Well, more of a laying up day really
And at that, not so much laying up as settling in for the winter as Erbas will still be used as a floating cottage
I drove down on Friday afternoon arriving just as the light was starting to go. After popping briefly round to the marina to check out where we'd be berthing for the winter, I launched the RIB and rowed out to Erbas
I didn't bother with the outboard as it was nearly high water and flat calm. It didn't take long to sort out fenders and lines, switch on the nav lights (as it was now well past sunset and very nearly dark) and start the engine
I was hailed by Chris off Tomahawk and he and Roni waited for me to motor round to the inside of the pontoon and caught my lines for me.
I hadn't planned to go to the pub but an invite to join the Tomahawks and their friends who they were meeting was too tempting to refuse
Saturday I spent at Tollesbury working on various electrical problems on a clients boat. Back at Fambridge by late afternoon, I couldn't be doing with cooking so popped up the pub for a couple of pints and a burger
The forecast gusty conditions arrived overnight and I was glad to be on the inside of the pontoon. I slept quite well and woke to a breezy but bright morning
Grabbing the outboard out of the car boot, I sorted out lines and fenders ready to come alongside either port or starboard as the fancy took me as I intended to go into a berth where either would be an option
It was no problem motoring round into the marina and I slipped into the berth I chose as easy as you like. Rigging a line from the midships cleat back to the cockpit round the spinnaker sheet winch makes the job very easy. Get that line over a cleat and from then on everything can be sorted out at my leisure
Then it was just a matter of offloading everything not needed for the winter, filling the engine heat exchanger with antifreeze, propping up the cushions and shutting everything down
Then it was time to head for home
Erbas in her winter berth
And at that, not so much laying up as settling in for the winter as Erbas will still be used as a floating cottage
I drove down on Friday afternoon arriving just as the light was starting to go. After popping briefly round to the marina to check out where we'd be berthing for the winter, I launched the RIB and rowed out to Erbas
I didn't bother with the outboard as it was nearly high water and flat calm. It didn't take long to sort out fenders and lines, switch on the nav lights (as it was now well past sunset and very nearly dark) and start the engine
I was hailed by Chris off Tomahawk and he and Roni waited for me to motor round to the inside of the pontoon and caught my lines for me.
I hadn't planned to go to the pub but an invite to join the Tomahawks and their friends who they were meeting was too tempting to refuse
Saturday I spent at Tollesbury working on various electrical problems on a clients boat. Back at Fambridge by late afternoon, I couldn't be doing with cooking so popped up the pub for a couple of pints and a burger
The forecast gusty conditions arrived overnight and I was glad to be on the inside of the pontoon. I slept quite well and woke to a breezy but bright morning
Grabbing the outboard out of the car boot, I sorted out lines and fenders ready to come alongside either port or starboard as the fancy took me as I intended to go into a berth where either would be an option
It was no problem motoring round into the marina and I slipped into the berth I chose as easy as you like. Rigging a line from the midships cleat back to the cockpit round the spinnaker sheet winch makes the job very easy. Get that line over a cleat and from then on everything can be sorted out at my leisure
Then it was just a matter of offloading everything not needed for the winter, filling the engine heat exchanger with antifreeze, propping up the cushions and shutting everything down
Then it was time to head for home
Erbas in her winter berth
