Hull Polishing - 1st March 2020

Cleaned the rub rail area as it was mouldy and set about polishing the upper hull and went over the lower area for a second time, just need to now start the upper wheel house and fly bridge area, and will go over the lower hull again nearer to the launch date.

Starboard front side sorted

Port side front done

Starboard side stern all polished up

Port side stern done

Finally feel like were getting somewhere starting to look clean.

The Polishing and Painting begin - 21st February 2020

The mechanics are now fully sorted so started to prime the other drive and transom and then started the polishing, really excited as we can now see the boat beginning to be fully restored to her former glory, roll on the summer.

The right side (as you view) nice and shinny 

There's a lot of boat to polish so better crack on with it and stop admiring my handy work

Stern primed and port side leg/drive sorted, already for first coat of anti foul

Drive Rebuild Complete - 19th February 2020

The leg is finally completed and back on the boat, fully calibrated the leg trim sensor to -4 and adjusted the toe in to -15 mm. Need to crack on now with anti-foul and polishing if we could just get some sustained good weather.

Mechanics fully sorted.

Leg Finally reunited with the boat - 14/15th February 2020

After many months of waiting for the insurance to pay out so we could repair the drive we bit the bullet and just got on with rebuilding the drive and shaft, we got Rowland Marine to replace the intermediate drive shaft and gimble bearing assembly/press the swivel tube into the new casting and change the UJ coupler whilst I rebuilt the whole drive with new seals and resprayed the leg and then spent a couple of days at the boat reassembling it and then putting the new transmission oil in.

Starboard Leg finally back on the boat

Really feels like were getting somewhere 

All working fine, what a relief

All adjusted - gear shift really smooth

What a beautiful sight at last looks like a proper boat

Decided to do a bit of gardening as fed up working in the mud of the yard

Repair and reassembly of the drive - 7th February 2020

290A Starboard Leg back together

Quick respray

Carrier back on

Looking more like it should

Chewed up shaft - 16th January 2020

The boat was inspected today by the marine engineer for MS Amlin the intermediateshaft has been chewed up when the casting failed

Intermediate Spline Shaft was chewed up in the failure

How much more wind and rain is going to come down...its been a nightmare

Eltrim Bellows Replaced - 28th November 2019

Finally a break in the rain and it was time to change the Eltrim bellows and complete the trim cleaning returning them to their stainless finish.

New bellows on starboard side

New bellows on the port side

Starboard side all clean

Port side trim cleaned off

Port bellows compressed

Starboard bellows compressed

Trim Tabs back to Stainless - 17th November 2019

Another few hours on the trim tabs cleaning off anti-foul from the tops, they are now back to stainless. It was several millimeters thick so will need to go back another day to do the bottom sides... its going to be a long job.

Port Tab cleaned off on top

Starboard Tab cleaned off on top

Underside is thick looks like they've got under seal or tarmac on them, yikes gonging to be a challenge

Starboard Leg Removed - 14th November 2019

Finally managed to remove the damaged leg so a proper repair can be carried out, managed to get replacement H casting and coupler from coastal rides. Then couldn't release the drain plugs, all a bit challenging.

Starboard leg removed

Big step forward in the repairs

No sign of leaking which is good

UJ Coupler damaged when casting broke

The Big Strip Down has begun - 13th November 2019

After a couple of days I managed to get back to the boat and started stripping down the drives and removing the props.

Props off and the big job of removing the starboard leg

Lift Out & Broken Drive - 11th November 2019

Despite the wind at F5/6 the lift was finally on at the ECA, we struggled to get the boat of the dock on one engine with the wing blowing us on and only the starboard drive working. All a bit interesting getting into the Wise lift. Finally out and on shore too see the starboard drive had collapsed as the 'hook up' casting had fractured due to age.

At last a shore and out of the wind

Finally on our way down the yard

Greek Princess in the Wise Lift

Finally choked off

Winter layup complete

This why we could engage the drive

Hook up casting fractured

Cleaned up reveals the damage

Wow all looks a bit messy

Port Casting has obviously been replaced

Starboard leg supported until removal

Drive Failure en route to ECA - 8th November 2019

Every so often things go wrong and this journey turned out to be one of those, on leaving our mooring at Haslar for the ECA the starboard leg lost drive. Had to really struggle to reverse up the run on one engine into open water. Managed to then limped round the ECA only for the Wise Lift to Fail with a hydraulic leak. So we had to moor up for a few days and wait for the next weather window.

In safely on one engine

All secure after limping in

Grateful to be in safe and sound, however looks like the drive cable has gone on starboard leg

AIS fitted and working - 1st November 2019

Finally completed the navigational upgrades to Greek princess and fitted AIS Transponder, finally we can see and be seen, increasing the safety at sea. Also lets us keep an eye on the boat when we aren't there.

Vesper Marine XB6000 fitted

Finally I can see AIS targets

Info available

MMSI & CALL SIGN

Clearly Seen