aardvarkash10

absolutely makes a difference. I was a dirty blaspheming non-believer, and then we did a full bum clean and anti foul on Stepping Out. Night and day.

...and why a Spencer? Why not? The choice of a Spencer was part happenstance, part a convergence of prejudice's and prior experience. Mrs Aardvark's family history was all aboard Spencers - 28, the 35, then 45 footers. Her Da' was a firm believer in JS's designs and probably would have gone on to commissioning a 65 had the dreaded Big C not intervened and buggered up proceedings. I understand his coffin was a narrow plywood box, but that may be apochryphal. I like timber as a material. In my estimation, plastics are fine for enhancements, but the core of an item should

This is the story of our purchase and ownership of Stepping Out. It may take some time, will have twists and turns, could move beyond a PG rating from time to time, and will no doubt have real sailors and hardened people of the sea laughing at the incompetence and naivety of beginners. The story is only a year and a bit old at this stage. Who knows how long it will run for. Time will tell. It will be episodic - drop in for a giggle when you need to feel better about something that has gone wrong, because my story will be either dumber or more expensive than yours. At the top lets

Possibly fits a GM series as well, do your own research. Bolts to the front of the engine allowing you to manually crank and start the engine in the case of an electrical failure. Never used on ours, no chain or lower crankshaft gear. Free, freight paid by you if you don't pick up.

next weekend looks great though. Just in time for some exterior maintence while on the mooring

I was referring to this bit. You made my earlier point about FB's advantages real.

^see what I mean?

FB has reach. There would be very few people who don't have a FB account. People are used to using it - there are no unknown quirks and you move from your "sailing stuff for sale" marketplace through your "dragqueen makeup tips" group to your personal page. This gives FB depth, in as much as any online presence has depth. And all the tie you get dopamine hits from the feedback you receive These things make make FB grabby and difficult to escape from. If you want quality conversation and technical advice though, a forum beats FB hands down. Most of the time.

take extreme care. The vendor has a somewhat unsavoury reputation. Others may comment on the virtues of Ravens. There are many, virtues and rRvens.

love the lads scoring him out of 10! Bit harsh on the second wave score I thought, but hard ot cap that backward entry on the first...

that Tweed Bar effort looks like they were struggling with only one engine? Granted, plenty of other stuff going on as well. Bet it was untidy downstairs...

Require cost of removal/salvage insurance. Driver licence doesn't mean they can pay,but if they have insurance that covers it. No insurance, no mooring.

they become a problem when they sink. While I was at Panmure HS in March there was one that came close to sinking at the mooring - pumped probably a 2kl out of it after it was dragged ot the haul out. Riddled with fanworm and really only good for a viking's final sail. Old guy owned it, he died, apparently family not willing to sell it when it was viable, and argued about who owned it and should maintain it until it was no longer viable. Another, carvel planked, had been hauled and waterblasted which removed all the caulking. Relaunched, it slowly lost freeboard. Also marginal, also

the week is going to be pretty rubbish alright... http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzni

Talk to the team at Fridgetech. Amazing folks, great advice and service.

Again, in your price range the construction specifics are irrelevant. Raf more important is the recorded upkeep of hte boat during its life and hte opinion of your surveyor. A well maintained yacht of any construction will be a much better buy than a neglected yacht of any construction. Which is not to put you off grp, just to widen the scope of your hunt.

probably more fun had as well

nope. Past that stage. In reality, we typically solar shower in hte cockpit, but I'm decent enought to wear budgie smugglers when I'm doing it. The solar shower tied to the backstay. We can get two long-ish showers out of one solar shower bag and we got into the habit of having two bags on the deck each day.

what, and take the fun out of it?

leaky old-man bladder?

I have quickly learnt that standing bollocks-naked under a solar shower in the cockpit is a good way for me to clear an anchorage of bothersome other boats. I also now know why its call a cockpit.

...and increases space in the cockpit

tempering valves would fix that...

it does on TV!

true deck jewelry. And I mean that in an admiring way, not derogatory.