Sammy's had enough!






New Navy destroyer out for sea trials too!

Well the last few days have been busy turning Rowena back into a boat and not a tool shed, we have been out on a few trials, the last being on Saturday when Jonathan came down with 5 girls and 1 boy and took out Venture - wakeboarding. We followed in Rowena to watch, the sun was shining, the sea was calm it was like a summers day.

Hopefully all engine problems are now under control, we think it is the prop that is the wrong size and causing the engine to over work, and therefore, overheat, so that has to be changed, but not until next year - we will just have to cruise slowly.

Weather permitting we will be out at Easter and then in May, will post a few photos next time of the places we hope to be visiting - so keep blog watching.

The sea trials are not going too well, on Tuesday it was discovered that the diesel from the new engine was returning back to the small back tank. Paul saw this 'rust' leaking out of the overflow into the marina, then realised it was red diesel! Slight panic (under estimate!) Luckily only a drop went into te bilges, but it could of been a lot worse especially if we had been at sea at the time, the bilges would have been swimming with diesel - not nice- anyway it turns out 'someone' had turned the wrong tap on on the fuel panel!

Yesterday we were out in the Solent - me steering - Paul and Kelvin in the engine room. The other engine overheats, fire alarm goes off and smoke appears in the engine room! Paul rushes up to to tell me ' smoke in the engne room, engine red hot' then disappears again! I carry on steering, not much else I can do with the Isle of Wight ferry bearing down on me.

Today the job is too find out why the engine overheats at 2000 revs. Proper mechanic coming to have a look and another sea trial.

Checking out the new engine

Rowena back in her berth

Now what do you think these are for - I thought Paul had put them up for barbeque's on one and my wine bottle on the other! But no they are for his satellite domes!

Finally after four weeks in the shed Rowena was moved out, we all waited with baited breath for the new engine to start, this after a couple of leaks from things that had not been tightened enough! It started and revved immediately to 2300 and had to be quickly switched off again and the throttle cable lengthened, getting good with all this technical stuff aren't I, its all I've heard for the past 4 weeks. Any way after that things seemed ok, today Tuesday we are off for a little trip to test it out, and see if we can get an extra knot. Let you know tomorrow.

Monday 16th - here is Kelvin busy in the engine room.

Over the weekend Paul and Kelvin worked very hard re wiring and cleaning the paint off the new engine! As you can see from the before and after pictures they worked very hard. Paul discovered the miracle 'international paint stripper' with which he proceeded to clean all the unwanted (by him) paint.

The apprentice looks a bit surplus to requirements - poor lad probably can't get a look in with Paul there.

Engine up in the air

Well here they are, who do you think is in charge?

Kelvin South Wales is next to join us, he his coming down here on Sat until Wednesday and will be down in the engine room no doubt. The plan is that Rowena will go in to the water on Monday and then we start the engine! We may have to do a few trial runs in the Solent.

Competition Time! Spot the fan belt! Everything and I mean everything has been sprayed.

Thursday 12th March


Yes I'm varnishing! So you see life is not all shopping and coffee. Now the dogs are here its walking them as well, though its nice to see the sea and boats in the morning, and they don't get muddy.

But enough of that here is the new engine! Some bits had to come off before it would fit through the door but as I write it should be being built back up, by a mechanic, his apprentice and Paul, if they are all still speaking.
Mark is painting the windows now, he has enough work for 3 days but has only 12 hours to do it in - hope he's not having too many brews.

The very clean engine room and the man responsible.

Sunday 8th March- Yesterday and today Paul has had a new helper - me. I spent yesterday sorting out the mess inside Rowena and tidying up - only to get a shouting at because he (Paul) could not find anything, Paul spent the whole day with his OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) he was in the engine room cleaning the spot the old engine had been in, bear in mind that it had been there for 40 years and now you could eat your dinner there, that's how much he cleaned.

Today I have been allowed to varnish the bathing platform, under supervision of course, and though I say it myself its looking a lovely colour, I hope that everyone will notice the good job done.

We have a booking for a summer cruise and by special request some diving by Pete and Sandra, that's sometime in the summer holidays, so if anyone else is interested in coming with us, here is an idea of what we are hoping to do; May and June cruise to Scillies, leaving Rowena in various ports probably as we pop home to show our faces. July to August in the Channel Islands and off the coast of Brittany and Normandy, if you don't fancy the channel crossing you can always meet us in France or Jersey/Guernsey.

Friday 6th March - well the old engine is now out of Rowena, the chain comes through the roof and a forklift through the window to lift it out! The new one should be in early next week. Paul has been seriously stressed in case there is any damage and he has to answer to me!

Phil and Mark have gone home via London from the texts I received off Mark, he took his eyes off the road for one minute, no need to add that Phil was driving! We had a steak dinner last night and I organised these fireworks by the Spinnaker as a thank you (not really, they were for some high ranking navy man whose birthday it was!)

The spinnaker tower last night.

Thursday 5th March - Mark has finished his outside painting now, good job as he is going home for the weekend. Phil is polishing the paintwork but he too is going home tomorrow. The old engine is being taken out today and Paul has to go to Brighton on Monday to pick up the new one to be fitted in, so he will be down here another week. Mark is coming back on Monday to start painting the aft cabin and the bilges!

I have heard that in all the two weeks Mark has only made 1 'brew'! Phil has eaten 13 mega breakfasts and at one point they were that fed up of Paul they were going to get the train home!

But they are all still here working hard to the last hour.

The engine that Paul wants to match.

Chicken a la Cragg went down very well, Phil is going to get his mam to cook it for him! Today liver has been requested so that's what's cooking now.

Rowena outside for the day.

So yesterday went very well and today, Tuesday, Rowena is back in the shed ready for the gloss coat of paint. Moves are still afoot for a new engine - phone calls to be made today to see if it can be done next week. Phil was told to be careful of the wet paint on the boat, but once in the pub we could see paint on his anorak, he wasn't pleased because it was his best coat and Mark wasn't pleased because it was his paint! Happy days.

Plastic around Rowena ready for spraying, the scaffolding is made from plastic water pipe from Wicks with sheet plastic draped over!

Crocus at Portsmouth Cathedral

Well its a lovely day here 'down south' and a good thing too as Rowena has had to move out of the shed for the day to let some other boats move in. The boys are enjoying being out in the sunshine and are rubbing down ready for yet more painting - never buy a wooden boat.

One new item that is now on the agenda is a new engine for Rowena, Paul is worried about the original 1968 engine giving up as it is ' knocking' apparently - so that may take place next week, keep watching.

I have had a nice day too - shopping in West Quay Southampton mmmm heaven. But its not all relaxing - tea tonight is Cragg Chicken - thats chicken in pesto for those who don't know, salad and garlic bread, plus pudding. There is also washing and ironing for 3 men to be done so I'd better sign off.

Rowena ready for spraying

Mark practising his bowling

Rowena in the shed.

Sunday 1st March - things are going well over at Rowena, today the first coat of paint is going on. Yesterday was spent buying plastic pipe to convert into a scaffolding holding the plastic to shield the other boats in the shed from Mark and his spray gun. Phil has finished the antifouling and very nice it looks too - black this time - he has also polished the props and shafts until they shine, shame no one is going to see them once she goes back in the water. Mark and Paul obviously have no need for Phil this afternoon because when Maureen and I got back from hitting the shops who was here in the flat watching Star Trek, Phil, must be a punishment for Maureen and I for enjoying ourselves.

Last night we took Venture across to Cowes to put some hours on the engines and to have tea in the pub there, it was just going dark when we left Portsmouth but the sea was calm and we arrived just 20 mins later a bit cold and windblown. After our meal in The Anchor we set off back in the dark for Portsmouth, its very nice to see the Spinnaker Tower getting nearer and nearer. We arrived in Gunwharf dressed for the 'antartic' only to see every one going to Tiger Tiger with hardly anything on!

Since the bowling Mark has been practising his bowling technique with a paint tin, as he couldn't find a ball, then Phil found one of Tizzy's so he has been using that. All in the shed under Rowena when Paul is not looking.