Ordered electric drive chain

Tim's back from Beirut and we had a phone call today to decide to place the order with Electro Vehicles Europe for a new electric drive chain. Hopefully that will mean it's ready for delivery or collection within two weeks.

Davits, solar and wind all in one

From Tim's blog: http://tim-price.blogspot.com/2010/04/davits-solar-and-wind-all-in-one.html

"Been thinking a lot about how to do this best. I have been surfing, looking at various installations in our marina. today I saw this and I liked it."

Pulling out engine and what to do

From Tim's blog: http://tim-price.blogspot.com/2010/04/pulling-out-diesel-and-what-to-do.html

"So today we finally admitted that our diesel was terminal, and would probably give us more trouble and problems on an ongoing basis." (rest on Tim's blog)

It's official... the engine is dead!

After a long fight to resurrect the Ford York diesel engine (original), it was pronounced dead this morning. Tim and Ken are in Cyprus, now busy taking it apart for removal, while I (Richard) am stuck in the UK just hearing about it from a distance. There is a question as to how to get it out of the yacht. Ken reckons if we take it to small enough parts, we can get it out through the saloon. Hopefully this will be true.

So what will we replace it with? We have been contemplating this for a couple of weeks now and done research on the subject. Our desire is to replace it with a electric drive powered by batteries.

Having researched many different motor options, the current one that we believe will be right for the boat is a Marine powertrain 8kw from Electro-vehicles in Italy.

They don't show the AC08/4 online, but its very similar to the AC07: http://www.electro-vehicles.eu/shop/details.asp?prodid=EVE06&cat=0&path=47,60

Now we need to finalise all the details of mounting the motor, controller and batteries in King Malu and get her sailing as soon as possible.

UPDATE 13:34 EEST: While stripping the engine down, about 4 litres of water came out with the oil. Basically that means the head gasket was blown badly and so the engine would have needed a fully rebuild to be any use, in indeed it could be rebuilt. So... correct decision to scrap the engine.

Frustration with an old Ford

I am still away so Tim is blogging about Frustration with an old Ford:

"Well it is over 30 years old, but it should work and it does not!!!!" (rest on Tim's blog)

Decks are done

I am away for three weeks so Tim is blogging about the Decks are done:

"Today we started early and laid the forward port side deck. After a quick coffee we returned and completed starboard." (rest on Tim's blog)

Deck complete, toastrack back...

Today was the second day of laying the Treadmaster. We found that the Treadmaster sheets tend to expand and contract while being glued so it's necessary to use masking tape to stick them together while the glue sets.

Having completed the deck, we had only the stern cabin roof to do and we decided to leave that till when I come back. This gave us time to put the 'toast racks' back on the main saloon roof. The 'toast racks' are the stainless steel rails that surround the mast to give you something to hold on to or lean against while hoisting or dropping sails.

We then fitted the one remaining dorade. The other two are being replaced with solar vents. We then also refitted the saloon ceiling and tidied up.