Thursday 21 March 2013

Bringing Back the Outboard


There is a common expression in Yorkshire, land of my birth, that if you have nothing to say – its best to say nothing. Now this blog is about renovating a boat – nothing else. And I for one, get seriously miffed with other bloggers who digress. Sometimes you get the impression that they feel that any words, however pointless, are better than none. Well, I don’t share that view. If I’ve nothing to say, then I won’t say anything.

So, for a week or so I have been silent mainly because of the atrocious unseasonable weather we’ve encountered here. Blizzards force you to remain indoors by the wood-burner. Sitting there with a mug of warming coffee, the bad weather encourages you to think and make plans but it doesn’t enable you to report progress on the boat renovation project.

There was one benefit however. I received several emails and comments from ‘regular readers’ asking if I was OK and mildly complaining about my lack of postings – quite flattering really.

Now I never used to subscribe to conspiracy theories. In my previous life I was a senior member of a large Government organisation and I was constantly accused of being a member of a team which had a hidden agenda. The accusations at times were quite flattering, in that most were based on the premise that we had sufficient time, energy and intelligence to move in strange and Machiavellian ways to achieve our goals. Often when there was an unintended outcome one or two junior colleagues or members of the public would confide that they had known all along that we had been fixing things to work out that way.

Since entering this new and strange world of bohemian living on a shoestring however, my perception of the world is changing. I expected to be ‘poor’ financially and ‘rich’ in terms of time. My plan was to exchange one for another and somehow come out better off. Well to some extent the project has worked. I’m certainly poorer than I was – but remarkably less poor than expected. I hadn’t ever considered how much money I wasted when I was in work – suits, shirts, ties, shoes, petrol for two cars, , drinks with colleagues after work, lots of ready-meal dinners– simply because I didn’t have time or energy to shop frugally – or maintain a potager. Fuel for the stove would be delivered and paid for– these days I chop it and haul it myself.

But, there is a downside, I thought I had plenty of time – but I don’t! I’m older and slower than the professionals whose services I used to buy and I lack their skill and experience – so everything takes just that little bit longer, including this house–renovation, and time waits for no man – time is conspiring against me.

Already it is mid March and my original plan had been to launch a new looking magnificently appointed and commissioned vessel by May. At my current rate of progress this simply isn’t going to happen and I am going to have to determine                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         priorities and accept some compromises.

First priority, I guess is to make the vessel seaworthy and get her launched in early summer. I can worry about aesthetics and comfort later. So, what to do about the Outboard, a 4-stroke 6 hp Mariner? The previous owner told me she was reliable and provided plenty of power but I haven’t run her yet. This estuary can have some strong currents especially on a falling spring tide so an engine is a pretty important back-up even though I hope to use it only rarely.

I’ve managed to read a few books about maintenance Cheap Outboards: The Beginner's Guide to Making an Old Motor Run Forever but I suspect she’ll need a real overhaul rather than a simple annual look-at and I estimate that an experienced mechanic could do a better job than me in one third of the time. Quite frankly, I’d rather pay money for this and put to sea with some confidence in the engine, than rely on my-handiwork to see us through. Next year, when I know the engine is reasonably reliable I might turn my hand to undertaking the smaller less sophisticated routine maintenance jobs – but for this year, I’m going to call in the services of our local marine mechanical and electrical engineer and get a major overhaul – He’s called Joel by the way, and he has an outstanding reputation.

Seaward




45 comments :

  1. David, you gave up the 'rich in time' thing the minute you bought your boat. There is NEVER enough time to do everything you need to do.

    Glad to hear you are prioritizing. It's the only way to get afloat. If you want to sail this summer, make the list of things you absolutely must do to splash her, then realized you probably only have time to do 1/3rd of the list--if you are lucky. Cut ruthlessly to the absolute, absolute necessities and you MIGHT get there.

    You can always work on the boat when she's in the water. I love to row out and putter about the cabin, doing big or little chores with the radio on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My experience of outboard maintenance is little and often, on most good motor's there isn't that much to do, but most people don't bother. every time you take something apart grease the threads with good waterproof grease, change the oil and water pump impeller often, wipe things over regularly with a clean rag and most of all clean the fuel system - even on a 4 stroke run the carb dry, drop the fuel bowl off a couple of times a season - the more you do it the more confident you will become and it only takes 30 minutes a few times a year, when we are cruising it was often a nice after breakfast chore, drop erica off at the shops and spend a pleasant undisturbed hour aboard in the anchorage doing a quick in season service

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And make sure there are no leaks in the fuel system. Those quick-connect fittings have these little o-rings that are good for about 1 season, at least in my experience in the ethanol-rich USA. A small airleak in the system will stop you cold.

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