First thoughts on the new boat

[LilBrit]

Pretty quiet on here so thought I'd post up a bit of a report on the new boat.

 

I went down to Falmouth early June to give the boat (Orkney 24 Pilothouse) a shakedown before the WSF meeting. She runs very well on a 240hp Yanmar diesel and is a great boat out in the rough.

 

Had a few niggling problems which I knew about before the purchase so decided to sort then while the weather down there (and by the sound of it, everywhere else) was pants. First job was to replace the bilge pump as the old one had the wire to the "auto" side corroded through. Soon got a sparkly new floatless Rule fitted and working, all the joints sealed up with self amalgamating tape.

 

The other thing I noticed while working in the engine bay was rubber dust from the alternator/water pump belt, it was soon apparent that the wrong belt had been fitted that was too narrow so sitting deep in the "V" pulleys. I whipped it off and in the process learned how to do the job (always worth familiarising yourself with this in case it breaks at sea!) and fitted the spare which came with the boat. To get the correct belt tension the back of the belt was only about 1mm clear of a protuberance on the front engine casing so I wasn't too happy with that. Went in to the local car shop and got one 25mm shorter but couldn't adjust the alternator in far enough to get that over the pulleys so put the spare back on and kept a close eye on it for signs of wear.

 

I was aware that there was a slight water leak through the front cabin bulkhead at the top on the starboard side, there is an area of very badly laid up fibreglass just under the deck up front where it joins the top of the bulkhead. I was able to get the ipad in there via the anchor locker and took a couple of photos. As this was a manufacturing fault I contacted Orkney to ask what their comments were. First answer was "stick a bit of silicon over it" I suggested that it would make a later, proper fibreglass repair more difficult. I then emailed them with all the details and photos and several days later having received no response phoned again, the guy I spoke to went off to look on somebody else's desk and came back with the updated comment "there is a note on xxxxxx's desk saying tell him to fibreglass over it". I suggested that as an obvious manufacturing defect they might like to consider looking at the job but apparently "it is a difficult place to get to when building the boat and is not a structural joint"

 

Seems rather odd that the front bulkhead joint is considered to be of little importance? If nothing else the integrity should surely be sufficient to render it waterproof? Also that such a slapdash attitude is acceptable? Surely if it is known to be a "difficult place to get to" additional attention should be paid to getting it right? The conversation went on to "there could have been other, previously repaired damage that has led to this" I assured the guy that there was no evidence to suggest that. The lay up was so thin and dry right up in the corner that I actually poked my finger through the fibreglass from the anchor locker into the cabin!!! I asked if there were any other "difficult" areas that I should check for my own safety, as yet no reply.

 

The WSF meeting was interesting and it was good to meet up with other boaties even if the weather and fishing were not great.

 

After the meeting I had to take the boat from Falmouth to Haslar so set off on a rare sunny day to make the first hop to Portland. It was a really great trip of just over 100 miles; I headed straight across to Salcombe, passing the Eddystone Reef on the way then once round Start Point pointed the nose at the Portland Race and carried on. I'd have liked to tried the Skerries on the way but decided to keep on the move although to break the trip up I did try one or two wrecks that were on the flight path. Arriving at Portland I put the boat through the race where the bass boys were charging up and down and she didn't flinch. Very reassuring to have seakeeping of this calibre but not of course an excuse to take unnecessary risks!

 

It took around 10 hours in all to do the trip and I used 185 litres of diesel which included going into Weymouth for fuel.

 

While in Weymouth I went into the Yanmar agents chandlery and picked up a genuine alternator belt, took it back and fitted it and it is now spot on. Bit tight to get over the pulleys but now plenty of clearance all round so a lesson in fitting genuine spares in critical areas. Whoever fitted the narrow one was very irresponsible IMHO, had it snapped at sea he engine cooling would have failed.

 

With a few days to kill I had a day out with another Portland berth holder on the Shambles, nothing much doing unfortunately but it is well hammered out there and surprising there are any fish left at all. There was even a small trawler going back and forth across the banks while we were there.

 

Weather started to look iffy again midweek so I decided to make the next leg of the trip from Portland on Thursday 21st. Set off mid morning to try and make use of the tide and headed out to miss the Lulworth ranges. It was a snotty grey day with poor visibility, rain, stiff breeze and generally a total contrast to the first leg. Not many other boats out there so I just shut the cabin door and got on with it. By the time I got to St Albans ledge it was getting "lively" so I set my course for what looked like the worst of it; there was a potting boat out there rolling about like a cork and a big lifeboat on a similar course to mine but a mile further offshore. The boat sailed through it with no slamming or wild pitching, very impressive handling IMHO.

 

After St Albans I set a direct course for the Solent and headed on, the sea if anything flattened quite a bit across that part of the journey and not long after we were in the gloomy Solent and then on, in relative shelter, to Haslar.

 

The weather overnight picked up quite badly so it was the right day to do the second leg.

 

Wind didn't let up over the weekend so I did a bit of sightseeing in Portsmouth then picked up a hire car Monday to drive back and pick up my car from Falmouth.

 

All in all an interesting few weeks, not much good in the fishing stakes but hopefully we can do a bit from Haslar before taking the boat back to Portland after the Olympics.

 

Boat wise I'm very impressed with her, she has all the facilities to make a stay of several weeks very comfortable, is a great boat at sea and a spacious fishing platform. Reasonably economical to run at sensible speeds and not too expensive to put on a berth.

 

Still awake? ;-)

 

Paul

[Graham Nash]

still awake and very impressed Paul. That sounds like a great boat!

[niggle]

Crickey dont you go on

 

 

 

 

Pleased that you are pleased mate....good name for a boat

Nige

[great white]

Well done Paul

 

Apart from a few build issues you sound very happy with her.

 

With most people counting the days to the start of the Olympics it sounds like you are counting down to the end.

 

Look on the bright side

Summer sport fishing is good around Pompey, and you will be going back to Portland at a very good time for their fishing.

 

Tight lines

Charlie

[LilBrit]

Well done Paul

 

Apart from a few build issues you sound very happy with her.

 

With most people counting the days to the start of the Olympics it sounds like you are counting down to the end.

 

Look on the bright side

Summer sport fishing is good around Pompey, and you will be going back to Portland at a very good time for their fishing.

 

Tight lines

Charlie

 

Cheers Charlie,

 

I've not met with many people who are looking forward to the Olympics, I reckon us "winning" the bid was a tragedy. Major disruption and horrendous as yet unknown cost to the public, ticket sales a farce and we haven't even started.

 

I doubt we will get away without some terrorist activity.

 

Planning to make the most of the stay up Pompey way, already got a few marks pointed out to try, just need the weather to pick up a bit during July.

 

Paul

[Coddy]

That makes two Orkney 24's with the same name.

 

Good read Paul, glad you made it safe and well.

 

I have a few marks for the East of Portsmouth if you want any, just let me know.

 

Dave

[LilBrit]

That makes two Orkney 24's with the same name.

 

Good read Paul, glad you made it safe and well.

 

I have a few marks for the East of Portsmouth if you want any, just let me know.

 

Dave

 

Thanks for that, I've had a few bits of info on places to try but always keen to have a few options on the plotter.

 

Two Orkney 24's with the same name and both of them the white hulled version

 

Paul