In this publication10 photos
Always something to fix aboard, not everything worth a separate article. Here are small jobs making life a little easier.
Curtain-rail bracket
Curtains hang on a rail; the rail, on plastic brackets. One cracked, no replacement available. Epoxy held for months, then failed again.
Metal staples and plastic might reinforce it, but risked shattering it mid-repair. I asked Grigory to show me designing and printing a replacement.
Aboard his yacht, vernier calliper out, Autodesk Fusion modelling. A couple of hours showed me 3D printing could rescue all sorts of little boat fittings, more than an engineer’s toy.
Printed, the legs were a couple of millimetres short, but it fitted perfectly. Inspired me to learn modelling properly. Much nicer repairing with my hands than spare-parts catalogues.
Rust stains
During the passage to Heligoland, a heat pad burst over the topsides. Rust marks resisted cloth and soap.
Sanding would spoil the gloss. Found pH-neutral Star brite Rust Stain Remover, €25. Spray, ten minutes, rinse: lighter but still there. Again: perfectly clean, paint shining as if polished. It works, tested through my own mistake.
A new tap
After the internal flood that left eighty litres below, I wanted less chance of repetition. A €2 AliExpress pump switch: its indicator now goes out while the pump runs, showing at once if water is being wasted.
A €30 pull-out tap from there too. An hour to remove the old, enlarge the hole slightly, secure the new and connect through adapters.
Precise flow, easy pan washing, like a home kitchen. Most importantly, it holds pump pressure without leaking. Sometimes a small change adds more comfort than a major upgrade.
Audio
An old American five-inch speaker had no cover. A €2 grille improved its appearance immediately. More music for night watches: €9 head unit supporting TF cards, €3 antenna.
Spotify playlists saved offline to the card, an hour to install. Flawless, except too loud even at minimum. Something to solve.
A small debt to the rescuers
After the incident when I was pulled off the shoal, I began a monthly DGzRS donation. Small, but hearing their call sign, I know I’m helping a little those who helped me.
#maintenance
Curtain-rail bracket
Curtains hang on a rail; the rail, on plastic brackets. One cracked, no replacement available. Epoxy held for months, then failed again.
Metal staples and plastic might reinforce it, but risked shattering it mid-repair. I asked Grigory to show me designing and printing a replacement.
Aboard his yacht, vernier calliper out, Autodesk Fusion modelling. A couple of hours showed me 3D printing could rescue all sorts of little boat fittings, more than an engineer’s toy.
Printed, the legs were a couple of millimetres short, but it fitted perfectly. Inspired me to learn modelling properly. Much nicer repairing with my hands than spare-parts catalogues.
Rust stains
During the passage to Heligoland, a heat pad burst over the topsides. Rust marks resisted cloth and soap.
Sanding would spoil the gloss. Found pH-neutral Star brite Rust Stain Remover, €25. Spray, ten minutes, rinse: lighter but still there. Again: perfectly clean, paint shining as if polished. It works, tested through my own mistake.
A new tap
After the internal flood that left eighty litres below, I wanted less chance of repetition. A €2 AliExpress pump switch: its indicator now goes out while the pump runs, showing at once if water is being wasted.
A €30 pull-out tap from there too. An hour to remove the old, enlarge the hole slightly, secure the new and connect through adapters.
Precise flow, easy pan washing, like a home kitchen. Most importantly, it holds pump pressure without leaking. Sometimes a small change adds more comfort than a major upgrade.
Audio
An old American five-inch speaker had no cover. A €2 grille improved its appearance immediately. More music for night watches: €9 head unit supporting TF cards, €3 antenna.
Spotify playlists saved offline to the card, an hour to install. Flawless, except too loud even at minimum. Something to solve.
A small debt to the rescuers
After the incident when I was pulled off the shoal, I began a monthly DGzRS donation. Small, but hearing their call sign, I know I’m helping a little those who helped me.
#maintenance
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