In this publication10 photos
The last two passages and the coming Norway trip highlighted the boat’s condition. Almost ready, provided you didn’t look too closely.
First, winter storage in Kiel secured. One big question gone; finish technical loose ends.
Shrouds and a ruler
Grigory stepped aboard and immediately saw the mast wasn’t straight and shrouds unevenly tensioned. Seldén’s method instead of guessing.
Attach a two-metre ruler to the shroud, tighten both turnbuckles evenly, measure the ruler end’s movement relative to the turnbuckle with a calliper. Each millimetre over two metres means five per cent of wire breaking load. We needed three millimetres.
Professional on paper. Days later, realised we’d left the rubber covers on. Better to measure the wire, rather than its smart clothes.
By then, an €80 SVB tension gauge showed ten per cent. A tidy error, no disaster. A few turns each side to about fifteen. Straighter mast, more even loads.
Small unfinished jobs
After cleaning the freshwater tank, litres in the bilge. Almost insulting: no sealing ring in the lid. Ordered, fitted, training pool avoided.
New extinguisher, Biltema turnbuckle covers, soft TPU-printed bathing-ladder pads where it rests against the hull.
The genoa furling line kept sharing the sheet winch. A new lead block finally sent it where it belonged.
Power and communications
Solar panel clarified its intentions: voltage unloaded, collapsing near battery voltage on MPPT, virtually no charging. Replaced with two matching 100W panels, €100 the pair, parallel through Y connectors. My controller had the capacity.
Sergei visited Grigory and me to spot what owners stop seeing. Immediately found my VHF coax screen disconnected. New connector; AIS range from two miles to about fifteen.
Life aboard
I reconsidered the forecabin. Guests called it cramped, low, cold, noisy with mooring lines. I spent several days there and found it comfortable.
Useful non-technical lesson: don’t design everything around visitors expecting a small hotel. Only a phone’s 12V socket missing. A day’s wiring and fitting solved that.
New acrylic mirror replaced the fallen old one. Nearly two months aboard ahead, so table redesigned for work and extending a berth. Steel leg replaced by a swivelling aluminium support. Less rigid; no leaning on it. Time will judge the compromise.
Stopping point
Last major addition, Starlink: €200 antenna, €99 monthly roaming plan. I’ll describe real onboard use separately.
A million more ideas. Eventually, improvements compete with the sailing season. Enough repairs for now. Time to go to Norway.
#maintenance
First, winter storage in Kiel secured. One big question gone; finish technical loose ends.
Shrouds and a ruler
Grigory stepped aboard and immediately saw the mast wasn’t straight and shrouds unevenly tensioned. Seldén’s method instead of guessing.
Attach a two-metre ruler to the shroud, tighten both turnbuckles evenly, measure the ruler end’s movement relative to the turnbuckle with a calliper. Each millimetre over two metres means five per cent of wire breaking load. We needed three millimetres.
Professional on paper. Days later, realised we’d left the rubber covers on. Better to measure the wire, rather than its smart clothes.
By then, an €80 SVB tension gauge showed ten per cent. A tidy error, no disaster. A few turns each side to about fifteen. Straighter mast, more even loads.
Small unfinished jobs
After cleaning the freshwater tank, litres in the bilge. Almost insulting: no sealing ring in the lid. Ordered, fitted, training pool avoided.
New extinguisher, Biltema turnbuckle covers, soft TPU-printed bathing-ladder pads where it rests against the hull.
The genoa furling line kept sharing the sheet winch. A new lead block finally sent it where it belonged.
Power and communications
Solar panel clarified its intentions: voltage unloaded, collapsing near battery voltage on MPPT, virtually no charging. Replaced with two matching 100W panels, €100 the pair, parallel through Y connectors. My controller had the capacity.
Sergei visited Grigory and me to spot what owners stop seeing. Immediately found my VHF coax screen disconnected. New connector; AIS range from two miles to about fifteen.
Life aboard
I reconsidered the forecabin. Guests called it cramped, low, cold, noisy with mooring lines. I spent several days there and found it comfortable.
Useful non-technical lesson: don’t design everything around visitors expecting a small hotel. Only a phone’s 12V socket missing. A day’s wiring and fitting solved that.
New acrylic mirror replaced the fallen old one. Nearly two months aboard ahead, so table redesigned for work and extending a berth. Steel leg replaced by a swivelling aluminium support. Less rigid; no leaning on it. Time will judge the compromise.
Stopping point
Last major addition, Starlink: €200 antenna, €99 monthly roaming plan. I’ll describe real onboard use separately.
A million more ideas. Eventually, improvements compete with the sailing season. Enough repairs for now. Time to go to Norway.
#maintenance
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