Recent content by rotrax

Spindle sheared off on one of our boats. It was the heads outlet. The heads had been used before it was realised the outlet was not open.....................................

When we were hauled out at the Hayling Yact Company at Mill Rythe two weeks ago I was surprised to see the weed shoe was missing. The weed shoe is a piece joining the rear of the long keel to the rudder skeg. Its purpose is simple-fill the gap to stop weed or loose ropes/pot buoys etc getting...

Try Porthcawl Insurance Brokers. Very happy with their very personal service and price.

It is possible the bus bars on my Island Packet's are high nickel content solid steel. AFAIK, stainless steel has plenty of nickel in it. They dont appear plated as they seem to have been cut to length to suit the spaces they are fitted in.

I have just been into my workshop where, hanging on the toolboard for electrical stuff, is my heavy discharge battery tester. Two pointed prongs with substantial wooden handles, pivoting in and out to reach different width terminal posts. Connected together via very heavy copper strip...

When I get a problem, I shall, of course, be checking as you suggest. In the absence of any problems I shall continue to use my boat as usual. If it aint broke, dont fix it. As an aside, when I fitted my used 8KW Westerbeke genset, I needed to extend the live and earth cables as the battery was...

Yes, but true knowlege is the product of direct experience. They are obviously fit for purpose, otherwise they would give trouble. None experienced in 17 years and two boats. They are 3/8ths of an inch thick, not just light strip.

Very true, but the E120 on our boat was fitted when new and is from 2008. With an updated Gold card-we did not need all the extras the Platinum gave-it more than meets our requirements. Big screen, easy to operate, splits for radar and plotter. A friend with the same model of boat has a very...

Pretty sure the busbars fitted as OE on our Island Packet are thick S/S. No problems in 17 years and two boats. No other Island Packet owners are complaining or suffering trouble with busbars AFAIK.

Lovely looking boats, very expensive, especially new, with nice features. I was very impressed at a recent boat show with everything but the price. Are they worth the money? Of academic interest only as I cant afford one. I will stick with my Island Packet SP Cruiser until the end of next...

Island Packet use thick aluminium backing plates. I fitted two threaded eyes-12mm ones-and used some 10mm aluminium plate I had left over from my motorbike racing days. I threaded them and then used locknuts. It was high quality duralumin plate, from GKN at slough.

Lovely boats, well built, very expensive. I will be selling our Island Packet SP Cruiser in 2025/6. A 2007 build, all the bells and whistles, solar, 8KW Genny, code zero on a furler, huge tankage, huge storage. Less money too...........................

How do you keep the ice in your drinks?

This is a definite possibility. Disconnect the drive belt for a few seconds-just long enough to see if it is OK without a highly magnetised alternator. If it is, investigate the 'soft start' function. Our Yanmar 4JH4-HTE has it.

Shall we have a sweepstake? Will Wandsy buy a boat or not? What odds-anyone care to make a suggestion? I dont think he will ever buy a boat as long as he has a fundamental orifice.......................... ;)