Our Current Position

Thursday 21 September 2017

It's been a while!

Well it's a bit sad that we are now well through September and this is the first post of 2017. That is partly a reflection of our lack of activity on X-Pat due to other things and partly just being lazy. 

After arriving in Mooloolaba in December 2016, we basically just stayed there through until March 2017, doing a few day trips but not a lot else. On 6th March we waved goodbye to Mooloolaba and headed south, initially to The Boatworks at Coomera for the annual service and then back north to Newport Marina, just north of Brisbane where we decided to keep X-Pat whilst we were away on numerous land based trips. 

The trip between Coomera and Newport became a well trodden path after we discovered a leak following the initial service. To cut a long story short this turned out, to be due to poor sealing between the internal side of the hull and the engine tray onto which the sail drive sealed. The area was disturbed during the service, which included replacing the sail drive seal. We don't know why this area was so poorly constructed but am glad that it is now fixed.

It was a very painful process to find the source of the leak and it then took two attempts to fix it. However at the end of the day Josh and the team at Ocean Degree did a fantastic job and the bilge is now drier than the Simpson desert!

The mess around the sail drive and the poor seal which was the source of the leak
After much excavation, cleaning and fibreglassing 
the new sail drive cavity is finished

The finished sail drive installation
The service also included, replacing the old macerator pump, an engine and sail drive service, gas fittings all renewed, new oven, anchor winch service, new sheave on the headsail furler, new electric and manual bilge pump, and fairleads on the bow. We have also just had two shiny new Raymarine Axiom multifunction displays fitted, including one at the helm which will transform motoring through tight situations. The auto helm system has also all been replaced, so we are ready for the next adventure.

Watch this space ......


Safely tucked up in Newport Marina and ready for the next adventure





3 comments:

  1. Goodness me quite an upgrade including the oven.Definitely time to test the new features. what about a super net to scoop plastic when you can?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Not unknown as stated above . Jaqui D from Dublin. Happy sailing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Jacqui. Busy refreshing our knowledge/skills at the moment.

    ReplyDelete

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