Tag: maintenance
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Engine maintenance – new filter
Blue Opal has been emitting white-blueish smoke at high revs, which is a new development. The oil level is about 3/4 on the dipstick, so she’s not over-full on oil. I figured it was a good time to change the fuel filter, as the last change was when I bought her. The filter came off…
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Cutless bearing – new tube glassed in
It’s been a long time since I last saw “Blue Opal”, though I’ve been able to keep up with what’s happening to her via regular calls to the yard where she’s being worked on. Today, I got a photographic status update. That’s the new stern tube glassed in, filler work has started, and they’re doing…
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Cutless bearing – open hull surgery
After a bit of a wait, the work on Blue Opal’s stern gear has started. The rudder was dropped a little while ago, and other topside work was done while things were being sorted out for the actual investigation and dismantling. Close investigation of the open hull surgery photo reveals distinct pinking of the metal;…
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Dun Laoghaire -> Pwllheli
Having called around to the local yards and engineers, all of whom have said “yes, we can do that in winter” or “sorry mate, I’m more on the commercial side”, I consulted with the gent who acted on my behalf in Conwy when I purchased Blue Opal. The suggestion was a yard in Pwllheli, and…
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Cutless bearing – hypothesis
As far as I am aware, Blue Opal was kept in Conwy from when she was launched until I bought her. Conwy happens to be at the mouth of a river, and the marina gets a fair bit of fresh water flowing into it – I’m not saying it’s fresh water, but it’s almost certainly…
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Cutless bearing troubles – mitigation
The local yard have put Blue Opal’s stern gear back together, and applied an epoxy job to keep the top bolt in place. The anti-foul looks pretty good against her blue hull, but no one will ever see it. Research continues.