Day to day log was not written up this period. Frankly, running up and down ladders onto the boat, cleaning off, and generally haring around left me falling asleep over the computer in the evenings.

An unexciting period doing those things that boaters have to do to their boats every so often, and - except to those whose

 hobby is just that - doing things to their boats, rather than using them - are not interesting to others.

In Albert's case the underwater part of the sides were thickly encrusted with weed growth, and I was concerned that my old friend the propeller flutter or thrash was audible once again, indicating(?) a problem with the final drive.
Having arrived on Friday, could not expect aed "interior economy" - i.e. clean up and doss.
Quite "rewarding". The weather during the trip down had had not been conducive to keeping a clean and tidy boat, and much profitable work was done.

Discussed plan of action on Monday morning. Requirement - pull boat from water, exposing sides and bottom. Problem - at some time in the past, an elderly catamaran had been craned to exactly straddle the winch. Winch could still be used, but level space between cat's stern and top of ramp - was limited.

However, come Tuesday/Wednesday cradle was run back into the water,
After much maneuvering, and failure to get boat nicely centred on it - water much too murky to see exact underwater position in relation to boat - and a failed haul out, work given up until to-morrow.

No problems to-day - up we went until bow button was hard up against catamaran's stern. But the cradle was still well down the ramp so Albert was at a crazy angle to the horizontal, bows away up in the air, and stern out over the water at the bottom of the ramp. A fellow boater, who was off home to Holland to-day, very kindly offered his boat's sleeping accommodation, and I took this up enthusiastically - there was no question of sleeping - or even living - on Albert in her position.

The promised pre-arranged high pressure washer to remove the thick caked weed on the hull was not forthcoming, but a selection of domestic cleaners was offered, and these and the one I bought on spec at a ridiculous offer price in Decize, were all tried, but all far too small, slow, and inefficient. A suggestion that possibly hand scraping was the answer, but..........
Eventually a semi decent pressure washer was borrowed off the hotel boat, and one side of Albert was cleaned off as far as the stern section that overhung the water, and the other side completed the next day to the same level. A pair of leaking waders were borrowed to facilitate the cleaning off of the stern section. However, the slipperiness of the underwater hardstanding contraindicated entry to the water to work there-from, still less was the use of electric tools appropriate, so something of an impasse developed. Eventually on the Friday the catamaran was moved, and Albert pulled up properly.

Work went ahead well over the next "few" fays - whole hull was by now washed clean of weed, and followed this week with the painting of "Owetrol" - 2 coats - straight onto the steel. (Owetrol is a French varnish/primer that is painted straight onto steel whether rusty or not and protects from or cures the problem). Had thought of using Hammerite, but noticed that, apart from the cost, nowhere- either on their literature, tins, or their web site, is there the slightest mention of the use of Hammerite on boats.
Was offered a substitute for the unordered Intertuf, a bitumastic tar. Far too thick to spread properly - especially in the current very cold weather, so as advised, thinned it with white spirit, but was horrified to find that a sludgy black porridge resulted - clearly the tar was incompatible with my white spirit.

Once again, had to go away into a quiet corner, and re-think the object of the entire exercise, i.e. to get boat hull cleaned off and protected within a reasonably time scale, or was it to have unproductive arguments with boat yars - so get stuck in and "made a plan".

Set to, and labouriously force spread the tar over the steel to the best of my ability. A combination of rolling, and poke brushing, were used, which while it took 4 days (I think - got rather confused now as to where we were vis-a-vis time, date, and even month - time just rolled forward), resulted in quite a reasonable job.

he engine/gear box drive plate was replaced without drama on the Saturday, to my intense pleasure. In fact, the old one would possibly have lasted another couple of years, but if one stands over an engine for 5 or 6 hours on the stretch one's imagination concerning "noises" works overtime, and it is really quite difficult to get this sort of thing done in France, so feel more comfortable with it being done.

Was very lucky sometime during this period with a spell in the weather which ignored the regular forecasts promising continuous rain. Temperatures were low - it froze most nights - but by midmorning sun was out, and no rain fell during the day, although the forecasts were dreadful.

On the second Wednesday, and with a mild rise in temperature, the heavens opened. However, painting had been finished the previous evening, and a vain attempt was made to replace fenders in the pouring rain, before retreating into the shelter and warmth of the boat.

On the Thursday, time was spent on general tidying up and preparing for re-launch to-morrow, and vain attempts to clean hands - particularly finger nails. Ever eaten an orange prepared by pair of hands, recently scrubbed, but none-the-less black with ingrained tar?



1 April 2008              Friday                            Montchanin,  Canal du Centre

Down the ramp on a cold damp windy afternoon. Boat, thankfully, back into the water, and behaving normally.

What a joy - a boat on dry land is a strange object - neither fish, fowl, or red herring. Moving around on or inside it feels dead - no movement what-so-ever, and although one carries on living as normal - i.e. cooking, eating, showering, sleeping - it all feels alien - the "what am I doing here", and where am I, anyway, syndrome (one does, of course, make "other arrangements" for loo drill).

Thankfully, this time there had been no pressure to vacate the "facilites" and get the boat back into the water, so the bitumastic had time to harden and cure, the waiting time being usefully filled with painting gloss black on the gun'ells, and sorting fenders.
During the 2 weeks we probably only actually had 4 consecutive clear days, We often had slabs of ice - small and thin but there never-the-less, on the roof and tarpaulin, and air temperature throughout the 2 weeks was very low, and frequent icy showers, snow flurries, and when it was not raining, it was threatening...... but the job was done, and what a joy to be afloat.

Work achieved was pressure washing and cleaning off all the hull sides below the gun'els, painting with 2 coats Owatrol, and 2 coats bitumastic black, replacement of the drive plate, and tidying up of the lines of fenders on the bow corners.

Once on the water, watered up and prepared for departure to-morrow - i.e. shopped and rang lock-keepers with intentions. The custom on the Centre is for boaters to have the tel nos of the Point Controls, who in turn pass on to the L.K.s our intentions, and, if necessary, to us the L.K.'s intentions. Thus everyone is in touch, and everyone know what each party is doing - highly satisfactory. Combined with a nice atmosphere - what more can one want - even though both the boater and the L.K. are near perishing of frost bite.



12 April 2008  Saturday     Montchanin to Monceau les Mines   C. du Centre

Off and away in cold wind - but dry - at 0930, heading "up" canal, target being Genelard.

A quick look at the map after starting scotched that idea very quickly - 32 kms plus attendant locks is way outside Albert's and my capabilities these days. So comfortably down to Brazy with the same L.K. as we came up with. Pleasant relaxed trip, with Albert going well - clean hull does make an enormous difference.

Stopped at le Clerk's large supermarche, between Blazy and Montchanin - usual form, tie up to the crash barriers that stop car parkers falling into the canal, and trot over to the trolley racks. Every S.M. in France I visited has the same system of locking the trolleys in rows, with 1 Euro coin or equivalent jeton release. Have not seen one abondoned or miss parked trolley in 9 years here!

Regrettably, there seems to be conflict at this particular spot - le Clerks keep their car park and environs immaculate by sweeping all detritus under the crash barriers onto the canal bank, which is absolutely filthy.

However...................! It is an extremely handy mooring, and there is no need to stay overnight here - Montceau is only 10 minutes away.

Had lunch before shopping, and cycled round the area looking for a hardware and computer shop. Then massive shop in le Clerks.

Got away and into Montceau Basin at tea time, to find Capitainery manned, ready and apparently happy to give any help required (took E4.00 off me for mooring, electricity, etc. Very reasonable). Congratulated them on keeping the Tee ends of the pontoons free for longer boats. Last twice at Montceau have had to tie up at dreadful angle from a short pontoon across to the stone banks of the basin, while the long moorings were ocupied by one small boat each using a quarter of the pontoons length. Capitainery were fully sympathetic, and said that was now a policy - hope so.

Up to computer shop in town for 4 way hub and usb cable left in UK, then supper and bed well pleased to be away as rain started again.

(What IS the French for 4 way USB Hub??)

         Tight moorings

         Awaiting ascent






          Clearing Slipway







        Just  this far

 
      One bemused skipper

             Emerging






          All washed off






          Ready to go





      Washing on the lline 
           (where's Albert)





       Montceau les Mines






     Montceau les Mines