More Maintenance

With another none so nice weekend forecast we are taking the opportunity to start yet more little jobs that need doing on Naughty-Cal. She will be wondering what is going on with all of this bed rest. This will be her longest period of rest since the big freeze last winter, when she didn’t move for eight weeks.

First job will be changing the engine oil and filter. We do this every 100 hours and it has come around to that time again. It is quite timely this year as we like to ensure that she has fresh oil in the engine for the winter period, when we are most likely to be doing less cruising hours and the engine is more likely to be sitting idle. Whilst the oil is being changed we will also check the condition of the belts, check the tank fuel filter is free from water and check the supercharger oil and clean the air filter. It is also about time that the antifreeze in the engine fresh water cooling system was changed. We will also have a general check that all is well and good in the engine bay and give the area a mop down and clean. We also need to change the hydraulic ram fluid again as it had a minor leak again this year resulting in the fluid becoming like strawberry milkshake again. Luckily this time the leak has fixed itself!!

Next job will be fitting the new anchor light. The old one stopped working a while ago and we have never gotten around to installing a new one. Now that we have found we like spending some time at anchor we really need to install a new one. Last week’s high winds blew the cover off the top of the old light so there is little option but to install a complete new unit. I will also order a new LED replacement bulb for the light so that we don’t need to worry about how much power the light is using when left on overnight.

There is still more polishing and waxing to do in the interior of the boat and the cockpit, so this weekend will give us another chance to get some done. Hard work finished now during these grimmer murky weekends will leave us with time to enjoy cruising during the nicer weekends we are bound to have during the autumn and winter. The polished surfaces also look much cleaner and fresher and make for a nicer appearance and environment for when we are stuck in the marina on wet, windy and miserable weekends. It feels like a never ending job at times but the effort is worth it when you can stand back and admire the results.

With this little lot completed we will have time, weather permitting for either a short cruise or a spot of fishing in the marina. I am sure there will be some drinking involved somewhere as well, there usually is. We have been given the number of an allegedly very good takeaway so we may have to try that out on Saturday night, it has been a while since we last had take out delivered to the boat so it will make a pleasant change to let someone else do the cooking.