Muttering Update
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Sat 23 Apr 2011 20:18
remains of the one screw that neither Otto nor I could remove, I took the
pump round to the local Volvo agent to be serviced (and have them fit a
new impeller whilst they were at it), then I tackled the second water
pump. OH BOY!
I managed to remove two bolts (out of four) utilising my new-found skills
at supporting my entire body weight with one hand whilst poised
upside-down over the engine and frantically waggling a 12mm socket.
Good-oh, then the brick wall. After an hour, when I had managed to get a
spanner in contact with the bolt twice!!!, I knew when I was beaten and
went ashore to seek assistance from the Volvo 'mechnics'.
'Youngblood' was dispatched out to the boat and it took him one hour and
forty minutes, bent double over the engine, to remove both bolts! His back
was aching at the end of it, mine would have seized up and in any case I
am not tall enough to 'assume the position' that he did to get the bolts
out.
Anyway, both water pumps are now back in situ (I haven't had the bill yet,
but I think it's safe to assume that we will not have full fuel tanks when
we leave here and yes 'Youngblood' did have to re-fit the water pump). Oh
yes, I'm now a dab hand at disassembling heat exchangers, the other
impeller had destroyed itself as well, needless to say the 'chunky bits'
had made their way along the water pipe to the heat exchanger. The good
news is that I've freed -off the towed electrickery generator (OK, Otto
stuck it in his portable work bench and did the business) and tightened up
the mounting bolts on the KISS wind generator.
As I write it's a cloudy Easter Sunday morning, so probably tomorrow we'll
take Trouters round the corner to Russell, find a level place to beach her
and remove six months worth of barnacles, grease the props and free-off
the through the water impeller. Looks like the weather may be OK to leave
next weekend. Looking forward to being warm again!
OH yes, a final plug. An 'old mate' has published an ebook on Amazon; it's
a cracking read, so go to Amazon on search for either 'Jeram Croft' or
'Sea Skimmer'. I have actually read it and 'it's a good'un'.
New Zealand 0220660631
A writer's life for me?
http://roastbeefonsundays.blogspot.com/