Its very quiet!

[storm petrel]

I fond hanging one of those big plastic owls on a string from the main works but you have to rest it below for 1 or 2 week every month or so because otherwise the birds get used to it.

I am keen on furlers and have a Hood 705 that has given many years of fine service - until this afternoon when it suddenly became very difficult turn !@#$$#%##%**@#* From oscillating the lower section when we returned to the mooring it sounds like the lower bearing is shot. More investigation to follow........ What is the bet that parts are no longer available?

Keen to see your poop deck Shaun at the HRYC regatta.

[bearmcnally]

Hi Shaun ,

Pulled the Arona 8hp out of Egret II about 4 years ago Had the head, rings etc all re-done but never put it back together or back in Egret II.It now lives in the garage if you ever need a spare let me know




Regards Bear

[bearmcnally]

G,day Top Hatters


DON'T even mention one don't ever think about one,go wash your mouth out and go and see bloody O.P.S.M Bloody awful things they sail like a bag of #%@*&%$ their have no bloody room my dogs kennel is bigger than it's aft cabin [and I have a small dog]The bloody main cabin if you want to call that ! has the bloody mast going through it I won't even mention the bloody front cabin, if you ever need to use the head on the rottern things you'd have more sucess and less embarrasment with an icecream container.Anyway you'd have more fun ridding a bloody kid's rocking horse and most probably go faster.... Gee don't get me started on the horrible things




BEAR

[karl010203]

'nuff said and very delicately put Bear...

Knew there had to be a reason... sound nasty.

[Phillip]

Greg,

We have swallows up here, nothing else thank god, and the most successful result is obtained by using the old plastic shopping bag from coles etc, just loop one handle on. Seems that the noise of the bag plus the swinging around is what makes them so good. Not a fashion statement thou .

Phillip
SEAKA

[robf]

In my attempts over the years to keep Isabella II from becoming the local bird's nest (seagulls mainly, cormorants and swallows too - even seen penguins having a close look) I've strung out fishing line. Seems the gulls don't like hitting it and tend to keep clear - making the next door neighbour's boat the rookery. Keep the line tight or the birds get wound up in it.... As for the old Drofin diesel, a good run every few weeks and avoiding a short run where it doesn't get to full operating temperature has had good success in the past, along with regular oil and filter changes (6-9 monthly). Had all mounts replaced when, upon inspection, found that they had all cracked so the engine was simply sitting in place...

I'm still with the furler despite the less than perfect sail shape at the luff, it's the lack of going up f'ward in a sea that I don't miss. If I was more serious about my racing I'd be back to hanks.

Cheers all

[Dolphin]

Thanks for all the suggestions. My son put a black garbage bag on the boom and pulpit and that seemed to do all right. I think you've got to be careful if they fall off and then they're pollution.
Has anyone tried CDs. Some boats have a string of them hung up. Unfortunately I've got a mooring minder next to me and I think they just fly over from there. As the flags are a year old and survived a few good blows its time to change them and I'll take some of those suggestions. They sound good.

On diesels, If the diesel salt water cooling gets to more than 80Deg C the salt crystalises and will not dissolve in water! I used to use 1:1 vinegar and water and soak it for 24hrs. It removed all traces of salt. If youcan heat it its even better.
If the diesel is run on no load for a long time ie more than 1 hour per week on no load the bore glazes and the rings can't seal because there is no oil on the cylinder wall. It will start blowing white smoke. If you like you can fix it by honing the bore with 180grit wet n dry, sanding it at 45 degrees. Sounds wierd but the sales engineer at Hatz (Perry) told me about it and it works. A happy diesel is one that works at about 2/3rds throttle, not flat out. If you are blowing black smoke, the engine is overloaded, ie a fouled prop, or you may have a blocked air cleaner, For what its worth.
Greg.

[Marinka]

have to agree with Bear on the Monitou. I recently had willy wagtails set up their nest on my boat and raise their young. When they were gone after 2 weeks I invited Karl for a sail and guess who got to scrub the deck down!!! I see they have now set up home on a catamaran and hopefully won't be back on my boat. The 3 snakes did not seem to worry them. Nor did the 2 eagles that have a nest near by overlooking my boat - but then again the willy wagtail will attack the eagles! Game little suckers. Maybe I should put a real python on the boat. On a boat near by is an owl and to keep him company the cormorants sit right next to him. The boat with all the shopping bags is covered in poop. IF on Lake Macquarie - move out!! SO not sure what the answer is. Have a good day Cheers Peter

[Miker]

Shaun, You struck me as a very capable fellow when I met you and I'm sure you'll build a very fine Poop deck. Of course up on the lake every deck is a poop deck with those "bloody cormorants". As is every seat, sail cover or pushpit.
I've used flags and they seem to be the best. I've used humming line and that is a pest putting it on and off. I notice that John Lewis used those rotating thingoes. Has any else had success with bird scarers? I'm getting rid of the flags, as they are wearing out and I'm thinking of using netting. What has everyone else had success with?
(Bear you have mail, please read you messages!)
Greg.

Greg, when we bought Dulcamara we dutifully put up the nets at the end of every day, but couple that with all the other stowing chores after a day or weekend out and it gets very tedious. When we moved to Careel Bay from Gladesville I got an owl, as a gift actually, so I strung it up on the lazy jacks. There was poop everywhere in just one week. Thing is, the owl is a threat, so the birds try to attack it and whilst they dont like to sit on your boat, they can still poop while they're flying!
I looked across at all the other boats in Careel Bay, they have birds, cats, CDs, feather dusters and one had plastic bags. I ran the tender past it and it looked like it hadn't been out for a little while, and it was clean! So that's what I do. I take all my plastic shopping bags out to the boat and tie two on the boom and one on each cabin rail. No poop. They don't like the noise.
CAVEAT! You MUST make sure the bags are in good condition and replace them often so they don't shred and fall in the water and choke the fish..... After a year in Careel, I've only ever had to clean the boat once when I forgot the bags.
Keith on Sylph has a snake on deck, so I might give that a go as well. Anything to make the stowing after a sail easier PS. I have some cheap nets for sale if anyone wants them......

[Dolphin]

Thanks everyone, there is some good information there. It looks like there could be a PhD in there somewhere for a bright young fella. Moving isn't an option, however if I used the boat more then the little buggers have to find it. Its hard to hit a moving target.

By the way what is the fastest colour for a Top Hat?
Greg.