After Elektra’s survey in December, I had ordered items needed to complete work but being close to Christmas some of the orders got hung up, some stuff had to go back and some stuff had to be reordered. Anyway by the end of January the new guard wires were fitted, the extra solar frame bracing fitted, she had new anodes. The rudder had been home to have the leading edge cleaned up, (6-9mm thick antifouling) primmed and refitted. The water tank had its new retaining straps fitted. And Keith of PR Systems had been aboard for a morning checking her electrics and reconfiguring the battery setup.
I knew there was a leak on the water system, as fresh water was found last summer in locker with the water tank. This needed investgated, last winter I had replaced all the pipes and water filter in that locker, but it turned out the leak was coming from a stop cap on the new water tank, I had tried to get another cap during the summer but my order wasn’t moving very quickly and by the time I got the price for a new cap, I had removed the old cap and stuck it back on with waterproof sealent which seemed to stop the leak, or at least for a while. Then slowly at first, water was found in the locker again!
My first job was to completely empty the water tank, while there is enough water this can be pumped out via the sink. But as the pump starts to pump air, its time to stop pumping and pull apart the pipework. It was then I found the problem, as I was trying to pry apart the pipework the outlet fitting broke on the tank and what water which was left filled the locker. The threaded part of the fitting was still screwed onto the tank, with its tail in the pipework! This must have started as a hairline crack and slowly opened up letting more and more water out. I had to sponge out about 2.5 buckets of water out of the locker.
Then to get the new fitting, I made my enquiry to the company on the 20th of January, I paid the quote as soon as it arrived on the 31st, I gather it was posted on the 4th February, good job I’m not in a hurry! When I get the fitting I will need to put back together and fill test the tank, hoping for a dry locker then.
About 4 years ago, I bought new water and fuel filler fittings, the water filler fitting was fitted with the new water tank in 2023. But it was only this year I got around to fitting the diesel fitting and new fuel pipe to tank.
In with the other work, I have removing the halyards 2 at a time (always leaving 2 in place in case I might need to climb the mast). Home for washing and then when dry socked in “Wet and Forget” before dried again.
I have fitted new longer davit lines, as old onces proved to be too short if at anchor or on a swing mooring if there was any swell (Elektra nods, lifting her stern, snatching the line when trying to unclip).
I had taken the dinghy outboard bracket off Elektra’s pushpit, home to re-varnish but the old varnish had gone funny and I messed it up, I then decided to paint it instead, still not happy! In the end I made a new bracket and epoxy coated with a stainless clamping plate.
For winter jobs, I make a list and ring each item once it has been completed, you would think by now the list would be getting shorter? But no its just the same lenght as it was when I started back in October
Love Sailing 