Boat Maintenance
Time to attend to a few maintenance issues. On the way to Fortaleza our Raymarine (Autohelm) anemometer failed again. I thought it may just have clogged from a mixture of dust and salt picked up off the african coast. Despite frequent rainstorms in Brazil it refused to function.
I fetched it from the top of the mast and close inspection showed that it had seized again having been in use less than two years since the last repair. This is really not good enough and the current range is not backward compatible so a new unit costs in excess of £800.
Raymarine (Autohelm) ST50 Wind
The faulty unit had a buildup of reddish material around the shaft which was seized solid. I gave it a good dose of electrical duck oil and a few hours later the shaft spun freely.
Anemometer Cups
Anemometer unit with seized shaft.
Push fit unit removed from housing.
Since I got this boat in 2005 there had been an intermittent leak from the starboard sealed cabin window. In Brazil, with heavy rain showers, this leak becomes a flow. I applied some sealant to a small hole near the window frame.
I fetched it from the top of the mast and close inspection showed that it had seized again having been in use less than two years since the last repair. This is really not good enough and the current range is not backward compatible so a new unit costs in excess of £800.
Raymarine (Autohelm) ST50 Wind
The faulty unit had a buildup of reddish material around the shaft which was seized solid. I gave it a good dose of electrical duck oil and a few hours later the shaft spun freely.
Anemometer Cups
Anemometer unit with seized shaft.
Push fit unit removed from housing.
Since I got this boat in 2005 there had been an intermittent leak from the starboard sealed cabin window. In Brazil, with heavy rain showers, this leak becomes a flow. I applied some sealant to a small hole near the window frame.