Boy oh boy - any jobs on yachts seem to take at least twice as long as you would expect, plus there is all of the extra time needed to drive to the marina! We have also been tempted to go sailing rather than do maintenance more than perhaps we should. Even so, we have achieved quite a lot. We've fitted new AGM batteries and the anchor windlass has been completely stripped down and the rather 'graunchy' electric electric motor replaced. That took two attempts. First time round we replaced some bearings and seals, cleaned and regreased all of the cogs. It worked well for a couple of anchor 'raisings' until the electric motor decided that it had had enough. Having stripped it all down again it was clear that the motor bearings were also on their last legs and the carbon brushes in need of attention. We didn't want to take the risk of 60 metres of 10 mm chain stuck out with a 'kaput' motor so a brand new electric motor was the order of the day. Nicky discovered that she could crawl into the anchor chain locker so she became Chief Anchor Windlass repair lady. Refurbished internally, and repainted/polished externally we are hoping for many years of trouble free anchoring.
The other major job we have tackled has been to change the rake of the mast. I worked out we had over 2 degrees of rake which is at least double what we should have. I had also suspected that we were suffering from more weather helm than we should be as a result. So... rather than taking the mast down to replace all of the rigging we have broken it down into two steps. The first we completed in the fortnight before Christmas. Nicky wound me up to the top of the mast and I let down the forestay with all of the Furlex gubbins. Nicky spent many happy hours degreasing the Furlex components with paraffin and regreasing and reassembling them whilst I measured out and cut a new forestay several cms shorter than the last one to bring the mast rake to one degree. The forestay can also be shortened a little more if needed using the adjustment which sits inside the Furlex; now working beautifully after Nicky's attentions.
Back up the mast to reattach the forestay followed by the same adventure to replace the backstay. Here we had to cut a new longer backstay and also took the opportunity to add radio aerial isolators ready for the HF/SSB radio. It was a bit nerve wracking when it looked like the ends wouldn't connect because of the sag but with lots of careful jiggling eventually everything went back together. And so it was back up the mast to replace the inner forestay for the staysail and more fun with paraffin and grease to service the staysail Furlex. The inner forestay needed to be shortened too, plus the lowers needed to be re-adjusted. After all of that work, which took several days and trips to the riggers to get swages done, the mast looked a lot better in shape and rake. The proof of the benefits would only come with a test sail and that opportunity arose at New Year.
After all of the Christmas festivities and family get togethers, Nicky and I have got into the habit of escaping at New Year for a few day's sailing. Some years have been a little icy but this year wasn't too bad and the F5 winds proved to be excellent to test out our new mast rake. BV handles very much better now. With a gust she now reacts in a balanced way just heeling a little before accelerating. She requires minimal weather helm now and carries her sail more comfortably than before. Previously we always felt that we had to reef the main earlier than expected to keep her balanced. All in all, stage one of the rig replacement and tuning seems to have gone well. Makes me wish we'd done it ages ago!
Jobs on the house, fitting a new bathroom, and repainting are taking priority for the New Year but the next major task will be to take down the mast and replace the remaining stays. That will prompt a whole new round of rig tuning adjustments but at least we know that we are starting from a much better position having got the mast rake correct.
We'll keep you updated!
