Aberystwyth summary so far nov 24 to Feb 25

 almost 4 months in its new home Aguila has been like a secound home to go and relax and just bimble around

13 visits have been recorded on this blog for some reason how ever small or big work done or just a visit, that in itself is vastly different to going to Bala.

in the same time the year before Black magic was moved to the campsite next door and i wasn't allowed access until march 8th at earliest 

, just the cost of those 13 visits would have added up in fuel and certainly time. 1664 miles £257 in fuel

prob wouldn't have gone up so often even if i had access but just shows small changes do make a difference , winter in Bala would have cost £60 and in Aberystwyth it was £288 however at anytime i could have launched and sailed or just been on the water. so now the boat is only waiting for the tabernackle to be finished and fitted and the rigging done to suit and we are good to go

other tidy jobs are on going but doesnt stop the boat being used, so overall i am very pleased with my decision 

2 days running 28th Feb 2025

 well after taking the wife to work and another sunny day ahead i went to the boat and my aim was install the nasa clipper wifi intrument in the cockpit ,i made sure i had my worx tool and power bank

i measured it out as it was a rectangle to be recessed.

marked it off with tape then made the cuts, after trying wasa tad tight 

then the bracket retainer was too deep so that will have to be trimmed.

its looking better and works 

wiring sorted and unit tested , just in time to go home to be the taxi again 

a tad tight but its in 

ni going back now 

marking out the cut 

lovely day again 

27th Feb 2025 A Busy day at the boat

time for an oxo and some rolls for lunch 

mast step on cabin roof  damage after bolts going too deep into cabin for fixing 

not pad on the victron bluetooth app

the second solar panel making good power 

stanchion removed

at least this one doesnt need fixing 

 

well a good forecast first weather although it didn't seem like it at first a  few jobs to do in town then as a treat a breakfast wrap from the spar , very nice at £3.50.

well the job list always gets longer and they get tackled in no particular order 

went to install the led nave rear light but couldn't find it, in the end i did half way thru the morning .

the contacts were adjusted as a 39 mm bulb was slightly too small. however all ok in the end  .https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204273181678?var=505547606976

next went to install the nasa wifi wind in the onld spot of the target 2 , however i forgot my workx tool nm, the wind vane was mounted on the pole ready.

next found out why the webcam had stopped charging, i didn't leave enough slack when i tidied up both solar controllers , so the pos came out   working now.

then it was a case of tidy wire for the power connections and instruments on the port side, this is a work in progress  until the window surround is done and then i can measure up for the fascia and then for switches. all wires made off a bit more tidy and the trip log cable pulled back into its locker for the slack .

then i tackled the mast tabernacle part on deck as i hadn't looked at it since , the long boltsn had ripped part of the fibreglass up as they protruded into the deck by 10mm or so., a quick sand to clean and an epoxy job for a sunny day.

next up i thought about the port stanchion, as no covering was on the bolt, when i felt the nut it was wet, and i knew it was a tad loose but not much, so with a mole grip i undid the nut and took it off put 2 beads of butyl tape and remounted it and did nut as tight as poss trimmed the butyl tape and a grand job .

as always a few oxo drinks and some chorizo and chilli humus rolls kept me going  yum

i love the trangia stove, great purchase although second hand.

next up after a visit from Robyn the harbour assistant and talking about the assistants post i applied for and didn't get it was time to crack on , also spoke to Andy earlier who had a sadler 36 and was off to Scotland in may.

found the from storage cover wet so i may have a leaky window on the front or something dripping. another task to add to the list.

all the time Rush was on Rush 2112 radio to keep me amused. the day was very sunny so the solar was working well.

22nd Feb 2025 2 days running

 well the good weather did arrive so i got on with more work on the boat 

tided the solar controller wiring and zip tied. 

swapped the lead acid 12v 35ah batt for the ecoworthy 12v 100ah lipo

removed the original solar panel of cabin roof 

removed a few loose window bolts and covered the holes with gaffa 

removed redundant wire unknown and plugged the cab in cabin roof.

tidied cabin in general. 

removed old battery connector for trolling motor prev owner used 

removed other fittings associated

undid rear nav light to check bulb , it popped out never to be seen again, but one wire was off so put back on 

checked ground chains on g3 for length to the wall 

looking at G3 the gap

overall a productive morning 

rear nav light 

Wet and windy day 21st Feb 2025

 Well all though it as forecast a gale and wet I had to go into town anyway so I went to boat as well  

My port window leaks around the rubber seal 

So I put tempory some buttle tape 

Got 2 loose bolts tightened 

 

Got the front nav light to show 

Got both speed log and depth to illuminate 

Starboard nav light lit

Port nav light lit 

Added in a long led light in cabin. 3m tape to side under window.  Draws 0.6amp ??? A lot 

My victron charge controller has Bluetooth so I could see the draw  

To calculate the power (in watts) of this supply, you would use the formula:

• Power (W) = Voltage (V) x Current (A)
• Power (W) = 12V x 0.6A = 7.2 watts 

To calculate watt hours from 12v at 0.6 amps, you need to multiply the voltage (12v) by the amperage (0.6 amps), resulting in 7.2 watt hours. 

A "12v 7aMP" battery is equal to 84 watt hours. 

Explanation:

• To calculate watt hours (Wh), you multiply the voltage (V) by the amp hours (Ah). 
• In this case, 12 volts (V) x 7 amp hours (Ah) = 84 watt hours (Wh). 

Formula: Wh = V x Ah 

so 11hrs of led light on a fully charged batt

• 
  

Cleaned up a bit , the cabin floor was wet again

I now know where from the cockpit drain hole pipework in rear qtr berth so I stuck some butyle tape in both sides for now and see.    It was at least a bucket of water 

The rear nav light couldn’t get to show so maybe bulb or holder 

Had a brew love my trangia it’s so easy 

Blowing a gale in the harbour but I was happy bumbling 

So at least I’m more aware than the other day 

So that’s good 

I have so many battery’s onboard for this and that I may just put my 100amph one on instead it’s so light 

I got the controller for it so no problem 

Having all the kit at hand is so important. Especially when wiring up.  I found a crimp on my garmin 4cv rusty so quickly re did that 

Back tomorrow to bumble again 

tabernacle and boom bolt

 well time to get this part sorted and fitted 

after a visit to George in the village a plan was devised for the tabernacle fitting and bolts required and same for the boom bolt thats missing the tabernacle was straightened out nicely and just the crack to be welded

frustrating day 17-2-25

 well frustrating was an understatment.

the window surround project didnt fit so prev owner did it wrong = prop seal the window screws and do the carpet linning instead

the stanchion bolt was really a two man job and now needs a nut welded instead , i had to cut the support wire so now thats a swaging or dynema job.

checked the victron controller for the cam, that was ok and changed setting to lead acid.

double checked after it was actually charging the cam . forgot my phone last time to check.

checked the trip log instrument but no read outr on display put 12v supply onto lead and connected the plugs. not sure what's going on there 

removed the old wind instrument target 2 frpm the cockpit and masked it over. if the other 2 dont work i will remove  and put a cover plate and fix my wind instrument in i bought and my garmin fish finder 

added a new victron controller into my 12v 7ah battery and solar cell in the window inside

pics to follow, the victron is bluetooth so checked it was working.

the correct swagging tool

after alot of agonising trawling of the internet a wire crimper and rope crimper are not quite the same, the dies to crimp are different so my purchase i did for the hydraulic version was no good  , ok for doing big battery terminals now

live and learn,  i invested in this bench versuion when the demonstration vid on the website showed 4mm wire rope being swagged with 4mm ferrules . mission achieved  

11th Feb boat visit

 whilst in town going shopping it was rude not to go visit the boat and drop off bits and bobs ready.

stanchion bolts checked to see if they fit , roofing carpet liner , mast internal post , the block on ceiling needs adjusting as it was too tight to fit in , mini solar panel cleaned but not in use, swagging tool brought home ready for the rigging mod battery checked the 35ah lead acid with victron charger, powered on and off the cam as i think it had locked up, working ok now.

met Clive who owns the little red sailing boat, then it was time to go, hopefully be at the boat tomorrow to start 

Boat Insurance red tape 6th Feb 2025

 with Aguila insurance due April cover was needed for when it gets launched and on the mooring in the gap.

originally known as a skipper 17 then an eagle 525 as morton eagle 

on mine i knew it had to change to cover on the water moored however alot of companys donr show eagle 525 

also they dont cover wales for anything other than marina , only place i found that did both was GJW 

I Originally covered Black magic with them    not cheap but cover alot.

after 3 hrs of searching and doing quotes and a few phone calls all now sorted ready