Solo Ventures

Sleeping on it does make a difference. We had a cold change come through overnight, with rain and cold S winds, the max temp will be nearly 20° cooler: good weather for sleeping and watching The Sailing Brothers on utube. So this morning I'm feeling chilled and ready for the next gentle stage of Stopping The Stern Gland Leak.  STSGL 1.0 will be to clean the green corrosion, replacing as clamps and then having a go at tightening the gland nut. This may be a simple fix, restuffing can wait for 2.0.    

As usual a good few sleeps helps gather your thoughts about trying situations.  I've been texting the Previous Owner, he reassures me that the stern gland fills the bilge every two weeks,  three even. He also reckons it hasn't for any faster for a long time. Somehow, that's reassuring.  The other thing that bugs me the chain plates. Old Mate has convinced me the standing rigging has only just been replaced. I noticed the chain plates for the shrouds and lower shrouds, are prettymew too. But, the u-bolts used are diam 6mm; when they should be 10 or 12mm. Just a rough calculation, the area of a 6mm bolt is just over 27square mm's, a 10mm is over 75square mm's. The capacities are on the hundreds vs, 3500kg or more. Iean they're dinghy chain plates! Worse still, someone attempting to cut off the excessive unbolt thread has cut partway through the structure. People do funny things on boats. 

Sleeping on it does make a difference. We had a cold change come through overnight, with rain and cold S winds, the max temp will be nearly 20° cooler: good weather for sleeping and watching The Sailing Brothers on utube. So this morning I'm feeling chilled and ready for the next gentle stage of Stopping The Stern Gland Leak.  STSGL 1.0 will be to clean the green corrosion, replacing as clamps and then having a go at tightening the gland nut. This may be a simple fix, restuffing can wait for 2.0.    

Iv just come aboard my new boat and found water in the bilge. About 69 squirts worth, which I am hoping has accumulated since it was last used a week ago.  I immediately suspected the stern gland, where the prop shaft exits the hull and yes there's a leak. It wouldn't be such a problem except that the stuffing box is green with corrosion and neglect and one of the as clamps is pretty well rusted through.  As far as boat maintenance work goes, this is ground zero and I suspect Old Mate hasn't touched it in three years. Oh dear.  The electrical? Yeah, they're pretty ordinary too, the running lights work, that's about it. I need to seek out  the blockage and add a 12v USB charger port, and get the stern light working.  This sailing's a breeze. Huh

Just a mere handful of days after exchanging handshakes and handing over a small bag of cash, the reality is slowly seeping into my bones.  Of course I have a deep physical memory of the Folkboat s feel, the day to day ramifications are still being fixed into my being. Yesterday, after an evening of online window shipping, I had a thought that there may be some electronic goodies stowed in the shed. In the Old Boating Stuff cupboard I quickly uncovered marine radio and deeper down, an EPIRB.  As it transpires the radio is a 27MHz, not VHF. Its the radio of choice for weekend anglers and small pleasure boaters rathan than cruising sailors. Although the frequency is noisy, its waves carry further and Marine Rescue stations broadcast there, as they do VHF. It also satisfies the statutory requirement to have a radio on board. A tick for now, I think later I will buy a portable VHF.  The radio beacon is still in its box. I recall buying it years ago when I was planning to go offshore in NY

MY SON JOE, who was aboard when I bought my first Folkboat, attended yesterday when a checked out, sailed and bought my second Folkie.  It helped that the previous owner was a surfer, sea kayaker and allround nice guy. Jack Sprat aka Bodecia needs a soft refit, but has excellent  bones: new standing rigging, reliable engine and solid deck. As we sailed put of Clairville Beach towards Palm Beach (my old Folkie's haunt), I just got happy. Deeply happy, from my core happy, happy in a way that I had not been in a long time. The truth be, that I sold my old  Bohemian in a hurry to put food on the table for my children and I after a rapid onset marital separation. Buying another Folkboat a handful of years later, in better condition was a real indicator that I have not only survived but thrived. It was a reward from the spirit world, karma, whatever secret forces that come in behind you at times.  Then there was that glorious sensation of sailing a Folkie on the wind.

Well shiver GRP, it looks like  getting into ABBA and another Folkboat with Scandi roots!  There are 2 available, one boasting to be squeaky clean and special for twice the price as the other, a modest White Plastic IF with new rigging, a sail wardrobe and functioning diesel. What more could a poor sailor need, the bones are there for me to add to, but at this point I'm impressed by the Seller's honesty and sailorly attitude.  I'm of to see her on the morrow.  

Oh bother, politics! Yes, I know but last weekend Australia faced a landmark moment in whether it would give a voice to parliament for the Traditional People. We failed, largely due to lies and deception by the Conservative side of politics. They made spurious claims about chaos reigning as though Traditional People would directly take control of land ownership. They lied, promising a further referendum to offer alternative freedom to indigenous people, this has already been withdrawn.  On a larger scale, there is further evidence that democracy is either dead or close to it, I'm Australia and other countries not aligned with "Communist" China. The following is published online by the ABC News in the washup of The Voice referendum: " In August, Meta shut down 9,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts run by a group linked to Chinese authorities, dubbed Spamouflage, that had been churning out spam convenient to Beijing. The group had also been toying with people's per

With a heap of dirt on my chest, I grabbed the frog machine and blew some cobwebs out. My mental health improved each time I peddled by a place where I previously thought I may turn around.

I'm not going ape sh@t over it yet, but an old fellow is offloading a H28 sloop in good order. A bonus is that its on a mooring in the closest waterway to me, which happens to be easily accessed and well protected. People say "it was meant to be" about deals like this because it fits my needs very well.  Minimalist basic, but the essentials are all there, in good order, and it would be a smooth transition for me to move aboard immediately, at least  part time anyhow. Pluses :- Hereschoff cruising design Offshore sailing history 28', headroom for liveaboard Moored locally, sheltered water Running diesel with low hours Tan sails in good cond. Australian registration. Timber, epoxy build. New batteries Simple, spacious layout Composting head Electric anchor winch Downers : Mooring not locked in. Mono, slipping fees UPDATE well the aforementioned vessel did not come up to scratch. At some time she may have been worth four times what she's being

Its hard to imagine a sadder reason to be bikepacking, I looking for my  dog Sam. The last sighting was last night on the edge of the Columbey NP . But jes better dog would be hard to find.  Anyway, best not dwell. Today's ride was about hope, and getting know my new-to-me Salsa Beargrease. I had risen it twice before and it had gone well, my only concern was the long narrow saddle that xjewed by butt.  Today's  ride started with a gut wrenching drop. Plummeting over boulder islands in washed out gulleys all at an impossible slope. Within minite of beginning the front brake pads squealed for attention. There was nothing for it, but to continue riding off the rear brake and walking the worst bits. Pads would be hard enough to buy, let alone a new disc.   After a rapid decline, the country opened up; grassy plains, a graded road and interesting swamp lands. A good place for a dog to hang out.  EDIT