At Evran - lots to do (It ain't all plain sailing , you know! part 74)

More explanations later with photos etc....but currently enjoying the sunshine in Evran and under the satisfying glow of having done a good job in the docks at Saint Malo.....yes, all but painting the roof, the stern deck and finishing the steps project and restoring the 'bimini' ... and so on....it's like the Fourth Bridge really.....one just has to keep on top of it.

I'm bound to say that if we live another six years, making me nearly 85 and Lucie 80 - we'll have to get someone else to do this job! .......and yet, it was so much fun and took us 15 days on the "hard"...... but it really wasn't all plain sailing y'know?

 

Our friends, the Saint-James's from Hede, let us make use of their daughter's talents. Here is April with patience and skill, re-doing the sign writing

We had been worried about the six years that had mysteriously passed without ever seeing the condition of our hull - lying idle in Hede (2 yrs) and then in Tinteniac for four more; not quite knowing how bad the problem was with rust and our dodgy rudder. We have managed  in the past to have her inspected and re-blacked every 3 to 4 years, but for one reason or another, we had allowed this discipline to lapse.

However, we were  pleasantly surprised by the condition of the hull which had less rust than  expected after such neglect and I was pleased to be able to re-enforce the rudder with a larger replacement steel bolt - 'borrowed' from 'Fred' (the 'godsend' who works at the Bassin) together with his large drill bit, which I broke trying to make a bigger hole to put this bolt in - Lucie went to great lengths buying a replacement - one musn't upset the natives, they were all very helpful.

 

An OMG moment but not so bad after all !

(click to enlarge!)

 Maybe, because of some advice we took from an electrician when we were last in Toulouse Dry Dock six years ago the rust was less than expected,. He recommended  a really good 'galvanic isolater' replacing the tiny and obviously ineffective one that came with the boat when new.... its replacement has protected us from the rust caused by electrolysis. Proof positive!

Clearly these fishermen believe in the power of zinc sacrificial anodes at sea, they should know - look at all these!!

 Another 'Fred' came to weld on 6 large magnesium anodes (skilled labour @60E) which we had already bought at the local yacht co-operative . The old ones showed just how important they had been during this period of neglect and I - already handy with my angle grinder - cut off the remnants of 15 years of sacrificial activity with ease.

Grinders must be the cause of many DIY accidents - they are so very dangerous - but so far, like Basil Fawlty, " I seem to have got away with it."

 

At sea - On our way to St. Malo

With paying guest crew? A One night stop at Evran, Elizabeth from Auray on the way to Lahon.

An evening at our new mooring - Evran - note the new straight cut to the old wavy Bimini now fully restored

A better view than we had at Tinteniac -  ie no multiple motor homes, just the church, the village  and a couple of pleasure boats

Now Pointing in direction Rennes (south)

With the Admiral's Barge in front of us - (ex (Old) Ark Royal - Royal Navy - no less!)