Cautiously Optimistic
We will start into the new week being cautiously optimistic.
Tropical Storm
Chaba was the first tropical storm coming close to Hong Kong this year. But we were well prepared, sitting tight in Aberdeen typhoon shelter.
Hong Kong observatory had their predictions right from the start: One week before Chaba affected the city, Windy App as well as the daily downloaded GFS grib files (free through Saildocs) predicted a more easterly track. HK Observatory’s guess of the north-northwesterly course was correct and the storm’s center came within 300Km of Hong Kong. Winds were quite strong, but we were safely tucked in between all these fishing- and house boats.
Chaba brought a lot of rain and strong winds. We were safely tied up and did not discover any water leakage
Changing Mooring location
We had to do another test of a few systems. German, as I am, I wanted to get all paperwork in order before leaving the berth.
Hong Kong Marine Department (MarDep) did not want to grant a Sea Trial permission. Instead the friendly officer suggested that I could apply for a permit to change mooring location. As we had to start and end at Aberdeen typhoon shelter it was like buying a return ticket. We were charged 2 x HK$ 366, but we were absolute legal to go.
Rushed start again
The start was a bit chaotic: Although I was in charge and had briefed my crew of the intended sequence of events and course of action when… the boat started moving while I was still removing fender ropes. If I was not at the helm, who the heck was?
My neighbor, who owns this spot as well as the boats left and right of us, had changed his mind: He was supposed not to have time and did not want to join. Maybe he had last minute concerns about his boats.
Anyway, as I had checked bow thruster and horn (he loves that) there were no reasons for him to panic this time. Only I wasn’t too happy as the well planned departure was not as smooth as I had hoped for.
Once in the main channel of the harbor he climbed into his tender which we had towed and I was in charge again.
Autopilot work
During the last sea trial both auto pilots had a few problems as the heading sensors were all over the place. Those problems had been rectified. Also the electric control setup of the autopilot units had been improved by Jared from OBMG. All worked flawless. A breeze. Well done OMBG!
Before we could start testing the autopilots we had to confirm the correct alignment of the heading sensors: We aligned radar and AIS targets visually with the longitudinal axis of the boat. Not easy in the chop in close proximity with the traffic in Lamma channel
Autopilot and Hydraulic setup
- Autopilot 1 is the primary unit. It can follow tracks and routes as set up in the chart plotter. Of course it can also be used in basic mode “Heading”. Autopilot 1 can be used with the primary hydraulic system or with the backup hydraulic system.
- Autopilot 2 is for backup. Should Autopilot 1 computer fail this unit can take over within a flick of a switch. It can only be used in “Heading” mode, but this is still much better than actively steering for days should AP1 fail on a long ocean crossing.
- Primary Hydraulic can be used with either the helm (steering wheel), AP1 or AP2. The hydraulic reservoir is easily accessible from the helm station. Hydraulic pump pressure works onto the port rudder ram.
- Backup Hydraulic: Should primary hydraulic pump fail we can activate the backup pump which has it’s own dedicated hydraulic reservoir. It works onto the starboard ram. To activate this system: The port ram has to be selected manually into bypass mode while starboard ram bypass valve has to be closed. We will loose helm steering (which runs only on primary hydraulic system), but at least we will be able to use either autopilot until somewhere safe.
The system sounds complicated, but actually it is not. Pilots might understand 🙂
Both Autopilots were doing the appropriate turns during self test
Engine mounts
I had ordered the original engine mounts from Gardner Marine. They should have been strong enough to hold the engine, but they were not.
Main reason was that the engine had been sitting much too high on the engine mount studs. I cannot blame the shipyard for that. Yes, they should have known better. But it was only the second time that they had installed a Gardner engine and the first time that a Gardner engine had been commissioned on one of their boats.
Thankfully Jack from Bretter Engineering managed to organize and install some proper engine mounts. He also made sure additional metal plates were fitted underneath the Volvo mounts. It does not only look sturdy: it is rock solid! The engine vibrates only very slight when in idle. When on full power the Gardner 6LXB sits stable on the mounts without vibration being transferred to the hull. Good work!
Gearbox testing
On our last trip our neighbor had failed his attempt to sink a few Sampans on returning into this tight port. He had blamed the gearbox not responding.
My thoughts went more into the direction of an accidentally disengaged clutch. Again there are some similarities towards airplanes: levers with handles are meant to be held by the handle!
ETERNAUT is equipped with a single lever engine morse control. Advantage is that no one (whoever is at the helm) can engage reverse gear from forward (and vice versa) without briefly selecting idle power. This protects engine and gearbox. Disadvantage is that a thumb in between morse control box and power handle can disengage the gear: Pushing the power lever outward has the same effect like pressing the clutch in a car!
After many, many times switching between reverse and forward gear I could not reproduce the same fault. Either can tick this one off as: “ground check, ok” or “human error”.
It might look cool, it gives you more “feeling” when fine tuning a particular required RPM. But the thumb will push the power lever outwards and disengage the gear!
Rudder testing
Our boat does not have a stern thruster. But it has an articulated rudder. A tab at the trailing edge increases deflection further. I wanted to experience rudder response at slow speed and get a feeling for the boat.
We were very impressed. Even without bow thruster I was able to make a 360 on a dime. So, whenever you are thinking about installing a stern thruster or a new rudder: give an articulated rudder a sincere consideration!
The articulated rudder works wonder. A mechanism at the lower part of the makes the small tab at the trailing edge deflect further
Heading back into Aberdeen typhoon shelter
I took it slow when coming back into Aberdeen typhoon shelter. The armada of fishing vessels were flying uncountable flags in view of the upcoming anniversary. The color was nicely contrasting with the blue sky. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
But main reason for my slow approach was that I was now able to squeeze around the corners like pac-man does on the video screen. Bow thruster and articulated rudder made my day.
At the entrance to Aberdeen West typhoon shelter: Greeted by colorful flags giving a nice contrast to the cloudless blue sky
What’s coming next
Still a few more things to come, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Major work will be the upgrade of the ridiculously flimsy sail furler units and sail tracks.
Further we are awaiting a new 5G router and wired remote control for the search light.