MFV BF494 'Pansy', an old Motor Fifie Conversion

yes, I know, its been ages. Been doing my bestest ostrich impression and hoping everything will just magic itself back together again.

Well, that obviously ain't gonna happen, so, new year, time to get my finger out, fabricate a device to make time stand still in order to cram a few extra hours worth of stuff into a day.

To recap then, after a couple of weeks suffering the ups and downs of the tide, the mud and daily drying out, the world's most expensive speak your weight machine lifted the old girl, from A to B. The speak your weight machine declared 24 tons if any one is interested.

It also declared, that the jib reach for that weight indicated the crane operating at 118% safe working load! Nothing for it but a frantic dive down into the bilges and in 15 minutes 1.5 tons of ballast was hurled over the side, getting the safe working load down to a tad over 100%, enough for a 'what the hell, lets give it a go' declaration. so up and across she went to her new resting place.

So I thought I could at last sleep at night and generally stop fretting about the thing. Alas not. The Sly old Girl had yet another little wheeze lined up. Late one night, the message filters through - the bank where she is resting is subsiding and the boat is listing over. FFS! - a boat that sinks on dry land!

As an added (maybe final) test of my resolve to put her to rights, this happened 2 days before bonfire night (Nov 5th). Initial reaction?? gallon of diesel and a box of matches.

Anyhoo, a quick trip to the yard confirms yet another one of Pansy's little practical jokes. Not sinking at all. the tiny little list to one side, is the same tiny little list she had when she was lifted and set down. Some bright spark, obviously an 'expert' in these things had put 2 and 2 together, made 643, and alerted the club's committee to the impending disaster. So she ain't sinking on dry land.

So what now?? In boat terms, its been a long while since I got my hands dirty, severed an artery, stabbed myself with something pointy, stotted my head off of something hard etc. So - new year, new beginning and all that.

One of the reasons for the lack of progress, has been me starting a new business 6 months ago and working 12 hours plus every day, 7 days a week, for months on end. Soooo tempted to dust off my soap box here and enter political rant mode but I'll try and hold off (although the next public sector employee that whinges at me about their pension is liable to get a caulking iron inserted somewhere deeply unpleasant)

Recognised I need to get something done boat wise very soon though, so have spent the 2 days off I got over christmas doing a bit of plotting and planning. Drawing up lists, stuff of that order.

so, first things to address, will be to get all the caulking raked out. If (when) I get bored with that, a good clear out of the crap lying everywhere and a start made on rebuilding the coach roof - or weather proofing it at least until spring

Happy new year folks

where she eventually lay, awaiting the arrival of the big lifty machine

up, up and away!