds apart from isolated downdraughts and showers, maybe heavy, from any lurking cumulus cloud.
We made the decision to go.
Black skies
Against the black clouds, the sunlight was breathtaking click to enlargeAs dawn approached, the sky to the east was clear apart from a narrow roll of cloud just above the distant horizon. In comparison, the fronts had covered the sky to the west with thick, black ominous cloud.
As the sun rose she found a small letterbox gap between the land and the cloud through which she beamed, creating rainbows and a glorious show of bright light.
With an ETD of 0900, we prepared for departure and cast off after a breakfast of French Bread (eggy bread fried in bacon fat – yummy) and coffee (tea for Lin).
Thankfully, yesterday’s swell had completely disappeared. Had it been scared off by Play d’eau’s wrath? The land protected us from an easterly force 3 wind and the transit through the Chenal du Four was yet again, placid.
L’Aber Wrac’h or…?
Nearing the turn towards l’Aber Wrac’h we wondered if we should continue straight to Roscoff. The seas were comfortable, the wind had dropped to a light southerly force 2 and the sun had chased the cloud away. What could be better?
We did.
Nearing Roscoff
Yacht Meander en route to Ushant as we passed l’Aber Wrac’h click to enlargeNearing Roscoff, the narrow channel between the Île de Batz and the mainland can look narrow and daunting with short changes of heading to avoid the many rocky outcrops. But provided you have understood the transits it’s really straight forward and good fun.
The many ferries and trawlers which use this channel are helpful and help by making way.
Calling Bloscon marina on channel 09, we were met at the entrance and guided to the hammerhead of pontoon A.
Date: 7 August 2015
Departed Camaret: 0903
Arrived Roscoff: 1725
Pinchpoint: Chenal du Four
Longest leg: 16.2nm
Time en route: 8hr 20min
Planned distance: 61.8nm
Tech issues: None.
Piers and Lin
from the Pilot House of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
(click on the photos below to enlarge, and use the left/right arrows)
