Graham Nash

Hind sight is a wonderful thing .... The primer problem does not show unless I am at full throttle and the breather IS open ..... (I've done that once and it's the first thing I checked yesterday) It would seem according to other posts that the DF doesnt need a primer so I will try it without and see how it goes. The fuel consumption I put down to my "playing" and testing accelleration, top speed, slow speed manouvering etc as well as the ton or so of water we were carrying along with us because today we covered probably twice the distance on a similar amount of fuel. Top speed still around 24 knotts, cruises cofortably at 17. The dowels have plugged the holes and is as much as we can do without removing the engine to get to both sides of the transom. It remained dry under there today dispite a reasonable swell. The only thing I have a problem with at the moment is water entering the deck via the draining holes during that swell. The 4 bilge pumps were fitted by me as I knew there was an awful lot hull to fill up. 2 of them are automatic.

I can only go by what I am told by the "mechanic" Rob and I am told that it was a simple pin on the din plug that was the problem. It has been fine since launch, although I notice that it will not tilt up more than a few degrees while running??? Is this normal on the Suzuki DF range? My Etech would tilt as far as I wanted.

This was my thoughts too Andy. Its a suzuki 115 4 stroke BTW.

primer bulb .... that was what I was trying to think of when I said "rubber fuel feed pump thing" Yes it was the primer bulb that was sucking in. I'll have another look today and see. Maybe it's just not man enough for 2 litres a mile to be passing through it

Well at long last the day came to get her bum wet. Final checks on all the "bungs", engine checks, 40 litres of fuel (as we were only popping out to Ballard). Checked all 4 bilge pumps, lights, life jackets and auxillary engine (just in case). Motored slowly out of Rockley and did a few little runs up and down the channels. All seemed ok. Through the harbour and everything still seemed ok. Out of the harbour and opened her up a little .... 24knotts and feeling good .... then a bit of spluttering and slowing down ... I noticed that the rubber fuel feed pump thing had sucked in and was restricting the fuel flow. Slow down and releasing the pressure on it saw it spring back to shape .... tried the same again and the same thing happened so it was necessary to back off a little and keep her around 16-17 knotts and all seemed ok .... any advice on this would be greatfully received Arrived at our chosen spot and dropped the anchor. 5 minutes later one of my auto bilge pumps started spewing water out . Lifted an inspection hatch to see the hull with aroung 6 inches of water in!! A quick flick of all of the bilge pump switches had it dry in no time. Time to relax and fish but about 5 minutes later the bilge pump is working over time again. Once again the hull was full of water! This went on for a while till I decided the possibility of a bilge pump fuse popping was too big a risk to take so we headed back in for an early day and an investigation of the problem. Once back and tied up along side and my head inside the bilge through the inspection hatch showed water literally POURING in through the transome as much as if there was 2 taps left open!! . It would seem that when the engine was fitted, the 2 old mounting holes (beneath the water line) were NOT filled!! 2 dowels hammered into the holes later and it all seems better so we shall try again tomorrow. Checked the fuel tank and it was almost bone dry so we had used 40 litres to get from Rockley to Ballard and back (although probably with an AWFUL lot of water as passenger). Incidentally we had 2 very expensive bream and one doggie

This just goes to show that even the professionals can get caught out. We only do it for fun so Safety first everyone.

My boat WILL be in the water this weekend no matter what the weather. Even if she stays in the harbour, she's getting her bum wet for the first time!

An indian bloke goes to put his wifes death in the local paper, they tell him its

That one has lots of pretty lines Charlie but this one is showing me what I want to see (probably wrong but it looks good at the moment) http://www.xcweather.co.uk/GB/forecast

I & Windguru are with you Duncan. I hope we are right because I have a friend coming down from Birmingham to fish with us on Sunday so i think i've gotta go out no matter what (within reason).

how the other half lives eh?

1) Allan Green. Crew Dave Samuels and one other on Kind of Magic subject to weather and crew confirmation 2) Graham on Mistress with 2 non members crew (weather, crew and boat dependent)

Its not just you.

What can I say???? I feel gutted for you. Realistically it's gone but I truly hope the scumbags get caught.

Oh My God Alan ....... I hope its not too much damage!

bloody weather

Terry ....... Graham has just had confirmation from Tommo that Manta Ray is NOT going now so Graham won't be either. This means obviously I dont need the room, nor the meal. I can't speak for Paul F but unless he finds another way of getting there he wont be going either. Graham.

RESULT

Sorry Terry. Paul, speak to Terry as Duncan isn't going now so his space may be spare Looking at the forecast even Saturday has blown up again now so there may be quite a few rooms spare

Its looking like Saturday & Sunday to me with the wind picking up mid day Monday. What a nightmare trying to organise anything weather dependent in this country!!

That should have said Paul, not Alun.

Alun, speak to Duncan. He had a room booked with me but he's not going now.

Graham & Paul have contacted Alan and are on the "shortlist". He will make his decision tomorrow evening but it would seem that neither Graham nor Paul will need accomodation (nor food) Friday evening irrespective of any decision as Alan is going over there on Saturday (all being well). Thanks Terry and get well soon Duncan.

My old boat was occasionally left in the water for weekends and maybe slightly longer and it certainly stained the bottom even in that short time. No build up but definite staining. What is your issue about antifouling Toby?

The forecast I look at just made a huge improvement over night