Morgan - Ancient Briton: May 2014

Great Scott, i only just realised how long it was since my last posting.

Lots going on in around the boat, the electronics are now (finally) complete, the anchors have been amended and re-stowed, with lots of fun and games.
Novara has two anchors on the bow (also called "ground tackle"), they have massive 12mm stainless steel chains on them.
They originally comprised of a "CQR" anchor with 40m of chain and a "Bruce" anchor with 40m of chain. We have rearranged this, so now we have 60m on the CQR and 20m on the Bruce.
This was instigated by David Scott Cowper, who we met earlier this year in Newcastle. David is possibly one of Britain's greatest Polar explorers (check him out on Google).
He has traversed the NW Passage 6 times.............amazing guy !!! In his experience it is best policy to have one of our anchors with braid (rope) as well as chain. This is in case we are at anchor and the ice builds up quickly, we need to be able to release / chop away the anchor (and loose it) as the ice can force the bow down.

So, here are the anchors + chain...............one CQR (on the left) & one Bruce

New anodes in place and the anti-foul finished Novara is nearly ready to lift back into the water

Most of the upper sides have been cleaned, stainless steel polished, she is looking spic and span.
The new 8 person liferaft (PC) is also here and lashed to the deck.

During all this work on the boat, the harbour has burst into life, ducks and various other wildlife (including tourists) are enjoying the sunshine and generally preparing for spring.

A new addition to the seascape, a work barge has arrived to repair a section of the harbour wall on the opposite side to the dockyard. It's home from home, just like being back at work................Volker Stevin eat your heart out........ha ha ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The electronics are ongoing nicely now, new chart plotters (x2) are in place and ready for connecting by Wayfarer's electronics boffin.
The AIS , HD colour radar and various other updates are nearing completion.
Steve and i have been crawling through hatches, over tanks under floorboards and generally getting ourselves stuck / wedged into small spaces pulling new cables for the aforementioned.

However, great fun has been had by all.

The weather is warming up nicely now and it is amazing how quickly nature is blooming and preparing itself for spring, it really is incredible how quickly the landscape has changed in the last week. Barren, dark brown patches have turned into lovely grassy lawns, the trees are blooming, cherry , apple and broom are out in abundance.
The fauna are also waking up after a very long winter, we have chipmunks in the garden and have seen some amazing birds. On the way back from the boat the other day we saw a bald eagle on a tree at the side of the road......just sat there, shame my camera did'nt have a better zoom on it, so it's a bit short on clarity, but still a blast.
Then, when we got home 4 Osprey's flew over, only got chance to get a photo of one, but hey.............just amazing to see them.

Camden harbour is coming alive, new boats are coming in every day.

On Tuesday, Novara was lifted out of the water to ready to have her undersides anti fouled, the anchor chain cleaned and refitted, the locker cleaned out and repainted, new anodes bolted on, the log cleaned and serviced, all the through hull fittings checked and cleaned, sea cocks checked and re-greased.
All in all a fair bit to do, at least the weather has improved.........result !!!!! :-)

We managed to "fry" the boat batteries last week , so Steve had to order new one's, they arrived today $5000 worth ..................ochhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!

When the boat came out yesterday, we noticed there are rope deflectors on each side of the propeller, Steve and i decided they needed to be a bit smaller just in case some large chunks of ice smash into them and push them onto the prop.
So, off i blasted this afternoon grinding away with the angle grinder from the boat, next minute i'm alight ...........the grinder caught fire !!!! Smoke everywhere, i quickly disconnected it and stood there completely at a loss. It's a 220v grinder, running on the boat's 220v system..................WHY has it gone up in flames ???
Of course Steve's first comment..........."what have you bust now"???, hey i reply, i've got a claim here .....LOL. Not my fault YOUR grinder caught fire !!!!
As luck would have it, the boatyard electrician was walking past, he checked it over and was as baffled us.

All we can think is, the grinder has been on the boat for so long, it has absorbed some salt / moisture (bearing in mind it is in new condition, though old) and just was'nt keen on being wound up ............whoops scotties.

Bald Eagle on a tree roadside, top and bottom are electric cables, could'nt get the shot without them in