Not quite resolved...

 

 

This weekend we thought we would give Moonshine a last blast to Hull prior to our main holidays to test if the overheating issue of the starboard engine has been resolved since the installation of the new raw water pump. The weather conditions were calm enough with only a minor bit of chop prior to the Humber Bridge, but this was enough to set the alarm ringing again.

For the return journey we swapped the thermostats over to rule those out also. Upon leaving Hull Marina conditions were quite choppy but we soon got her onto the plane and ran her at a good 3000 revs, said engine did not overheat until we were safely in the Ouse and tested her running flat out, but once back at normal planing revs the starboard engine cooled back down a lot quicker than before (our starboard engine runs the power steering and the hot water system and does usually run hotter than the port). 

This run has given us renewed confidence in her as she has run better but there are still other avenues we can investigate, such as next weekend we plan to swap the sea water inlets, adapting the pipes so the starboard engine draws water through the port leg and vice versa. This will prove if there is a problem with the intake ie split or porus flexible rubber pick up pipe on leg. Also, even though we descaled the raw water side of the engines recently we are going to check the heat exchanger etc just in case there is any rubber/plastic debris that the descaler could not dissolve and the opportunity will also be taken to rod it through. One thing that has become evident is that we do not want to go to sea with this completely unresolved.

Nevertheless we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Hull this weekend. We were allocated a mooring directly opposite the lock entrance as staff wanted to keep as much of the visitor and Railway Dock's moorings available for the arrival of a flotilla of up to 20 Dutch yachts which were due to arrive on Sunday's pm tide. This event organised by the Dutch Offshore Sailing Society of up to 20 tall Dutch racing yachts eventually all arrived in Hull Marina on Sunday as part of a 500 nautical mile race from Holland. Their next visit is to Hartlepool before heading home.

Also this weekend a 10km charity run that forms a legacy of the late Jane Tomlinson CBE swept through the water front, Marina and old town on Sunday morning. People from all backgrounds, shapes and sizes took part in what was a major event to raise money for various cancer charities. Watching some of the runners confronting their own personal pain barriers was quite humbling to watch.

Cooling It Down

During the week we visited Moonshine to remove the studs that would originally of held sun pads in place. The sun pads are a very distant memory in Moonshine's history and were probably disposed of years ago, we are now left with a series of unsightly studs which have now been removed and gel coated over. 

The strainer covers have both been replaced with new ones obtained from Keypart after realising last weekend the port one had cracked causing water ingress. We thought we may as well replace the other also before the same fate befell that one, however the old starboard cover can still be kept as a spare. 

Last weekend we also had serious engine overheating issues on both engines which we believe were caused by an obstruction around the out drives, this coupled with the cracked strainer cover was initially a very scary situation whilst out on the fast running tidal river with busy shipping movements. 

We have been experiencing some overheating issues recently on the starboard engine but this has always been when running at higher revs, but we have never had problems with the port one. Once everything had cooled down and the cracked strainer cover taped up to reduce water ingress we made Ocean Lock safely before the ships arrived.

When we owned our previous boat Luro our Hardy Seawings 305, we had very similar overheating issues on the same starboard engine (the calorifier side). This was rectified by purchasing a rebuild kit for the raw seawater pump and we didn't encounter any further problems with her, however this issue cannot always be rectified this way due to wear to the pump body, so in this instance for Moonshine we also ordered a new raw water seapump from Keypart which Peter installed on Sunday. We will still keep the old pump as it is still serviceable as a 'get you home unit' in an emergency as it doesn't leak from the shaft.

We plan to do sea trials out on the river next weekend and hope that this will resolve the problem. 

And We thought We Were Taking It Easy!

Typical British weather this past week meant we had to resort to plan B yet again.  Had the forecast been better we would have liked to have visited Wells Next The Sea and Kings Lynn, however we didn't dwell on the disappointment too much as Peter had been recovering from a bout of suspected food poisoning (not my doing I hasten to add), in which case going to sea may not have been a good idea anyway, and young Natalie is also recovering from toe nail surgery, therefore taking it easy this week seemed the best medicine.

Little Shifta Looking Very Smart, Ocean Lock Goole

We enjoyed a quick transit through Ocean Lock Goole, heading out onto the river on neap tides so we were not delayed by any shipping movements. 

We decided to start the week by journing up the Trent, with an initial overnight stay bottom side of Torksey lock, heading further up on Bank Holiday Monday to stay for three very wind swept days and nights in Newark. Upon our arrival at Cromwell we were advised that there was siltation build up prior to the lock entrance, we did ground, however after trimming the out drives up we soon floated off. 

Nitty Gritty leaving Torskey Cut

On Thursday we headed back down river Torksey bound in preparation for our trip on Friday to Hull Marina. Care was once again taken when exiting Cromwell Lock, we were advised to follow the bull nose round into mid river at 90 degrees, we had no problem this time and had plenty of water. We have been advised that this build up will be cleared next week. 

 

 

Whilst at Torksey we walked the dogs up to the Torksey Viaduct which has just recently opened to the public. It last carried trains in 1959.

 

 

Heading Downstream Towards The Apex Light

We departed Torksey at 12.15 on the Friday on the ebb tide and travelled at displacement speed enjoying a very economical run, until we met the flood just between Flixborough and King's Ferry Wharf at which stage we were able to put those sticks down and stretch Moonshine's legs to Hull on a lovely flat calm river. We eventually arrived at high water at Hull Marina at 16.45. 

At Last! The Sun Comes Out At Hull Marina

After a day spent in Hull on Saturday we had a fast run back up river. At Whitgift Church we eased her back off the plane as both engines were experiencing severe overheating issues, also a quick look at the engine room camera told us we were taking on water. With me 'flapping' whilst removing all the cushions and the cockpit table to enable the engine room hatch to be lifted, we were soon able to determine that the cause of the water ingress was a cracked raw water strainer cap. To be told that was a good sign when my initial thought was that we were sinking and having visions of us beaching Moonshine was such a relief to hear. After a quick diy 'tape up job' we  eventually made Ocean Lock before the ships we had passed in the upper reaches of the Humber arrived. Upon landing on our mooring we further discovered our permanent head line that stays on our jetty had been stolen (all our permanent mooring lines match and are properly fixed to our jetty), we can only presume by our neighbour who appears to have vacated his mooring as his own line had snapped months ago and we were good enough to tie his boat back up for him... Note that I refrained from entitling this blog 'The Cheeky Bastard', what a nice welcome back after a potentially traumatic experience! However it was nice to return back to base to the sight of familiar faces.

Westewind

Fluvius Otter

New Constellation

Jerome H

A very typical end to our holidays being that the winds have died down and are turning to a more favourable direction next week and the weather is warming up... Perfect for going to sea, however everything happens for a reason and in this instance it was probably best we were unable to go.