So it was, that on a grey wet Thursday morning, I found myself in the all in one green waterproofs (it's a sight for sure) grovelling in the mud and the blood and the beer* under Sparrow while wielding a pressure washer lance to get the crap of the season off her bottom... there is a circle of hell that specifically features having to pressure wash between the keels of a small bilge keeler in November, but the job was done and she looks good and ready for next years new coat... some extra fine wet and dry removed some remaining scuffs (including the marks left by whatever boat the criminals were in that stole the last engine 😒) but a wash over with Oxalic acid is on the cards as she's still a little yellow, and I have some stubborn green staining to remove under the transom, at the top of the rudder, where I get wave slap... items added to the 'to do' list
*only one of these was actually present..
Once this was done it was time for the engine fit..
..looks good I think..
Time to try the lifted position..
...because of the tiller configuration - centre of the front of the engine rather than the more normal to the side position - as I suspected the tiller stops the engine tilting any further forward, as it hits the back lip of the outboard scoop...
...fairly usual two lifting/resting points - bottom is fully down, then half up (1st) and fully up (2nd)
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| ...need to replace that bottom spacer bolt.. |
I think though that it would be fairly easy just to trim off half a centimetre of that lip with an angle grinder and jobs a good'un... the alternative would be to shorten the holding arm (the silvery grey mechanism) - more to check and investigate I think, but certainly no serious issues with the fit, and the engine is currently in for a service and to have the leg painted..
...thoughts then turn to security as this is really not an engine for wresting off the back of the boat every time I want to go for a sail...
When you leave the motor on the back of Sparrow when moored, perhaps a lock (wire / plastic tube covered chain complete with large padlock) such as used by motor cyclists may be a deterrent?
ReplyDeleteHi Alden - the old one had a major padlock through the handles and a bicycle lock as back up and they went through them (bolt cuters I think) like a hot knife through butter.. the problem is that the n'er do wells can now pick up cordless angle grinders for less than 30 pounds so nothing is safe... I'll lock it as you suggest, but this time I will also be painting the leg it to make it less valuable and more conspicuous, and I'll also be taking the engine cowl home, and then cross my fingers that it simply isn't worth stealing...
DeleteYes you are correct - nothings really safe these days from determined thieves. Taking the engine cowl home is a very good idea.
ReplyDeleteA local fishing company has this message embedded in its plastic fishing catch boxes - "This box was stolen from Hikurangi Fisheries".
That's clever - think I need to make a stencil saying "stolen from Sparrow"... :o))
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