Planing, painting, sanding, engine, steering, electrics, plumbing, security, cushions – so much to do still.
BUT LOOK HOW FAR WE HAVE COME..
Well hooray. Anne Marie is back on the water after almost 8 years on the banks of the River Brede in Rye, East Sussex, England. She is looking good.
For those who missed the live Facebook feed I hope that this link will show you what happened. We decked her out in flags to celebrate.
Facebook launch feed
Have we switched off the sea cocks?
Have we painted everything?
Will the rudder shaft seal keep the water out?
Ditto the propeller shaft?
Too late to worry. Just make sure the automatic bilge pump is working.
Hatch cover back in place – we are almost secure.
Another coat of Coelan primer on today ready for topcoat tomorrow.
You should always go on holiday before important events and that is what we have just done. St Petersburg in Russia was lovely with friendly and welcoming people.
However down to earth we come and launch is now on Saturday. It’s supposed to be wet and windy. Excellent!
We have been very busy.
The last pieces of teak rubbing strake have been fitted and primed with first coat of Coelan.
Scuppers have been cut to fit.
The cabin trim has been painted with two coats of Coelan gloss.
The cabin sides have been rubbed down and given a first primer undercoat.
The starling population has been depositing blackberry juice on the deck.
The entrance hatch cover has been primed too.
New date set to coincide with next spring tide around 8th September. Fingers crossed.
I have decided to do some work to revitalise some of the windows. I am replacing the window rubber seals and cleaning up the metal frame. The crazed acrylic window is being replaced. This is the porthole/portlight between the cockpit and the main saloon.
Sadly the crane company has had to cancel the launch because the crane is being held for a week in Doncaster.
Likely new date in September.
Still we have another month to get the boat even more seaworthy.
Hey ho me hearties.
Anne Marie did not have any anodes fitted so I have added a small one because her circumstances have changed.
Sea water acts as an electrolyte and causes electrolysis to occur between different types of metal and if you are not careful your expensive propellers and propeller shafts or skin fittings dissolve over a couple of years into nothing. An anode is made of a metal which is worn away in preference to expensive metals. This one is made of zinc.
From an electrolysis point of view Metals are listed in accordance with their Nobility. Zinc is a less noble metal than everything else we have on the boat underneath the water and therefore will erode quicker. It is sacrificed for the good of the more noble metals. – much like life really.
The anode has to be bonded using wires to the metals it is supposed to be protecting. So I have to wire it to the propeller shaft and rudder. Not sure how yet but I have time.
Although I will be painting everything that is metal under water Anne Marie will be moored alongside other yachts some of which will be connected to shore power (240volts).
The link to shore power means that there will be small electric currents flowing underwater which will create the electrolytic reaction.
In the past I suspect that Anne-Marie was moored away from other boats and therefore the likelihood of having regular or consistent electric currents generated was low. This will not be the case in the future.
So we are going to watch over the next year how this anode acts. Will it corrode quickly or will it not? We shall see.
Saving Anne Marie 