Ouch!

After all the howling gales and monsoon like rains, I awoke to find it's a lovely day out there today

Unfortunately, I'm sat indoors on the confuser paying bills

£176 for lift out

£142 for engine service, winterisation and storage until spring

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the lift out costs at Fambridge are the one area where, in my 'umble, the prices are a bit steep. Hey ho though 'cos it's not worth the hassle of going elsewhere for the winter and having to pay yard storage fees which are inclusive in the annual mooring contract

The engine service cost might seem a bit steep too until you stop and consider that for that price they have ...

Tested the engine and thoroughly flushed it with fresh water
Replaced the water pump impeller
Replaced both anodes (the standard one and the extra big one we added)
Replaced the spark plug
Drained and replaced the engine oil
Drained and replaced the gear oil
Checked and cleaned the thermostat
Drained and flushed the fuel system and carb
Checked the prop and replaced the split pins
Tested and set up the carb
Cleaned and greased the engine
Checked the recoil starter
Oiled the bore to protect it over the winter

And now the engine will bide quietly in their secure dry storage until the spring when, with a couple of days notice, they'll fit the spark plug, run the engine up, de-winterise it and make it ready for next year. Oh and the all important stamp in the service book to maintain the manufacturers 6 year warranty will be forthcoming ... when I remember where the hell I put the damn service book!

So easy for another three hundred odd quid to fly out of the boat account, hence the "ouch" in the title! I shall console myself with dreams of the perfect summer season of ideal yachting weather to come. And in my dreams is precisely where I expect the perfect summer season to stay!