Hello from the Solent

BigE · 22 May 2017, 11:38

Hi all,
I registered this morning. I'm Ed, we live in the New Forest and have a RIB moored at Keyhaven at the Western most tip of the Solent.

I picked up a 15 year old Bombard Explorer with a 50HP Honda engine which needed some TLC, I'm getting there slowly but suffering from a blocked water system now (see here: http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/sucked-up-mud-75643.html )

She's a nice boat and the kids are having a blast. I grew up around boats on Anglesea, North Wales where my father was a machine conservationist so we spent many happy years scuba diving and out and about on surveys.

I'm quite mechanically literate when it comes to car engines so I'm hoping to apply that to boats and help out on here as much as I can.

Solent Seadog · 22 May 2017, 12:05

Hi Big Ed, and welcome to Ribnet.

Glad to hear you've recently joined us and picked up a Bombard which the family are enjoying. I'm sure you'll have many years of fun with it. I too have an Explorer SB 5m so hope to see you out on the Solent sometime. I haven't made it out so far this year but with the weather improving this week there's little excuse.

I'm not too mechanically minded but there's plenty on here that are and assistance will usually be forthcoming to help you with your engine problem.

Steve

BigE · 22 May 2017, 12:12

Hi Steve,

I'll keep an eye out for you. Our boat is black with yellow piping

Our first trip out was to Yarmouth and I took the girls out for a quick blast to Lymington on Saturday.

steco1958 · 22 May 2017, 21:18

Hi Steve and BigE, we are down there on 10th and 11th June launching from Christchurch

Solent Seadog · 22 May 2017, 21:41

Hopefully going out from there with a BBQ/picnic on Saturday.

BigE · 22 May 2017, 21:43

I like Christchurch, enjoy your outings.
Where you going to from CH? A trip over to Swanage is nice.

Solent Seadog · 22 May 2017, 22:16

Not too far as it will be the 1st outing with our young pup, so depending on wind & tide it's likely to be just a gentle ride down-river along to Mudeford.

Hope you manage to clear out the blockage from your engine in time for the weekend.

BigE · 22 May 2017, 22:19

I'm hoping to give it a go tomorrow morning, the tide will at least be right to get it onto it's trailer.

BigE · 23 May 2017, 13:37

Went to fiddle with the boat this morning, cleaned out the 'tell tail' and hay presto it's all working as it should. I used the strimmer wire method.

Feeling good and already being there, I took the boat for a blast over to the Isle of Wight and back. Shorts, T-shirt and a life jacket, nothing more needed.

Solent Seadog · 23 May 2017, 14:47

Always feels better when you don't need to reach for the chequebook!

I take it the prop was OK on the crossing?

BigE · 23 May 2017, 14:52

Certainly, I enjoy fiddling so it was a good result. The prop (should have taken a picture) is worse the wear but seemed okay. No big hurry to replace it so I may wait for a good used one to come up on ebay.

neil.mccrirrick · 23 May 2017, 15:51

It's not a huge amount to repair have a look at steel developments. Comes back like new imho least mine have (confessing to bending more than one lol)

BigE · 23 May 2017, 15:53

It's more a case that we don't want the boat out of action for long while the repair is being done. Honestly I've no idea how much difference the damage has caused. It seems to perform okay.

Pikey Dave · 23 May 2017, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

It's not a huge amount to repair have a look at steel developments. Comes back like new imho least mine have (confessing to bending more than one lol)

I have Steel Developments on speed dial[emoji57]