Monday 8 October 2012

Cleaning the paddle wheel

The speed log on my Nasa duet stopped reading some time ago.  I took the opportunity to give it a well deserved clean the other day.  It didn't do any good as I think the whole area around it is covered in weed and slime, but the video should give you some idea of what's involved and allay some of the fears of doing this job while afloat.

It's shame that I couldn't get it to work as it was useful to compare speed through the water against speed over ground.   Mind you with windex stuck pointing forward, one more thing won't make any difference.  

6 comments:

  1. Good to see you're out and about...

    I hear you on the windex - happened to me at least twice this year... gave up in the end and bought new one! Been a hard season for our little pride and joy's I think...

    PS. Found an installed NASA through hull depth transducer in Pap while I was getting the sink hole plugged! Never knew it was there... you live and learn.. :o))

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  2. Very timely: sat and looked at my NASA the other day because the paddle wheel had stopped working, as it did at the end of the 2010 season but I chickened out as the boat comes out of the water today and I was going try it when she in in the slings. I see now I need not have worried.

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  3. Steve, yep I think most old boats will at least have a tube epoxied on the inside of the hull for a transducer... I think Jelly Bean had two!
    My Nasa transducer dropped nicely into the old Seamaster transducer housing.
    Dave, this is the second time this year that I've had to clean it, the first time I was a little worried how much water would come in but as you can see it's no problem. Ciao Bella has to be out by the end of Oct but I want at least one more trip out in her.
    Happy winter fettling :o))

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  4. The crane broke and so arrived late yesterday. In its absence I gave removing the paddle wheel a go and therefore without the slings and it went well; just like a film I saw recently :-)

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  5. Phil - when are you coming out?? I get lifted on the 21st.... times running out and I'm 20 miles short of my 2011 mileage target...! :o)

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  6. You've got a good weekend coming up, you should smash it :~) Not sure when I'm coming out yet.. Will probably leave it until last few days; risky I know but Heyho :)

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