COLUMN PETE GOSS
The flexing of spring’s muscles calls for a dusting down of my jobs list. I never intend winter boat maintenance to become last minute but a busy life creates a bow wave of tasks that end up clamouring for last-minute attention.
As ever, booking the launch date has triggered a succession of dominoes that should see us off on our first and long-awaited weekend on board. The list of jobs is pretty easy this year – engine service, tidying behind the switch panel, anodes and antifouling.
The only priority is that we need to sort out the prop anode which is too active on the fizzing front. We shall put a meter across the coupling and my hope is that a copper strip will suffice.
If that doesn’t work we are exploring a system which puts brushes on the shaft.
With such a small job list you wouldn’t expect Oddity to be on our minds but truth be known there has been a lot of interest in her. Enough to warrant the production of further Oddities.
We already have someone prepared to step up with the second prototype. I say prototype in the sense that the way forward seems to be the option of detailed construction plans or a flat pack kit for professional builders or braver self-build souls. It’s a new and interesting world to explore; I’ll keep you posted.
On a separate vein I recently delivered a winter talk to the Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club and they kindly offered to make a donation to a cause of my choice. I suggested they might put their name on Pip Hare’s boat so that they can be a part of her exciting Vendée Globe campaign.
Lots of people want their own Oddity,, and we may produce kits for homebuilding
I know that everything helps when times are tough, which they always are
