A routine row out to Robinetta

Leaving a boat on a mooring in November is not as simple as laying her up on the shore as we need to make regular visits on her. We need to check the battery level, run the engine to make sure it does not seize, and check the water level in the bilges. The mooring line might also show wear. We don't get any huge waves or swell, but storms and motor boat wake can set her moving significantly.

We went out to see her on the 8th November, after several days of heavy rain and found water showing just above her floor boards. The electric pump had got blocked again. Luckily it had not burnt out, and Julian got it back into working order after a bit of a struggle, as the non return valve had got jammed open....

The weather today was perfect for a row out, with bright sunshine. I wanted some pictures of Robinetta on her mooring for the cover of the next blog book, so I rowed all round her while Julian took lots of pictures. When we finally got on board the bilges were nearly dry, and the electric pump was working. 

We had taken the radio off to check it ashore, and now know that the problem is with the aerial. We will need to do something about that before next season, but there is not a lot we can do now, so Julian installed it again as is. There is no need to haul our spare aerial up when the boat is on the mooring!

I put a coat of teak oil on the grab rails, and Danish Oil on the cabin sides, and then we came home.

We do hope to get some sailing over the winter, but so far there has been either too much wind, no wind, or heavy rain, or both. Today would have been perfect, it only there was some wind!