As we approached the change of clocks to ‘Winter Time’ autumn arrived, and wow, it came with a bag full of wind and rain in torrents – although meteorologists say that it’ll take a year of well above average precipitation to replenish reservoirs and groundwater.

The week before I had varnished the two cabin hatches – it was in the nick of time, for sure!

Above is a shot taken during my last outing on Whimbrel before the change occurred. It was breezy at times, heralding what was to come. Just short of home moorings a gust put the old girl’s deck and cabin edge into the water! Upon berthing, one wondered what all the fuss was about for it was quiet and tranquillity reigned.

We had a cottage holiday based near Beaulieu in the New Forest region booked, so there was no likelihood of sailing for a week or so, but on our travels we saw hundreds of boats – mostly of the GRP – on our travels…

In between times, before and afterwards, I have renewed the engine’s seawater pump. I found this most annoying for it has only lasted seven years. Hmmmmm….

Whilst on that job I made another for I accidentally cracked the top of the sea inlet strainer’s lid undoing it to check/clean it. Superglue effected a leak free temporary fix, but a replacement was ordered pronto ready to fit after returning from our autumn cottage holiday.

Twitch receiving fresh topside coating – note tint change.

Another job completed before that autumnal change crashed in was to repair the forefoot wooding on Twitch’s bottom. A new piece was made up and fitted. She has been antifouled ready for next year and the topsides rubbed down and given a coat of Hempel’s cream.

Whimbrel will be similarly coated next spring with the same paint. It is a lighter (less yellow) cream than that which International Paints produce. I am sure their coating has ‘yellowed’ over the years.

When built Whimbrel was coated with Blake’s cream enamel, now Hempel, so we have gone back after some thirty-five years or so to that brand.

The new seawater strainer…

The outboard has been returned to home too and on a damping day during which I eventually had a long enough period of dry, it was oiled/greased and run to flush through the cooling water passages with fresh water. The engine was finally run dry, emptying the carburettor ready for fresh petrol in 2027!

Lubricating all moving parts.

Getting back aboard the boat, I removed the old sea strainer and fitted the new one.

Cropping the pipe tails to suit size of pipework. The ends were cleaned up, obviously!

Easy to take a picture afterwards – pipework now goes to two bottom connections. Fortunately, there was sufficient ‘slack’ to do this.

After everything was tightened up and the seawater inlet opened (lid off strainer to flood) system was proved with a fifteen minute run.

Looking down on strainer with water flowing through. Also, note the fresh looking new sea water pump.

Of course, there is more to do as the autumn bites. My good shipmate reminded me of the need to clean through Whimbrel and wipe with an antibacterial wash. That is programmed for the coming weekend, with the promise of a sail in the late (now clocks have gone back) afternoon, with a highwater a little before dusk sets in…

I’ll enjoy that. I hope my good mate does too!