Ep 78 - Slow Sailing

We return to Scotland, and head North towards Mallaig and Plockton via Kyle of Lochash. And do a bit of maintenance on the way.

[@Topsailor-iw4ql]

Nice job on the mast Elizabeth. Very good job indeed.

[@CoricContessa32]

Thank you very much for the comment, Elizabeth says “much appreciated”

[@richardayres2949]

It only gets better as you go north from Plockton . Have fun

[@CoricContessa32]

Thanks - we re finding exactly that

[@doekle-janhaisma3508]

Thanks guys looks beautiful in that last picture love to see some wildlife pictures,😁Sounds like you are having a good time bit of live music in the pub home late good on yeh,👍😁

[@CoricContessa32]

Thank you, will try to add a few more wildlife pictures as we go. We are normally so captivated that grabbing a phone / camera only occurs later…

[@paulwilliams3494]

It is stunningly beautiful, up there with anywhere in the world I would suggest. Have you encountered the midges at all yet ? Well done Elizabeth with the extreme DIY and well done John too, delegating is not always easy ! 🤣

[@CoricContessa32]

Thanks for this Paul, completely agree that this is a fabulously beautiful place. We have met a midge or two have not been troubled. Been out on the water or in a fair breeze. Elizabeth says thanks!.

[@Widgeon5113T]

Disposable baby nappies (diapers) are great for catching the inevitable oil leakage during filter changes and under the oil-change pump nozzle. I also place a plastic 'freezer'/'sandwich' bag over the filter before unscrewing it. As soon as the filter clears the threads you can let it fall into the bag and minimise oil spillage to well within the capacity of the nappy to absorb. Having an empty gash bag to hand allows oily materials to be kept together for disposal.

[@CoricContessa32]

That is a very good suggestion Nick, we had a small bin bag to hand and I agree it would have been much less messy if we had slipped it over the filter just before final removal. The idea of using a nappy is also a good one, and I know where I can get it a few!

[@dave300m7]

I had a discussion with a Beta engineer about servicing (on a BD722, which is older version of yours), his top tip was (regardless of any other servicing) replace the pencil anodes at least every 12 months, even better to do it every 6 months. He said do it on “elapsed time” not “engine hours” as the corrosion is probably happening regardless of the engine running. Given they are a pretty low cost item and quick to replace it seemed like a sound bit of preventive maintenance (and much cheaper than replacing the heat exchanger).

[@CoricContessa32]

Yes, I completely agree. I have checked the sacrificial anode every six months. It gave me a good idea of how quickly it was being eaten away. Goood advice, thnks