Clang Boom Steam

Henry and Joe

Gregory Engineering have been on board servicing the gearbox. It's great to have such capable guys working on the boat. This is a period of maintenance in the run-up to Easter. Let's hope we get good weather and we can go and get it all wet and salty again.

Henry with the test rig

On the Tuesday after Easter Henry and Joe came back and set up a test rig. The oil pump stood up fine, doing its thing. But dismantling the selector valve revealed a broken spring that could explain the symptoms: a long delay, and harsh engagement.

Selector valve exploded view

Henry sourced a spring and shims from Pacific Driveline in Australia and Zane and Joe came down Friday 27 to bolt it all up and test it. Yay! No more delay. Smooth engagement too, though we'll need to steam at full power for a couple of hours to get things nice and hot to finally prove that one fixed. Well done guys, we're impressed. 

A lick of paint

Orion laying Havelock 2018

Every wooden fishing boat ever built has been repaired here and there using steel fastenings. Fishermen need to get back to work, they can't waste time going shopping for bronze bolts and spikes. So rust streaks are part of life. Here is Orion newly painted. Stephen did the bulwarks, Sue did the topsides, and Sue so neatly cut-in the blue on the belting. It'll last until the next storm!