I watched a programme about the 50 million pound refit of The Cutty Sark and if there was one message to take away it would be that one should never consider buying a wooden boat. The cost of the new holding tank paled into insignificance compared to that little project. Must say though, it all looks lovely and is on my list of places to visit in the spring when she re-opens to the public.
The Kipper visited Petra again today to put the new teak table on board and to check that everything was fine given the ever decreasing temperatures. The new table fits perfectly in the space between the two cockpit seats which all-in-all is a relief because if it hadn't done so it would have been a bit of a waste of money. One assumes the clever Kipper measured the cockpit before heading off with his credit card.
He tells me that he has left the small fan heater runing on low just to keep pipes from freezing. Now, I don't know too much about what will and will not freeze during a particularly cold winter so there followed an in-depth discussion about boat management during the winter hard standing period.
Petra's water tanks are still in use but as the tanks are located inside the boat up in the forepeak it is most unlikely that they will freeze. The Kipper said this with such confidence: who am I to argue! It is apparently, the pipework that will most likely freeze up and this could cause splits in the pipes which can be an aboslute devil to find. We know from having to do just that a couple of seasons ago when the hose to the freshwater tap in the forepeak sink split. The resulting bilge full of freshwater was good in that it gave the bilges a good clean but it was a pain in the proverbial to try and locate the actual problem. We replaced jubille clips, we searched the entire length of pipe work but it still took an age to find the problem. It turned out to be on the very end of the pipe up near to the point where it attaches to the underside of the tap. So, from our own expreience The Kipper is reluctant to let anything freeze if he can help it. I asked if the freshwater punp might be damaged if the water contained within were to freeze. He doesn't think that is likely. Again, it would be more likely that the pipework would suffer long before the pump.
The engine should be fine because not only is it located inside the boat down in the bowels so therefore well protected it also has a healthy dose of antifreeze in the water cooling system. Apparently, it will need to get down to -10 before we need to worry. The Kipper serviced the engine soon after Pera was lifted out because he tells me that the earlier this job can be done the better. This will stop dirty oil causing damage to the engine from sulpur build up during the season. This build up can cause corrosion and will eat into the metal work the result of which will be pitting. Apparently, that is why you should change the oil in the engine at least one a year. As mentioned, the freshwater cooling system has the antifreeze added and this system acts like a cooling jacket running around the engine. In addition to this, there is a sea water system allowing sea water to be pumped up and in through the heat exchanger and it is injected into the exahust and is dumped back out over the side. The freshwater passes through the heat exchanger and is thus cooled as it goes through. Clearly most chaps will know all about this but for those of us who still look at an engine and marvel at the fact that it actually goes when you turn the key, this is like rocket science.
Believe it or not, I've actually completed and passed the RYA diesel engine course but in my defence it was some years ago now ad I've slept since then. I do know that it is always a good idea to have a little glance off the back of the boat after starting the engine just to make sure there is water coming out of the exhaust. I was always told - rule of thumb - water coming out the back - good sign.
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