There’s not been much leatherworking done this morning.  Visiting the boat a few days ago I found that the engine wouldn’t start.  So this morning Matt and I went round to sort things out and do some general maintenance.

Well of course the engine starts first time for Matt!  (I’d not left the glo-plug on long enough to warm the fuel when I tried).  So while the engine was chugging and Matt was adding the antifreeze I started checking over in detail.  Seems like a new collar is needed for the stove as the damp has worked its way in during all this horrid weather, bother, bother, bother!.  The heater works and I’ve managed to top up the electricity point on the pier so we can be ready for the cold weather. I’ve done a temporary repair on the torn plastic window in the cratch (thank heavens for Duck tape).  Both of us got covered in soot clearing out the stove and I managed not to fall in climbing along the gunwhales to cap the chimney off.  These and other chores were not pleasurable in the driving wind and rain.

We finally packed up our tools, cleaning implements etc and headed off back down the pier to the car.  A fellow boater hallooed us:  “Been doing a bit of dusting?”

 

 
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