Motor
After a very slow start trying to drill through 5mm thick Stainless Steel I'm making better progress now. Still taking it very slowly to try to avoid mistakes. In these images you can see one of two Stainless steel sheets used for the front of the motor. I
Dinghy
I've been quiet on here during the COVID-19 pandemic so far. More urgent priorities and has seemed inappropriate when so many have been dying, ill or struggling in other ways. However, some countries are now starting to move beyond lockdowns and it now seems more appropriate to focus
Electric
So we came to the boat late last night to spend time off with plenty of Social Distance. Didn't come within 50 metres of anyone last night (apart from those in other cars). Today we spoke to Richard working on the boat next to us in a howling
Appliances
How about this!? A Raspberry Pi 4 running OpenCPN on a Cello 12 volt TV. With a wireless keyboard/trackpad. Obviously lots more to do as I haven't loaded any charts yet. Nor have I connected a GPS, so it doesn't know where we are yet.
Progress
Just a quick update. We got the 2nd fuel tank out today. Here are a few pictures. Didn't think we would manage it. Included two trips to shops for more fuel containers and more cutting discs for the grinder. Now packing up to head home having had a
Environmental
We arrived last night to find two good bits of news, things that are being done for us :-) First, work has started on replacing the toe rail which was agreed as part of the original purchase. So far the joint between the deck and hull has had old filler
Progress
This afternoon didn't seem as productive. However, we managed to remove the seacocks for both cockpit drains and also the engine water cooling (this was the one that the survey had condemned). Despite "easier" access, because we have already taken the engine out, this wasn'
Progress
Been busy in the engine compartment. Have removed the old engine mounts and cut the coupling off the propeller shaft. Have managed to get the propeller off and the shaft out (was able to borrow a propeller pull tool). Still need to get the stuffing box off (makes a waterproof
Electric
Arrived just before midnight. With our 2 electric wall heaters set to 5°C it was actually 4°C in the cabin despite ice on the deck. Bone dry. Electric cost for 2 weeks £5 very happy. But sadly much of the insulation in the aft cabin has not stayed
Environmental
One of the most visible conflicts when aiming for Sustainability in almost any area, is between it and Speed. The obvious starting place is speed in terms of moving fast, where the sustainability cost is clear and huge. Speed never comes free. All forms of transport require significantly more energy
Electric
So we have the main components for the reduction gears for our electric motor. Note that in the picture the items are laid out on their side, in reality the electric motor will be above the reduction box shaft. On the left is a sheet of paper representing the electric
Electric
We won't be making direct progress on Vida this Friday as I'm working. Still we have been making some progress at home. Jane has ordered more foam for the saloon (dinette backrests and the outboard portion of the sea berth). I've been collecting a