First visit as owners

It's all a bit frustrating, as Ruby is in the South of England and we are in the North of Scotland but we will rectify that in the spring when we plan to sail her up to much closer to home.

We have now visited her for the first time as owners. My son, Zac, and I joined her on Monday, 23rd October. Our first major project is fitting heating, as we intend to have an extended season next year in Norther climes, and this was supposed to happen on the Monday but had slipped a day, so we brought masses of bedding, which turned out to be unnecessary, as it was very mild.

We spent the afternoon doing little maintenance tasks, including ranging the anchor cable on the jetty. This caused the windlass to trip out several times in a strange fashion (it would always reverse from the task in hand but seemed to get bored paying out or picking up more than 15 metres under no load). We hope that we have sorted this after discovering a loose connection on the relay box.

The heating was fitted on Tuesday and very nice it is too. (Webasto 5500). Mostly very neat installation but there are a few, delicate looking, air ducts in exposed places, notably in the main cockpit locker. Bit of basic woodwork required. They also connected the power source directly to the battery, so it is not covered either by the main switches or breaker panel. Must remember to switch it off before leaving Ruby for months at a time!

We also had the domestic gas system overhauled as it didn't seem to have been done since new. Indeed, during our pre-purchase survey, the surveyor asked us to let him know if we planning to make a cup of tea as he would wish to position himself at a safe distance when we lit the gas.

Elsie flew down on Tuesday evening and approved the work. Wednesday was spent on other small jobs and and expensive trip to the chandlers. 

We then felt that we deserved to do a little sailing so, with following winds and tides possible we planned a little trip to Poole and back on Thursday and Friday.

Lionel

We've got a boat!

Well, after years of talking and dreaming, we have done it.  Bought a yacht for ourselves.  She is a 2005 Dufour 40 performance and, as each of the previous owners has kept a blog, we think that we should do the same.

This is us, and her, in Gosport, her current home.

Lionel

Archive pictures:

Ruby under sail

Layout

On berth, with cockpit tent up

Chart table

Aft Cabin

Forward cabin

Galley

On berth

Saloon