51:51.186N 01:16.125E
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Tue 19 Jun 2012 08:03
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At last Whisper has got her bottom wet again!
She was launched from Halls Boatyard, on 6th June 2012, after
more than 18 months ashore. Noel has worked hard on her refit ready
for our adventure, which was planned for last year but delayed due to 'having
the builders in' at home. As they say 'every cloud has a silver lining'
and it is to our advantage that we are now about to set off, instead of
just arriving back, with the added bonus of having had more time to make extra
improvements.
It was still nerve racking to see her slip into the
water at high tide, despite knowing that all sea cocks were serviced and
closed. To our joy the engine burst into life at the first turn
of the key; the new replacement calorifier, which just needed half a turn
on one of the jubilee clips, produced hot water; the newly installed fridge
began to gurgle in the galley; all the navigation lights worked; all
the instruments, new and original were working. Sod's
law dictated that something would not to work. We found that
something, when we opened the galley sea cock to drain out the heated
water run to check the calorifier - it didn't drain. Our heart sank into
our boots at the prospect of either drying out along side or worse
having her lifted ashore again. How could this have happened we asked
ourselves, knowing that it had been flowing whilst ashore. After much
unsuccessful prodding down the drain, with that 'useful bit of softish wire',
Noel resorted to taking the hose off from under the sink and prodded again,
he could feel that the seacock was indeed opening and closing!
After further purposeful prodding, the "bung", which we assumed must
have been good old Essex mud, submmited and the remaining water in the pipe
disappeared!
This past week has been spent, organising lockers,
loading all the necessary bits and pieces, creating a "where is it list",
etc, etc...
As ideas for further improvements and storage are
still flowing thick and fast, I have now declared Whisper a "tool free zone" and
sent all unnecessary serious tools home - that is except for that
length of useful soft brown wire!
Weather permitting, the tide will be right for us
to leave the safety of the pond on Thursday. We will then wait for the
tidal stream to change again and head off south to
Brightlingsea.
Our adventure is about to
begin! |
