Winter maintenance 2003

Well, it's that time of year again the season is over and we are facing another off season.

I've booked QE2 to come out of the water week commencing 13th October for blacking, inspection of the stern gear and the anodes checked. I'm also having the engine serviced and the gas boiler serviced.

The boiler probably has not been serviced for years and has a slight problem in that when only set to heat the water if it is turned up above 3 (settings run 1-7) the gas valve shuts down as if it senses overheating. This is not an issue in summer when cruising as the water is generally still warm from the day before and at 3 it heats sufficiently for showers in a morning in about 20 mins. However, in the marina after a cold night and the engine not having been started the day before the water is extremely cold and it takes about an hour to heat at no3.

I suspected the overheat sensor and rang Alde to check. They said it was more than likely the gas valve itself which needed either re-calibrating or replacing. They said the complete burner unit with the sensors and gas valve should be returned to them for re-conditioning. I've asked the marina to remove this and send it off and refit when it arrives back. So when this is done the boiler should be serviceable for many years.

I'm hoping to get some pictures of the hull before blacking to see how last years expensive blacking has lasted (see maintenance section). I will post these if I can get to the marina.

Hopefully, all the work will be finished by the last week in October as it is half term holiday for schools and I hope (weather permitting) to get another trip in this year.

I have taken some pictures of the hull after washing off and I think it is no better than last year so it would appear the more expensive job has lasted no better than the cheaper one. So I will be having the cheaper job done in the future every year. I was hoping that the more coats of bitumen provided by the more expensive job would last 2 years.

They also found a black bin liner wrapped tightly around the prop shaft which took some removing.

Washing her off before blacking.

I can't see how after a year this is any better for having paid for 4 coats.

The anodes will easily last another year.

Alde have rung and said the boiler gubbins are on their way back and that there were 2 problems with it. I don't know what exactly they were as I did not speak to them. There will I'm sure be documentation with the invoice that will tell me. When I find out I'll add it to this page.

I have received the delivery note with the boiler bits and they have replaced the overheat sensor (I thought that was the problem) fitted a new thermocouple (I guess they do this as a matter of course because the existing was only 1 year old). They also cleaned the whole lot so it look like new and recalibrated the gas valve. There was no price on the delivery note but I'm told by the marina it was £67 presumably plus VAT and carriage.

The boiler now works fine!

The service has not yet been done. I suppose it is not a priority for them. They promise this week. I can't complain really as it's only pure laziness on my part that I don't do it myself. I'm also going to replace the handrail at the steering position as the wood is starting to rot. I've not decided whether to use wood again or steel box section.

The service and the handrail were done the first week in November.
The new handrail is of steel box section and I have to say is much better than the old one.

Another small problem has arisen. The morse control has begun to not stay in the position it is set at. It has never had a great deal of friction but now it gradually moves back to the central position. The marina have had a look and attempted to adjust it which has made it better but they have recommended a new one. This is now been fitted