Easter Curse

Photo taken by Daniel Lowe skipper of Rainbows End

We started Good Friday on good form and on an early tide we departed Goole bound for Newark, where we enjoyed a good mooring on the rarely vacant 'Kiln' Moorings. 

Newark Castle

 

Newark Dyke

High winds were forecast for Easter Saturday, and since we have cruised this stretch of waters many times before we decided to stay an extra day. 

Nesting, Newark Marina Office

Easter Sunday started with an early positive feel, having departed Newark bound for Holme Pierrepont.  We were just about to depart Stoke Bardolph Lock, when what we now dub the Moonshine's 'Easter Curse' befell the Moonshine. Something always goes wrong for us at Easter, and this is another one to add to the list. The bow truster made a strange noise which made us think the belt had snapped again. Prior to owning Moonshine we had experience of bow thrusters but had never known a belt driven one until now. Moonshine has a QLCT600 4kw Volvo Penta Bow Thruster, that 18months ago failed due to its belt shredding. Unfortunately this is also a lift out job as the belt is housed internally but the propellor shaft has to be removed to fit a new one. We thought the belt had indeed gone again, until we checked the motor where the belt is housed but this was still in perfect working order. 

We are now left wondering if the shear pin has sheared and or the propellor has been lost as there is no resistance when operated. Best case scenario is if a bag has been caught around the propellor, however we will know when we  have our annual lift out within the next few weeks.... Until then we will have to manage the old fashioned way, but it is very handy and very much missed when manoeuvring in high winds. 

We will stay here until Tuesday while 'Storm Katie' gets everything out of her system, and to help prevent any Skipper vs Crew blame game. 

Easter Holiday Preparations

We have been getting Moonshine ready for her 1st holiday of the year for the Easter break. As usual the weather has been very nice over the last week with high pressure being in charge, however it is set to change later in the week which could scupper any sea plans we had. If this is the case we will still have a good holiday with a trip up the Trent and down to Grimsby.

Moonshine's water and diesel tanks are full (in the correct tanks after last Easter's debacle), the dingy is inflated and back on her davits, the all important alcoholic beverages and non perishable supplies are on board, and Moonshine has been washed top to bottom and is all 'spick and span' ready for the off. 

Spend, Spend, Spend!!!

This coming year provided we are blessed with good weather as we were last year, we intend on venturing beyond Dover.  Having the dogs on board we don't like each sea passage to exceed 4 or 5 hours, and we envisage to make the trip to Dover in 3 days. Beyond here we needed new charts, so the Admiralty Chichester to Ramsgate charts were purchased from Marine Superstore along with antifoul paint for our forthcoming lift out just after Easter. If things don't go to plan with the weather, then we always have our fall back plan...Norfolk Broads.

 

With our sea plans in mind we thought it prudent to assess the flares we carry on board.  The last flares we purchased were for Luro, and along with any we inherited with the purchase of Luro and now Moonshine these were all out of date.  These have now been taken home and will be safely disposed of when we have time to deal with them, however a new Coastal Flare Pack was purchased from http://www.safety-marine.co.uk/distress-flares/p3201s11/ikaros-coastal-distress-flare-pack.htm and with a shelf life of 3 years perhaps we should be mindful in future not to leave our safety equipment including our life jackets unchecked.

We have noticed a slight squeak from the starboard engine compressor belt tensioner, so we thought it prudent to replace this before it failed in service.  The old pulley was checked and rotated freely so it will be carried as an emergency spare as we have 4 of these over the 2 engines. 

A new set of duo prop anodes were also purchased ready for our annual lift out next month.

 

As Peter had some spare time this last week, he took the opportunity to go to HITEK in Scunthorpe to buy 10 litres of descaler for removing salt, calcium and any other blockages from the raw water cooling system. https://www.hitek-ltd.co.uk/dynamic_descaler  This product does the same job as Ridlyme, but this was available locally.

 

With nice Spring weather this weekend, we took a trip up the canal and moored at one of our favourite spots Sykehouse Lift Bridge and enjoyed our 1st bbq of the year.  After the rainfall of the previous week the River Went is still in flood and the expanse of flood water looking very impressive indeed.