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Website started 24th February 2000

Marina Charges go Up. Started Companionway Hatch area. Battening down for winter. October 1994 to January 1995.

1/10/94

Decided to use the name of 'Emerald' for the Yacht. Helps identification within the Yard etc. Emerald is said to be the english translation for szmaragd anyway. The hull was originally classed as a szmaragd II. We are led to believe that other Yachts were built in the series and they all had names of Jewels. One we do have a leaflet of is the Kings Amethyst. 

Goodness gracious. October already. Rent due and prices in the marina had gone up yesterday!. The supervisor in the Capitainnery had to charge us the new price, no choice, but he allowed 10% off and we would need to speak to the Yard manager, to clarify if he wants us to stay at the original agreed rate !. Although 10% off, the cost was still over 10% more than our original agreed rate with the Yard manager. How can they justify such increases. More worries. Very mixed feelings at the moment. Both of us very tense and coupled with health problems and cold weather neither of us wanted to suggest doing anything today. Uncovered aft half of the boat and made a start cleaning up the sikaflex around the edges of the cockpit ply on portside bilges. Made more cups of tea, then hoovered up the mess in the boat. The ply was then orbital sanded, and then a coat of epoxy rolled on. Sky was overcast, with threatening showers. This was all we had managed today – pretty abysmal really – but at least we tried something. Treated ourselves to pint and meal in the marine bar in the evening.

2/10/94

There had been a shower last night and sky did not look so good today. Should we uncover the boat or not. Started to, then spots of rain prompted us to erect the gantry, but then shower seemed to stop so left the sheet half off. Today we would tackle the expanding foam in the starboard cockpit bilge area. Used sikaflex as well between the edges of the ply and stringers. Working fast, and foam expanding out in all directions, stuck down on expanding foam the two pieces of made up foam 1" thick. The expanding foam seemed to expand more this time and thus it pushed up the made up foam above the level where it was needed. Had to let it go off completely, then with stanley knife, trim and slice down the foam so it was level for the ply to go back on top. This created more mess. Bits of expanding foam all over the place. Bagged it up and once again hoovered up. We kept a aquavac Wet & Dry down at the boat, purely for this purpose. Rain spitting again so quickly dragged the sheet over the gantry and aft. It was hanging just past the tiller therefore if it rained the after deck would get wet. Then set to stick down the cockpit bilge ply pieces with a small amount of the expanding foam. Dare we uncover the boat ?. Decided not to and it was just as well. Just after we had finished fixing down in place the ply pieces, it threw it down cats and dogs. The after deck really got wet. Wind picked up as well, so the sheet was flapping mad, and so were we by now. Had to mop up the after deck as much as possible because we would be wrapping up the boat for the week shortly. It is about 18:30pm now and because it had been dull day, darkness was setting in quickly, and we ended up covering the boat in darkness. 

8/10/94

It is almost like chess now when we get to the boat. There are dinghy and yacht trailers all over the place. We usually end up having to move at least one trailer when we arrive at the weekend, in order to get the van up to the boat. Having left one set of problems where we were before we have now got another set of problems here, with Dinghies in particular. Forecast is good for the weekend. Sunny and warm am, and we both felt like doing some work. Sanded down the after deck, redrawing the deck beam markings as we went along, and continued to sand down the back of the cockpit back, and the two ends of the cockpit sides aft of it. Water stains were only on the surface, so we gave all a good sanding before coating with epoxy. Saw a small yacht run out of fuel on the river just opposite us and twice they tried hitching a tow. 1^st one the third party let go. Someone has gone aground just around the corner and awaiting for the next tide. Never a dull moment here that is for sure, watching the experts and novices etc all mixed in. 

9/10/94

Contemplated fixing in the cockpit well lower sides permanent, because whatever tanks go in the cockpit lockers , they will need to be removable through the hatch lockers for proper maintenance. As the crack in the upper lat of the starboard cabin side was getting worse – sanded down and prepared to epoxy the whole main cabin side again. Doing only manageable areas at a time because all sanded surfaces need to be epoxied etc well before we leave Sunday evening. Plus as the wood is still comparatively dry – millions of air bubbles appear through the epoxy which need brushing out before the epoxy goes off. The main cabin side starboard was epoxied and the starboard pieces of lower cockpit ply coated, and the upright beams for the inner cockpit side starboard also epoxied into place. Made a start on the companionway hatch. Iroko to construct the runners. These will need shaping to fit the camber of the main cabin roof Port/Starboard and For’d/aft. Been an excellent weekend this weekend. Cool, but sunny, fine and little wind. We have both felt very much better for it.

	Making up, and scribing to the coachroof, the Iroko companionway hatch runners.

15/10/94

Arrived last night about 10 minutes before the yard gates were closed. Uncovered the boat. Very little residue water aft. We could not remember last night where we were up to on the boat. Cannot do so much filming, if any, at the moment. Most pictures are photos. We proceeded further with the companionway hatch runner beams, and sanding down the main cabin side port and the outer side of the main cockpit sides. Epoxy was then rolled onto the newly sanded areas. Lots and Lots of air bubbles to disperse. Will need sanding and another coat later. Time marching on though. Cut the lower edge of the starboard companionway hatch runner beams. Now needs sanding and scribing in better, but it is awkward because of the grain of Iroko. Will need masking tape to assist. The bulk of shavings from planing were picked up from around the workmate. Need to keep as tidy as practical. We had not eaten all day today and upon boiling full kettle of water for teas and Pot Noodles – we tripped the electric switch. Oh no. We were starving even more now, and had to go search out the security chap, to switch us back on. Real nuisance. Not much done after tea because the sun was setting and temperature would drop shortly. We had brought the mini-tele with us, so packed up, draped the sheet over the boat and settled down to watching tele in the van. Been a good day weather wise. Forecast rain tomorrow.

Further Photo of Iroko hatch runners, looking aft. Photo taken at a later date. Note a) the pieces of timber seen port to starboard are an idea being explored at making coachroof coaming. b) the pieces of carpet fixed to the sharp corners are to protect the tarpaulin.

16/10/94

Very cold start to Sunday little sun and wind picking up. Summer has sure passed by, winter closing in fast. Both of us got cold in the neck. The wind is the chiller and killer. It freezes all thoughts of doing any work. Cups of tea helped stimulate lots of thinking and talking. Routered out the cockpit hatches rebates again to clean then, and fitted back the sterling board which was shaped to the portside hatch. This generated a lot of dust therefore next job was to sweep up as much as possible, and hoover out the boat. Lots of thought again as to could we fix in permanent the inner cockpit sides. Decided we could still work in the lockers afterwards ( at least Ruth could), and set to epoxying in place the inner cockpit sides. Because of the tight/close fit of the sides it was difficult to ensure enough epoxy stayed in place to squeeze out of the joints. Once it has gone off we would fill the gaps with sikaflex, or epoxy. Epoxy hardener supply is very low now !. Having got the cockpit well sides in now, it opens up an opportunity to start on the cockpit floor etc. It is a major step forward now. Very warm and snug on board though. We tend to retreat inside for tea !. It is warmer than the workshop ever used to be. It will be nice once we get to start on the inside. No battle against the weather then. We would prefer it if the boats around us were static. Being dinghies, they are in and out, stuff gets left lying around while they go sailing. One needs to watch your footing, and where you are driving. Often you are blocked in until they return.

End October 1994 to the end of January 1995.

Weather now taken turn for the worst. Cold, damp, miserable. Covered the boat best we could and secured tarpaulin with ropes. Winter and Christmas looming up fast, decided to spend some time at home, visiting the boat when we could and keep the rent paid up.

One rope did snap. The one tied and secured over the top of the main cabin. Friction had gradually worn it though. Some tears in the tarpaulin occurred on the cabin corners, so we purchased a roll of strong DUCK tape to patch them up with. Excellent adhering and strength qualities has this tape. Expensive but well worth it.

Being winter season now the dinghies were being taken away for storage and the larger boats and yachts were being lifted out and sited around us. We could not now get the van up close to our Yacht. It was a nuisance. The electric meter box was now crammed full of electric leads. We would have to pull someone out to put ours in. Popped into the Chandlery and purchased a made up longer length of electric cable.

	Yachts are out for winter and Emerald is totally surrounded.

One weekend we visited, to discover that our step ladders (one of them) , which we leave tied to our cradle, had been untied and taken. Fortunately we found them only two boats away. But the cheek of it. No-one on board so we retrieved them and hid them underneath our cradle. Luckily we had length of chain in the van and with padlock secured our other set of steps to the cradle.

We did ring up a supplier to make enquiries regarding cockpit enclosures etc. The quote arrived. £1200 for cabin cover and cockpit enclosure. We were thinking of a burgundy colour. Noticed the boat next but one to ours had such a cabin cover and boom cover, from this supplier. It did look nice, but could we afford it at this point, and also the Coachroof is not ready yet to have coaming made up and fitted. This can be done when the companionway hatch runners and hatch made. For now we had utilised a piece of hardboard over the companionway hatch area to keep out the water.

It bothered us that each time we visited the boat the weather was bad and we could not uncover the boat. At the first opportunity we needed to uncover the boat completely to dry, air and check it over.

4/2/95

Today visited the boat. Could not see our yacht for other Yachts, all shapes and sizes. No way could we get the van up to it. There was space next to our Yacht but just could not get to it. Had to park the van in the car park round the corner almost. Yachts were so close together , there was only inches between them in cases. Removed the tarpaulin from our Yacht. Unfortunately water had collected aft of the cockpit seating area and flowed down into the locker areas and down into the bilges. Water had also collected right aft on deck. The portside deck however was very damp indeed. Very little winter sun catches portside. Could have done with being bow more west. Also we realized the way we tied the tarpaulin there was very little ventilation getting in. Mould was developing in various places. The drop boards were swollen with damp and fortunately water had been able to escape through the lower hatch frame holes. This was the idea in doing this. Having managed to prise out the drop boards, set them aside in the little sun there was, at which point we noticed minute bugs crawling all over the boards. Soon executed all these. They must have been awaiting hatching time. Excellent day for us though. Sunny and warm, and no wind. Timbers were drying out well, except for Portside. Needs air around to dry thoroughly. Wrapped up the boat about 16:30pm. Decided though to alter the Tarpaulin . Decided to fold the tarpaulin in half, with a rope through the fold, and tie this over the main cabin frontage, draping the rest of the sheet aft. This should allow air underneath the tarpaulin down the side decks,  to hopefully help dry out areas which get wet, and prevent further damage. Particularly bad were the inner cockpit well sides. A lot of sanding to be done, but it has been a worthwhile day. It certainly helped to boost and instigate the enthusiasm to set about coming down each weekend from now on, at least for one night. There is hardly any Yachts in the water now, and out on the hard it looks like they all want the cheapest area where we are !. Hopefully they will be launched in the next couple of months to give us back our breathing space.

	This is how the tarpaulin was fitted in the end - to allow air to get down the side decks.

11/2/95

Arrived at the boat and what a surprise. Even more boats out it seemed, or had they been moved around ?. Then we noticed behind the travel lift which had a Yacht in its sling, there was actually a way through the yachts, to our spot. We parked up between the two yachts on our portside.Checked over our Yacht. The tarpaulin was still intact. The weather was however very dull, heavy showers and literarily gale force winds. Lots of wind whistling though all the halyards which where rattling against the masts. What a racket. About to make tea, when realised we had forgotten our mugs. Traped across the hard standing area, dodging and ducking the Yachts, to the chandlery. We asked of a sowester, but all they had was the box. Someone had bought the last one. Found two cups to our taste, got some metallic pink primer to paint the drop boards with, replaced our spare gas bottle with a full one, and purchased a de-humidifier with chrystals to soak up excess moisture in the atmosphere on board. The two cups we had picked up though, went with saucers and were priced at £7.80 each. Soon put these back and settled for two thermal mugs £2.75 each. Strolled back to the Yacht. Good job we had our rain jackets with us. After tea, in our new mugs, we had a further walk around outside. The electric situation was terrible, all sockets were full and meter cables going off in all directions. We needed again to find a meter which was not registering any power drain. There is a flashing led if power is being used. This done we always ensured our meter was on show in the van windscreen, plus it meant it was locked in the van. Then no-one could do walkies with our new orange cable or the meter lead. Had a further walk around the launch slipway, and by the time we got back to the van we were drenched. Needed to change quickly into dry trousers etc. Had more teas, made hot water bottle. Had a rest. Whilst we were out earlier we noticed the 50 footer next to us was twisting in the wind very badly. She had not really got sufficient shores under here to prevent this. We then noticed that one corner of the cradle was not on the floor !. The yacht was on minimum shores as the owner had obviously been doing some antifouling of the bottom. It was so bad to see it – that we moved the van from next to it, and managed to get between the yachts further up to be right alongside ours. We could see this Yacht moving about an inch or so from side to side. Quite alarming really. Had a curry in the marina bar then to bed and with our new 15.0 tog duvet, plus sleeping bags etc we slept like logs.

	The bow of the 50'er was only 10" off the stern of Emerald !

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