Tuesday 2nd September

We arrived at the marina yesterday and spent most of the time unpacking provisions, getting rid of a load of rubbish and generally settling in. In the evening after supper we walked round to the local church to join the band for practice. They only have five bells and for practice there were only four there, one being a new member still brushing up on bell control. So, two extra ringers were joyously welcomed to the tower. 

Today I spent most of the day servicing the engine. This is something I should have done last year! Tappets adjusted, oil changed and, most dreaded task of all, fuel filter changed. Now changing a fuel filter should be easy-peasy. And it probably would be if you knew what you were meant to be doing and could see what you were meant to be doing. But my fuel filter is hidden against a bulkhead behind and below the engine. You can reach it with one hand or the other but not both at the same time. You can look at the top of it but not if your hands are in the way. Now I had sussed out that there was a screw in the top that needed to be undone first.
The instructions on the box said: 1 Unscrew bolt in centre of unit. So, I started with that. With one hand under the unit to catch the filter when the screw came undone I peered with one eye at the screw top and guessed where the screwdriver should go. Contact and off we screwed.

Screw removed but nothing else! Surely the unit should come apart. After all I had a hand down in the bilges ready to catch it.

With much pressure applied and various twisting motions the filter suddenly came away, slopping diesel, this being caught in a tin can ideally placed for the purpose. Yippee. And for six years of not being changed it didn’t look too dirty. New filter to hand, rubber seals replaced and offer up new unit to filter top – doesn’t want to fit! Take it all apart, sus out that there is a large hole in the filter that has to be located on to a spindle in the top. Offer up new unit again to filter top – doesn’t want to fit! Take it all apart, sus out that there is a shaft in the base unit that has to fit up the centre of the spindle in the top unit.

How on earth, with only one hand, do you get the shaft in the base unit to engaged with the spindle in the top unit when it’s all upside down and you can’t see anything anyway!?

Eventually, by jamming my head against the bulkhead, peering with one eye into the top of the filter unit, shining a torch down the hole and dislocating my left wrist, I managed to fit it all together. Now then, where’s the screw? Thoughtfully close to hand with the screwdriver. All screwed down tight, turn on fuel, drain out the air in the system and, whoopee, the engine starts.

Engine with aforesaid bulkhead behind

Only one small problem, fuel leaking out of the drain plug at the bottom of the unit which I can’t see. The drain plug is meant to be screwed down finger tight – ah well, adjustable spanner to hand and tightened down another half turn – problem solved. All ready for the departure morrow.