A recap on some of the Halo jobs I’ve been working on recently.
Harken Traveller Repair
Our wonderful Harken Windward Sheeting Traveller has started getting increasingly difficult to move. It came to a head during the Waikawa Regatta when it was totally stuck at one stage. I was advised by the professionals that I probably needed to replace the ball bearings. After doing my research I ordered 60 new Harken 5/16″ Torlon ball bearings from Fosters. What’s Torlon I hear you asking? “Torlon is a high performance amorphous (non-crystalline) engineering thermoplastic“!
To get the traveller off I needed to remove the track completely. I gave it a good clean before fitting the balls and added some Harken Onedrop ball bearing conditioner. With Peter’s help, I reinstalled the track.
Boy, it certainly made a difference. The traveller now glides from side to side effortlessly, even under full pressure during last week’s race.
USB Charger Outlet Upgrade
I upgraded one of the standard USB outlets to a new Dual Port USB-C & USB-A.
The small USB-C socket, as well as charging latest model phones, provides PD (Power Delivery) up to 12V 65W for powering tablets or laptops. Perfect for my Microsoft Surface laptop.
The USB-A socket, provides QC (Quick Charge) of latest model phones.
Annual Nanni Engine Service
Isaac from TS Marine did our yearly engine service. He did a great job as usual and I was especially pleased that he noticed and repaired a problem with a leaking seal in the sea water line between the impeller and the engine. Here’s his report:
Make an initial assessment of engine and what repairs are required
Locate and check batteries
Carry out cold start on engine
Check waterflow and charging
Visually inspect engine, belts, leaks, perished hose, leaking gland
Leave engine running at fast idle
Check engine again
Assess engine temperature
Shut engine down
Connect sucker to engine and start draining oil
Remove drive belts and assess drive and bearings
Re fit belt
Replace oil filter and refill engine oil
Start engine
Stop once there is pressure
Replace primary/secondary filters, strip clean where required
Shut off seacock, check operation
Clean water strainer
Remove and replace impeller
Check anodes
Check and set engine oil level
Replace gearbox oil
Adjust gland
Remove Raw water pump and take to the workshop for bearing and seal replacement.
Engine hours: 683.7
Quick Slip – 18 October
Peter joined me to motor Halo round to the Evans Bay slipway and do a wash down of the hull. We also replaced replaced the prop shaft 1″ Zinc Anode.
We then went for a fun sail up the harbour. Picked up the club mooring south of Somes Island for a lunch break and then sailed back home.
Bilge Outlet Skin Fitting and Seacock Replacement
After the last outing I noticed that the bilge outlet sea cock was loose. A quick check from the outside revealed that the skin fitting was majorly cracked.
Picked up a replacement from Barton Marine. I was unable to remove the old seacock from the fitting without breaking it so I had to replace that also (using my birthday gift voucher – thanks Jenny and Jono!)
Interior Re-Paint
Some of the original interior paint was starting to peel off so decided to spruce it up and do the job properly. Mainly concentrating on the starboard side with a few touch ups in other places.
Resene Waterborne SureSeal – 2 coats
Resene Enamel Undercoat – 1 coat
Resene Lusta-Glo semi-gloss Enamel white paint – 2 coats
And for the plywood boards under the settee cushions:
Resene Lystacryl semi-gloss Waterborne – Double Spanish White – 2 coats
Quite time intensive but satisfying to have it all looking new and fresh.
Nasa Marine Wind Instrument Repair
We’ve had an ongoing issue with the NASA Marine Clipper Tactical Wind System wind angle indication. I have set the “Dead Ahead” various times while motoring ahead in no wind and it seems ok, plus or minus a couple of degrees. However when tacking close hauled into the wind we’re getting a consistent offset of 15-20 degrees from one tack to the other
After various discussions with NASA support they suggested we need to repair the MHU (Mast Head Unit). It’s out of warranty but rather than send the old one back they agreed to just send me a brand new replacement at their cost.
It’s now arrived and I just need to wait for a nice calm day to shinny up the mast and replace it.
P.D.
23 Nov 2023 – Installed the replacement mast head unit. Had to do three climbs up the mast (with Murray helping down below) as I was struggling to get the black mounting rod tightly secured to the mast mount bracket. Ended up putting a self tapping screw through the middle to keep it in position.
Murray and I then took advantage of the nice calm Wellington day to take Halo out into the harbour to calibrate the “dead ahead” to zero when motoring ahead.
Replace VHF External Speaker
24 Nov 2023. Replaced the VHF external speaker in the cockpit with a nice new white GME SPK45 Extension Speaker from Barton Marine. The old one had stopped working due to being all rusted up inside. We’ll see how long this new one lasts!
Halo Log Book 