Chris Yearsley

Update, and (mostly) good news. Many thanks for all the helpful advice. We've booked the boat into the drydock at Hockley for next week, with WRComposites booked to do the repair. They came out to the boat (even though it was in a bad location) and managed an underwater patch repair that held perfectly while we cruised from Star City area to Hockley. I'm so happy it's working out, and I'm fitter personally after the exercise of the 24 locks we did on Saturday. When we got to the boat on Saturday morning we found someone has smashed a window in - and moved the boat. Somehow someone moved it through New Troutpool Bridge and re-moored it on the other side (!!?? It's a narrow bridge ) Nothing had been taken and the cabin hadn't been entered. We're very confused. All we can think is that some joker smashed the window and set the boat loose, and then a good samaritan caught it and moored again. It was a distressing start to the day. If anyone sees chatter about it on facebook or wherever do let us know Two thumbs up for WRComposites, but no thumbs up for the guys that RCR sent a week ago to fix the blocked cooling intake. They tried to scam my daughter telling her it needed two engineers as the seacock had to come right off, and demanded many hundred pounds. They forced her to agree by having removed the water pump and taken it away, before giving her the quote. And that's with 'RCR Gold - parts included - unlimited callouts'. However when the (lone) engineer turned up, he just cleared the blockage by hand in a moment and charged much less. Seemed like he wasn't willing to carry out the evil plan his colleagues had set up. The drydock at Hockley operated by Sherborne Wharf is still in business but they're hard to deal with. They only use email, no phone, whatsapp, or messenger and they always take days to reply to each email. So arranging things is tricky but we think it's in place.

Thanks again for all the excellent advice. It's still not sorted but feels like it's getting closer. Caggy's could only offer use of a crane at £1,500, and they don't have space for the boat to be worked on. Although they have a slipway I've not located a trailer. Tonytugboats haven't replied as yet. But, good news! Despite the dead website Sherborne Wharf are very much in business and think they can handle the repair themselves, plus any other jobs we want doing while they're fixing the hull. We don't have an estimate or confirmation yet, sent photos for them to consider after a phone chat, but that sounds positive. When the engine isn't running the boat is only taking on about 2 or 3 litres a day although it's a lot more when the engine runs. If Sherborne can add some angle brackets and do a reasonable cut out and patch on the damage I'll be happy with that - unless all you experts are not fans of their work generally ? What is everyone's opinion of the quality of their work? We can't go there right away as RCR need to come back and clear the cooling intake, after their attempt to rod it clear failed. They say the seacock is completely blocked and are planning to have two guys somehow remove? fix? it without sinking the boat. (I don't even want to watch, sounds terrifying) This would be much easier in the drydock but to get there we need the engine cooling unblocked. So perhaps with the engine fixed we can just limp and pump to Sherborne, it's only 4 miles (and 24 locks), probably no need for an emergency patch, and a few days afterwards this will just be a funny story and painful memory. Then we can get on with all the work we knew the boat needed!

I'd not thought of that. It's an (Enfield?) outdrive ("Z drive"?). I was wondering how we could have caused so much damage when pulling away from the bank, without noticing it. And the damage goes high up. I wasn't on the boat much on the voyage as I worked all the locks and often got off at narrow bridges to help push away in case my daughter's rather uncertain steering caused issues. She did say that at one point the boat seemed to hit something underwater, hard, but keep going. And there's certainly an old repair inside that corner - so it's weaker than it was designed to be. The pictures below show the (lower part of) the damage now, amd how much better the boat looked when my daughter bought it. She has been tremendously upset thinking it's all her fault, but if the boat had a weak repair, and then the outdrive hit something, then could it just be tremendous bad luck? I thought I'd read that the outdrive was supposed to kick up if it hit an obstruction, but it's very old and if it's corroded maybe it doesn't move like it should? It leaks much more when the engine is running. Even with a patch repair I don't want to take it far at all. Caggys yard is 9 miles, if they get back to me with the ability to help that would be best. For the in-water patch repair, and also the dry full rebuild of the damage, these guys are very friendly and helpful, I just need to find a way to get it dry somewhere for them to work on. Probably not cheap but I'm beyond being fussy and I think this is a problem that needs good, then quick, as the priorities. https://wrcomposites.co.uk/repairs-and-modifications/ True but it's flexible so maybe a good addition to something that is stronger. Quick Google isn't finding it but, I did find old forum posts saying it seems like rebadged plumber's putty. It does look like it. So, latest plan for the temporary in-water patch: The WRComposites guy to come and apply water-setting epoxy putty to the outside and offer general expert advice. If he doesn't do anything to the inside, Plumbers Mait generously over the interior area. Then we can sail Very Carefully to.... a place I've not worked out yet that can get it out of the water.

Thank you everyone for your ongoing friendly and nonjudgemental messages. It's not a happy message thread so I'll lift the mood and share an amusing, strange story where some good came out of all of this. Few days ago the boat had broken down and was leaking and we were very sad. Walked to Star City for food down a dark and dodgy towpath and on our way back we found a gentleman who had, only moments before, been assaulted while out walking and been pushed into the canal. We rescued him and looked after him while the shock wore off and made sure he could get home safely. While chatting, as he recovered, it turned out he was a yachtsman himself and just from our chat knew exactly what had happened to our engine and how to fix. Many things get thrown into canals and have to be pulled out. Beer cans. Shopping trolleys. And, apparently, friendly marine experts, also. If our boat had not suffered all these problems, nobody would have been there for him.

Thank you, yes indeed. I'd budgeted to support her with a rewire with some good Victron kit, and a webasto or similar, and residential mooring with shore power is paid for and waiting for her. She's very eager and practical and was planning attending an engine maintenance course and repairing and refitting the cabins herself while on board. I'd promised to pay for an full engine service, signed the boat up to RCR at 'gold' level, and rather thought that would get things off to a good start. She wanted a challenge, an adventure. Never imagined we'd fail so hard on the very first voyage.

Everyone, thank you so much for the helpful and informative advice. I'm still in crisis but progressing a little and this news particularly makes a difference. I had thought that a couple of days out of water would do, but... more than a week? Ouch. Not drydock then. I have found a professional willing to visit and attempt a bodge epoxy patch in the water, with more skill than I posess. Then they're willing to undertake major fibreglass rebuild work - if we can get the boat out of the water (WR Composites, their website looks very convincing and they were super kind on the phone). So getting dry is the problem. Debbies Day Boats say they can't get a GRP boat out of the water. I've not managed to connect with Caggy's Yard yet but maybe they can help. Sherborne Wharf / Hockley has closed its website and is uncontactable. Out of business? A shame as we have paid for a permanent residential mooring at Hockley so it's where we were aiming for in the first place! Anyway a week++ drydock would probably not be available for a long time anyway apart from the expense Is 27 feet too long for a trailer pull? Where might I rent a trailer & tow? Maybe I need a transport company to road it to WRComposites after sending them loads of pictures enough for a firm quotation? When I considered buying a boat far away I was quoted £1.5 - 2k to transport it so I guess even with a very short distance the cost would be similar. Not ideal but if there's no other choice...

Hello all. Not the post I wanted to start with. We have a sinking problem and would much appreciate any advice. My daughter bought a 27ft GRP cruiser a month ago planning to refurbish to liveaboard standard. Sailing on the Birmingham and Fazeley towards her new permanent mooring in Birmingham, it (1) broke down, and (2) started leaking badly. The corner of the stern seems to be cracked and is separating from the side, from the bottom upwards and we're having to bail out often to stay above water. With nobody on the boat at the moment and the boat in kind of a bad place it's a huge worry. Looks like an old bodge GRP repair has come apart. We have no clue what do to. RCR are fixing the engine but we're on our own with the sinking. Forward looking advice if possible please. Yes, we should have had a survey but the surveyor wouldn't do one with it in the water. We needed to move fast to get past a canal restriction and get to the mooring in time, we were on the clock for various reasons. Yes, a steel narrowboat would be more robust but all the ones we could afford had hulls needing major overplating. We thought that as this was in the water and were assured the engine was great, and it was sold as needing electrical and gas work (fine), we could sail a few days then get the interior serviced and upgraded once it was 'home'. The engine was not great. The hull is really not great. It's a cheap boat but a huge financial commitment for my daughter. We need someone that can do an emergency patch somehow and book it in for a proper structural repair as soon as that can be arranged (drydock??) Help?