'Rosy' Needs Some Weather

The weather here in Gent continues to be perverse and disgusting.  Rain, sleet, hail, snow, sun, wind - the works.  We went for a voyage last night (more later) and FROZE, despite warming slugs of sherry.

There are all sorts of painting jobs that need to be done on 'Rosy', but they must wait for some fine, settled weather.

The boats at the mooring have been coming and going, though now they have mostly all gone.  The electric hook up to the shore has been disconnected.  By switching off the fridge, I went 9 days using just the electricity stored in our batteries, and at the end of that, there was still juice left in them.

Water, too, has been switched off.  I can last another week with what is on board.  Nonetheless, later on today (or tomorrow if the weather stays iffy) I'll go a mile or two down the cut, to where I originally was when I came to Gent (nearly a year ago!!) and when Veronica and Lorna visited.

Yesterday evening, Jeff the Book (he runs a second-hand-English-book-shop here in Gent) came along for a cruise.  I wanted to run the engine to charge the batteries.  This was the first running of the engine since the 'bit' was replaced.  I don't know what the 'bit' is called, as it doesn't appear in the 'Exploded Parts' book, but it might be a 'push-rod'.  It goes up and down, and bears on one end of the rocker, causing the other end of the rocker to open and close the appropriate inlet or exhaust valve.  Dick Goble realised that the top of one of the push-rods (if that is what they are called) was eccentric, so sent out another one.  I installed it, and set the clearance.

Judging by last night's cruise, replacing this push rod seems to have cured the problem I had of the engine occasionally missing a beat. Unfortunately, the engine now does not run smoothly.  Whilst warming it up (by running it on petrol) it runs erratically, and whilst on diesel, there was always a wisp of smoke coming out.

There is a good chance that Dick will be coming out here again on (or about) 18 May, bringing the new propeller with him.  There is also some other work to be done on the engine.

Then, the current 'plan' is to take 'Rosy' down to Ternuzen on Sun 27 May. (The canal down to Ternuzen carries massive, intercontinental, ocean-going freighters, so I'd prefer to pootle down it on a Sunday when it will be a bit less busy.  Also, on Sundays, Jeff the Book is more than willing to come along to help.  He worked canal boats in UK and here in Europe, and enjoys getting back onto the water.  Plus he teaches me boat handling).  At some time during the following week, 'Rosy' will be lifted out and the new prop fitted (plus, if necessary (and I hope it won't be) have some new anodes welded on).  Back in the water, we'll have a quick motor round and hope that the new prop shows an improvement.  If not, at least I can get lifted out (again) and get the old prop put back on, and then consider what to do next ...  However, if all goes well, we'll get back up to Gent the following Sunday, and then heigh-ho for France.

All a bit technical, today, but that's what it's sometimes like on 'Rosy'.

Toodle pip!!

Bill