2004-01-29

Happy New Year! The good development in the economy from 2002 has continued throughout 2003. Again has been a large number of applying for manuals from both members and non members, who on the internet has searched on different subjects and in this way have ended on our Service site. Accounts 2003 enclosed this Newsletter. 

International Moonraker Register.

With the continuous increasingly number of visitors on our web site, more and more get knowledge of the Register and this ought in the end yield some info of the visitors Moonrakers. Through the months September to December the numbers of hits in average has been 850 per month.

Within few days has data been received from Greece and Belgium. We have reached a number of 140 Moonraker 36's and 13 Moonraker 30's. So 35% of the 36's and 25% of the 30's has been listed. Remember to "do something about it" if you spot Moonrakers abroad!

The site had reached well over 200kb and was as such quite a heavy one to open. We have now divided into two parts. I am doubtful about how long it takes with a modem, as I am myself on broadband. Could someone, who is on a modem, do me the favour of measuring how long it takes from scratch, that is with all temporary internet files deleted? 

Web site.

Motor Boats Monthly's July issue had an article about “Perfect Days”, a Moonraker rebuilt after a gas explosion and which is known to be build number 001. In the December issue of the same Magazine is brought “Guide to popular second hand motor cruisers 2003”. Both articles has as PDF files been put on the site under Library / Others about Moonraker.

2004-04-13

Web site.

On the library site is Account of Journey set up, at the moment only containing one account, from Motor Boat and Yachting 1979 ”Topaz” journey to the Scilly Islands.

Service / Solutions site is added "Engine check", a site for happy amateurs (most of us), who does one's best to keep the engines running and in good shape.

If anyone needs a primitive puller for their propeller, is drawings for one shown here.

The Service site is expanded with "Moonraker Data", where multifarious information is to be found. If you for example want to know who produced the windlass mounted by the yard, or which toilet is installed you might find the answer here. The intention is along the road to fill allspice info into it, so it can be used as an effective searching place.

Get together at Mölle.

So far 4 Moonrakers have enrolled the rally 24 - 25 July at Mölle on Kullen / Sweden. Should others find, that participation would fit into their sailing schedule, give us a hint. At the beginning of July the participants will be informed about the further details.

Increase in value on Moonraker?

The in Gothenburg being Moonraker from 1977, hull number 373 is put up for sale  for 1.100.000.-SEK! (£100.000.-). It is about a vessel, which from the yard was delivered dark brown under the rubbing strake and light brown above! A later owner has had it resprayed, and it now appears in white. So guys, if you keep your Moonrakers in good repair, you can charge over a million! Yes, - but anyone has the possibility of charging "to much", so lets await the final selling price. - And who wants incidentally to sell ones Moonraker!!

Photos taken before and after the transformation from brown to white can be seen on the Register site.

Engine maintenance.

Several of our members have during the winter had certain engine repairs. "Sprællebassen" had a leak in the cylinder head gasket, why the cylinder head has been demounted, and after grinding in the valves and seats, remounted on a new cylinder head gasket. On that occasion the exhaust manifold was replaced with a new one made of steel plate, - model "Mogens Saaby". 

"Amanda" has also replaced the exhaust manifold on the starboard engine, and "Camillo" is facing changing manifolds on both engines with stainless steel ones.

It is said that cast iron exhaust manifolds last 8 - 12 years, so as "Rimfaxe's" port manifold was replaced 15 years ago, I am prepared on leaks. I am not going on summer holiday without a spare one, - one of Knud's stainless steel kind, and when mounted I do not expect it will be necessary, to replace that manifold any more in the future!

Warning.

"Amanda" has had other problems. Checking the intercooler (air charge cooler), it appeared that heavy corrosion had taken place in the aluminium casing. This was caused by a leaky o-seal, whereby raw water was penetrated into the casing and - much worse - to the cavity where the charge air is passing through.

This is no laughing matter, because Perkins is no longer able to provide spare parts, much less new Serck intercoolers of this type! Still, they might provide you with special produced specimens at the cost of £2050 including VAT each, and 16 - 18 weeks delivery time!

The corroded parts is rebuilt by a special two-component paste "Wencon cream", which amongst other things is used when repairing aero planes. On the site Solutions / Intercooler is shown photos of the corroded and later cured intercooler!

2004-08-24

The name Moonraker

We know how it came about to be named Moonraker (www.moonraker.dk/about moonraker), but we didn't know the legend about Moonraker, which the Swedes rebuilding the burned Moonraker has discovered on the internet http://www.moon-raker.co.uk/legend.asp, and we of course have made a link to the site on our web site. It is something about smugglers and excisemen!

5 Years anniversary

Mid August we can celebrate the Societies 5 years anniversary. Do we dare to say it has led to increased interest for Moonraker? I do believe. Our web site is without comparison the most informative amongst boat sites of its kind and has 1000 hits each month, which after all reflects a certain interest!

Get together in Mölle.

The rally this year was cancelled due to lack of entries. A mini rally though occurred in the Swedish skerries north og Gothenburg, where Rimfaxe met with Amanda and Pardon (Powless 38) and spent a few days together in brilliant sunshine and warmth. 

Copyright.

Material from our web site has wrongful been used on www.lotusdriversguide.com. They have now applied for approval, which we have given them, provided that clear source statement is given on the site.

Moonraker moulds.

Along the time it has been possible to get moulded parts from Aqua Bell Ltd. The moulds owned by Vic Bell, have however been at sale for several years. They were offered to us several years ago, but we declined! Now it is said that they are sold to a former employee at JCL, but we don't know what they are gone to be used for.

Web site.

"Moonraker Data/Perkins 175Hp/tachometer". My port tachometer sender stopped working and it showed up that the L-shaped pinion gear placed between the engine and the sender caused the trouble. Perkins is no longer able to supply this part. I separated it, and found that the cogwheels inside were worn out. A pair of cogwheels can be made  by a cogwheel factory at 1500.-DKK (£140). 

"Library/Account of Journeys" has been supplied with an article about Tic-Tac-Toe from Motor Boats And Yachting February 1974.

"Solutions/Folding table". If you are just two persons when dining at the aft deck, you don't necessarily have to bring up the "big" table. A small leaf placed in the low folding table converts it to a dining table for two.

"Solutions/Cockpit sofa". Moonraker has until 1975/76 the steering wheel fitted at port side in the cockpit. This means poor utilization of the cockpit space, as the way down from the aft deck blocks for an effective exploitation of the room. However, I have fitted a sofa which allows free access up and down. 

2004-10-25

The feeling for Moonraker.

Dear Moonraker owners,  how do you feel about your Moonrakers? I myself think that it is one of the most beautiful boats of its size, and I never get tired of looking at it!

However I have realized lately, how long I actually have had my vessel. It has over the years been an "integrated" part of me, and takes up almost as much space as my family (my wife might say that it takes up a lot more!).

I have used plenty of time on maintenance and improvements and have all the time felt, that it was one of the best kept specimen, and therefore of course must be in the top when it come to market price. And this might well be the case, - yet! Because I have also been aware of, that I don't spend as much efforts on maintenance that I used to do, which naturally has to happen when you grow older. So the issue here is - that I (one) don't get blind for the run-down going on, and that I (one) am/is realistic when it comes to the price one can get for "the old tub" the day one is in a selling position. I intend of course to keep my Moonraker for many years to come!

Diesel account.

I have never succeeded making the setting up to exact measurement of diesel consumption, which I have on my to do list. The setting up should very exact register the consumption at different speeds.

However I pretty much know, how much is used each mile. Since 1982 the total distance covered is 16502 nautical miles. On 10566 miles of those, the consumption has been 25389,5 litres which gives an average of 2,4 litre/mile. The vast majority of the distance has been at 1500 rev./min. and only at very rare intervals over distances of 2-4 miles it has been 2550 rev./min. at max speed 19 knots.

If someone has exact figures on their consumption please send a mail about it. For instance has Gorm Rasmussen running a short distance with Moonstar estimated a consumption of 3 litres/mile at 1300 rev./min. going 8,5 knots, and a consumption of 3,5-4,0 litres/mile at 1900 rev./min. and going 18 knots.

Web site.

"Service/Solutions". Some years ago I mounted a sun awning at the aft deck, which we have had great pleasure out of. This and a Flybridge seat beside the helmsman are put on the site, further more "Suspension of an oven".  "Solutions/Engine Check" has been added "Fuel pump".

Service site has been increased with "Different alterations", where owners has been making "improvements", some of them quite bizarre! 

Our server delivers statistics on the hits taking place. It collects a variety of information's about the visits, - about the daily traffic, how many visits, at which time they take place, how many sites they are looking at, and many other information's, including which country the are coming from. Denmark covers 40% of the visits, the rest is divided among over 50 different countries, with United Kingdom, Sweden, Holland, Finland in top followed by different European countries, Norway, Italy, Austria, Greece, France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Czech Republic, Estonia, Switzerland, Faeroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, plus Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, United States, US Government, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Israel, Taiwan, but also very exotic places as Niue, Tonga og Brunei Darussalam.

The mag – Dave is quitting.

Now it is wrong again with Moonrakers International, Moonraker Owners Club magazine. David Beet, who has been the motive power behind the mag since the start, has decided to quit. He has run out of material, as he receives to little response from the members (a problem also well known within Danish Moonraker Owners!).

As it emerges of the attached, - for the time being last issue -, a plea comes from Morvyn that someone will take over David's role, as he fears that should no-one do so, it will signal the demise of the Club. If you have visited the Clubs web-site you will have noted that nothing is taking place!