Away at last, hopefully for the last time. It has been far too long since the last post, sorry, but there have been issues…….
But in the meantime, we had enjoyed our annual minicruise, Kari and Gilbert on board, both very sartorial, from Tønsberg to Sandefjord, in beautiful warm sunshine but not much wind, with lunch stop in Tallakshavn for delicious Kari’s Cæsars salad, and I returned to home harbour for final preparations.
The “final” fix was a new aft lantern, which needed a new support bracket and new wiring, which took much time, contortions in cramped spaces and fumbling.
Next morning, with full tanks and high hopes, course was set for Tønsberg guest harbour, on the west side of town, for a last meetup with Gilbert for handing over the keys of my car, (he is kindly looking after it), and a visit from a refridgerant firm which was going to service the fridge with a large puff of suitable gas.
BUT.
Half way there I went down into the cabin and was alarmed to find water over the deck. Seawater. It could only come from the engine. It did. Stop engine. Shut off water supply. Bucket and scoop and cloth and bilge pump emptied.
The seawater pump had suffered a seal failure.
Reopen water supply, start engine and investigate. The leakage rate was constant at about half a bucketfull every twenty minutes, so we reached Tønsberg bailed but afloat.
Now, if you didn’t know it, Tønsberg town is divided in two, with the “canal” east/west in between, over which there is an opening (haha) bridge. We approached naturally from the east to find the bridge closed and our of order, and guest harbour therefore out of reach. Gilbert solved the problem by arriving on his electric bike. Problem-solving conference ensued. Gilbert kindly offered to be errandboy, having bussed to Åsgårdstrand to fetch the car, and seek up new seals for the water pump, fortunately available in an actual store, (not internet), not far away.
Next morning, refridgerant Kevin was re-directed, came, did his expert thing with apparatus/hoses/gasbottle and a smile and resurrected cooling.
Next task, after lunch, remove seawater pump.
Typically inaccessible, slightly rustet fixings took time and knuckles to release their grip, and revealed a much less serious problem than anticipated. Hoorah! The water-side shaft seal had moved out from its housing and allowed water to flow directly to outside drain. Easy to remove with cunning and persuasion, and easier to replace with a new seal, preceded by a suitable washer as a distance-piece to stop the same thing happening again. Reinstall pump, impeller and cover, reinstall hoses, open water supply. No leaks. OK, start engine, water splurtling out of exhaust as it should, and all was well. No leaks. Relief. Relax for a well-derved rest for the rest of the day.
So this morning, bright and early, Gilbert arrived for hopefully the last time and helped me change sails, before he rushed home to meet the craneman.
Gilbert’s boat engine, so lovingly and carefully rebuilt over several years, suffered a mystical delayed lack of oil pressure when back in the boat and almost ready to go into the water. Crane engine out, transport the one kilometer home to workshop to a very sad process of disassembly to find cause. We had discussed the symptoms and possible reasons for several days, but had reluctantly admitted defeat.
Josin and I are now, after a gentle sail and a litte motor, back in Tallakshavn for an exploratory trip, not too far, to test for leaks. None!
I humbly and hopefully declare all problems solved and Josin in cruise-condition.
(It must surely help?!)
Onward and satisfied.
JosinJohn
Josin's 2026 blog 