Thursday 20^th September 2018

The rain last night was very heavy and the winds were slamming us against the pontoons all night again. Fortunately, both dropped just briefly over the time we were moving to Alex’s workshop, it was a tricky manoeuvre anyway through the marina. No sooner had we moored, the wind and rain returned, stronger than ever. It seems we are having back to back storms with little respite. Maybe it’s a blessing we are tied up in a marina, you certainly couldn’t move in these conditions.

The leisure batteries have been replaced but, once connected, the inverter started playing up again, going crazy, changing from one mode to another and then tripping altogether. Checking through connections, there were a number found loose, quite a few on the main fuses which has now cured the problem.

The engine was run for an hour to fully charge the batteries and all evening we have had all the lights on, the heating on and the cooker and fridge running with nothing untoward. The heating has only been run twice prior to this, just last week when the battery problem first manifested itself. Then, the noise from the heating fan was really loud with all the lighting flickering on and off. When running this time, the heating was so quiet we didn’t think it had come on. It has become much colder today and the heating was needed.

Good. Let’s hope we have seen an end to the troubles for now. Tomorrow, Alex is to fit a frame for the starter battery.

The boat has had a starboard list ever since entering the water. It seems that just about everything that has been added since has gone on this same side and now, these heavier and extra batteries, have made the list even more pronounced. It is becoming difficult to walk properly. We will have to add more ballast but don’t know where to get any from.    

Brenda had managed to get an appointment with a local hairdresser in nearby Sawley so she walked up there for her 2pm appointment. Neither of us particularly like it when work is getting done from outside. The boat seems to get taken over, especially when the rear deck boards are up and the pontoon not long enough to enable you to get off the front, so it was good for her to get off, her hair looks good too.

We have arranged to stay in the marina until Sunday to be certain the electrics remain stable. Then head off. Weather permitting.

I counted up last night. It is 123 days since the boat went into the water. 71 of these have been spent on the move and 52 spent either having repairs done, or waiting on repairs. That is 42% of our time wasted and not spent doing what we envisaged.

Weather: very windy, gales. Heavy rain on and off all day.