We are now based in a quaint little marina in Ipswich. After the sea-cock debacle we got her shamefully towed across from Harwich and have been at Debbage Yachts Marina ever since. It's full of live-aboards and retired folk moving at that meandering pace we all dream of. People who can follow the yachtie mags advice and 'fix her up over winter', who see nothing better than pottering about in their retirement. Fixing a little thing here, a small part there. Which is great and such a lovely attitude to have, yet doesn't quite apply when you are planning to head off in less than three months and pretty much all major systems are failing to answer to a swift kick. In that case 'The Winter Fix' is not a leisurely and enjoyable weekend hobby, so much as a race against train engineering, frozen pipes and snow to get everything in working order before time well and truly runs out!
The biggie has been the engine. An amazingly helpful local engineer has been aiding Jarvis in his war. To date with Jarvis vs. engine it is Jarvis 0, Engine 1. But now it is two against one and with his guidance and many a late night googling session the young jedi now knows that the end for this arch nemesis is in sight. Everything perishable has been replaced. It has has new elbow joints, alternators, filters, pipes, belts - the fuel injectors have been cleaned and the entire cooling system has been overhauled! And now that is is clean, shiny, and actually starts, it is safe to say that the engine has met its match - Jarvis 1, Engine 1. Time for the tie breaker. It will all come down to the test sail! Round 3 coming soon....
Aside from the engine we have found out a lot more about all the little emotional quirks most of our other systems have. We have encountered some very 'funky' electrical wiring - half of which doesn't attach to anything and that, I personally feel, must be cross bred with weeds - every time we pull one out, two more pop up! We have a water pump whose tantrums would rival that of any teenager, a cooker that will only heat at 'warm', and a diesel heater which plays the art of mystery as to how it works a little to well - solution yet to be discovered!
Our work has not ended there. Fixing up Croc Bones has entailed sanding and oiling all the wood on the yacht and making us oh-so-thankful that she is 90% fibreglass. Scrubbing, cleaning and painting every locker, cupboard, nook and cranny we can find and which appear as very unwelcome surprises every time we think we are finished. It is especially challenging when the water you are cleaning with is so cold it steams when you put your hands in it - brrrrrr!
As we have only been coming down for weekends to sort out these little fixes, time and light have been the main challengers. With it getting dark by 4:00pm and not light until 8:00am we loose a lot of time to work outdoors and needing to leave to join the 'coach-train-bus-coach-wait-train-tube' journey home due to never ending rail works means we are off on Sundays by 4:30pm.
Yet despite everything things are on the up - by the next time we go down to the yacht we will be able to give a mighty tick that the engine is now complete and with some help from our friendly engineer we are hoping the oven and heater will be close behind.
Our next challenge is to make all of the new cushions for the aft cabin, sort out having the liferaft and EPERB serviced and officially change the name from Chelsea Flower to Croc Bones. With her dazzling Croc Bones flag being soon to follow. I don't think everyone is convinced with the name yet - but who could not be convinced with a stick figured crocodile!?
Leaving time is getting so much closer now and the trial sails are just round the corner. Thankfully its also getting lighter now and we only have just over a week left of work so soon we can dedicate all the time we need to fixing her up. I don't want to jinx anything and i say this with fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed (makes typing exciting) - but i think we are on track! The end is in sight and through learning many things from all the trials and tribulations i think one must stick out the most.
The Winter Fix is made for the leisurely gentleman not the yachties on a countdown. It lends itself to words like 'potter', 'amble' and 'slow', not 'rush' ,'deadline' and 'i know its minus 3 but we still need to clean it'. The Winter Fix in my opinion is best kept as one of those nice things to read about in the magazines when you are warm and toasty indoors. Ahhhh well, it would be nice - anyway must get the gloves on. There is a left lazzerete needing a scrub with my name on it!
