16th July 2016
2am - freaked out by a loud thump on the roof that turned out to be a heron flapping around on the canopy. I shone a torch at it and it flew away in even more of a flap. Chilly for July - I put a fleece on top of my pyjamas and went back to sleep.
8:30am - engine check. Looked like a lot of hydraulic oil in the engine bilge, but actually it was a thin film of clear hydraulic oil floating on water. There is a very small hydraulic leak in the propulsion system, which I was shown before purchasing the boat. The water is getting in through the engine air intake vent on the side of the hull. I was able to mop it all up with a sponge in about 5 minutes and squeeze it out into a bottle for disposal at the tip when I get home.
I started the engine up at 9:10. The batteries were charging at 30 amps - the max charge rate is 50, and the fridge pulls about 2-3 amps when running. The owners manual suggests switching the fridge off at night. I would suggest installing more domestic batteries so there is more power available on board. This is my first planned modification for the winter along with solar panels to keep everything topped up nicely when on the mooring and off the mains hook-up. I am a little obsessed with the batteries as they seem to have gone completely flat on me twice now, and we do rely on them for phone charging, lights, fridge etc. when the engine is off. There is a separate battery for starting the engine and another for the bow thruster.
By 9:15, however, the batteries had dropped to a 20A charge rate, so they were obviously taking a charge and hadn't run too flat overnight - phew! I had a late breakfast, watching a Great Crested Grebe and its Zebra patterned chick diving and swimming on the river, made my second hot drink in an insulated cup and cast off at 10.00. After about half an hour running I saw a water point and followed the sage advice - never pass up an opportunity to fill up your water tank (or empty your sewage). I also took the opportunity to give the land side of the boat a quick wash - until another boat arrived needing the tap, and I moved on to let them fill up. Moored at 12 noon at Littleport, by the bridge on the EA mooring opposite "The Swan On The River" pub. It is much hotter today - I decided to stay the afternoon here, explore the town a bit on my bike, and then go back on the moped early tomorrow before it gets too hot and retrieve the van from Bill Fen Marina - It's too hot for motorbike jacket and gloves this afternoon, and the sun won't be in my eyes heading West in the morning. Had a nice chat with a couple of the other boaters on the mooring. Very friendly lot here. Hardly any boats using these waterways either.
Listened tom the radio til 9pm, then dropped off.
2am - freaked out by a loud thump on the roof that turned out to be a heron flapping around on the canopy. I shone a torch at it and it flew away in even more of a flap. Chilly for July - I put a fleece on top of my pyjamas and went back to sleep.
8:30am - engine check. Looked like a lot of hydraulic oil in the engine bilge, but actually it was a thin film of clear hydraulic oil floating on water. There is a very small hydraulic leak in the propulsion system, which I was shown before purchasing the boat. The water is getting in through the engine air intake vent on the side of the hull. I was able to mop it all up with a sponge in about 5 minutes and squeeze it out into a bottle for disposal at the tip when I get home.
I started the engine up at 9:10. The batteries were charging at 30 amps - the max charge rate is 50, and the fridge pulls about 2-3 amps when running. The owners manual suggests switching the fridge off at night. I would suggest installing more domestic batteries so there is more power available on board. This is my first planned modification for the winter along with solar panels to keep everything topped up nicely when on the mooring and off the mains hook-up. I am a little obsessed with the batteries as they seem to have gone completely flat on me twice now, and we do rely on them for phone charging, lights, fridge etc. when the engine is off. There is a separate battery for starting the engine and another for the bow thruster.
By 9:15, however, the batteries had dropped to a 20A charge rate, so they were obviously taking a charge and hadn't run too flat overnight - phew! I had a late breakfast, watching a Great Crested Grebe and its Zebra patterned chick diving and swimming on the river, made my second hot drink in an insulated cup and cast off at 10.00. After about half an hour running I saw a water point and followed the sage advice - never pass up an opportunity to fill up your water tank (or empty your sewage). I also took the opportunity to give the land side of the boat a quick wash - until another boat arrived needing the tap, and I moved on to let them fill up. Moored at 12 noon at Littleport, by the bridge on the EA mooring opposite "The Swan On The River" pub. It is much hotter today - I decided to stay the afternoon here, explore the town a bit on my bike, and then go back on the moped early tomorrow before it gets too hot and retrieve the van from Bill Fen Marina - It's too hot for motorbike jacket and gloves this afternoon, and the sun won't be in my eyes heading West in the morning. Had a nice chat with a couple of the other boaters on the mooring. Very friendly lot here. Hardly any boats using these waterways either.
Listened tom the radio til 9pm, then dropped off.
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