2006-01-31

Status 2005.

Happy new year! The accounts doesn't leave much to wish, as they show a profit and is consolidated at a satisfactory level. It is therefore time for, that another of our patrons (the undersigned) ends his financial support, and the Society itself defrays an expense for being on the internet. The amount is set to 50.-DKK/month, which is barely a seventh of my expense 340.-DKK/month. 

Three of the society's vessels, Mulle, Fleur de Lys and Moonstar are at sale, Kariba and Chivas have been sold during the year.

New members.

Else & Villy Makholm have sold Chivas to Mona & Svend-Erik Sørensen, who have moored the vessel at Kalvehave in Zealand, and they are congratulated with the purchase and the membership of our Society.

Turnover of Moonraker owners.

It is amazing how many of the Society's Moonrakers, which are sold after relative few years of ownership. The buyers are partly some, which not earlier have had boat, partly some shifting from a smaller vessel. Are they becoming surprised over the size, the handling, are they getting disappointed? Does the Moonraker appeal to something in the man, which makes him talk for the purchase, maybe with a more doubtful wife behind? How often doesn't we experience small lads pointing at the Moonraker thinking that it is cool! (which might be embarrassing for parents owning a sailing boat!). In former times it was well known amongst boat dealers, that buyers of Storö arrived driving a Jaguar, and buyers of Moonraker drove Mustang! Time has changed, - or has it?

I have never been the owner of a Mustang, but I might have been. The Moonraker has always appealed to me, and I have not been disappointed. Yes, details, but as a whole not. And this goes obviously for others, - the list showing how long one has owned ones Moonraker looks like this: Rikke 1980, Rimfaxe 1982, Moyana 1985, Amanda 1986, Dagmar 1986, Sprællebassen 1987, Camillo 1989, Charmi 1997, Kirke IV 2000, Bolette 2001, Mulle 2002, Zidire, Juma, Moonstar, Stella Nova, Sotis, Mir 2003, Majka 2004, Nessie 2004, Kariba, Futte, Chivas, Fleur de Lys, Moonlight 2005.

New engines.

What do one do, if one think, that the installed Perkins engines use "too much" oil? One can get them overhauled, checked compression, grinded valves and some other things, or one can learn to live with it!

One can also chose to tear out the old ones and have installed 2 Volvo Penta KAMD 300HS63AE (210kW / 285Hk) straight from the factory, and this is just what Leif "Amanda" (build 372) has chosen to do this winter. All adding up to 350.000.-DKK (£32100) including installing and a set of new shafts and 19x23" 5-bladed propellers.

As far as I understand, Leif wasn't particularly eager for more power, but he had an advantageous offer on these engines, as the production of them had stopped and Penta's last rest were sold out. The old Perkins T6.354 / 175 BHP have been put up for sale at the web site, costing 35000.-DKK (£3200) each.

The operation will be followed on the way and photos taken, so it will be possible to make an article later.

"Nessie" in Västerås, Sweden is changing her Perkins 145BHP to some Volvo Penta D3-130 straight from the factory. Image to open the hatches down to a freshly painted engine compartment with engines straight from the factory!

I myself am determined to keep my own Perkins, because as long as the engines are taken care of and problems are nipped in the bud, they have to manage more than the typical 3000 hours they have run in Moonrakers. The same engines fitted on trucks does easily 100.000 hours, though naturally with great difference in working conditions!

Some might also claim, that solely the price for replacement makes one reluctant!

Web site.

Service/ Solutions: Gorm has in "Moonstar" (Build 280 with the steering at port side), made a sofa at the same side. This arrangement is all right if you normally only steers on the flybridge, and the uncomfortable sitting position inside is therefore acceptable when you just once are forced inside, due to rain or the like.

Our sales site has (had) boats for sale from Germany, Italy (Switzerland), England and Greece, and has thus European appeal!

Service/ Alterations: A new site has been added with alterations / changes made by Moonraker owners.

Service/ Solutions / Build number: The site has been added further photos of possible placing of the number.

Service/ Solutions/ Flybridge tarpaulin: Measures on a primitive tarpaulin has been put in.

Service/ Solutions/ Launching and craning: My own  to do list when launching and craning, used for more than 20 years.

Service/ Solutions/ Engine Check/ Drawing off raw water:  Some chose to flush the engines with anti freeze coolant before the engines are shut down for the season. I myself have always drawn off the water and - some times flushed with emulsifying oil.

Library/ Documents: A new site with miscellaneous documents and explanations related to Moonraker 36, - authorities approvals, yard test and reports.

Letters to the Newsletter.

As the years pass away, and I get used up, what I possess of 25 years of experience with Moonraker, it is getting harder and harder to find something to write about! As what interest Moonraker owners is, - yes exactly, - is Moonrakers, I must again appeal that you share your experiences in Moonraking with others. Regrettably are letters from members few and far between about things, occurrences, - good as unpleasant, which might have a broad interest. It doesn't necessarily have to cost you money, as it does for Leif, who gets his engines replaced, just so I have something to write about!

2006-04-28

Propellers rotation direction.

When we buy a Moonraker, it is with engines fitted at the yard, and we don't think much of the propeller  rotation direction, - and why should we?  Anyway a Greek didn't, when he in 1994 purchased a 1970 Moonraker, which had been in Greece, since it arrived as new many years before.

He has mailed me some Photos, clearly showing that the vessel is fitted with two identical propellers, - and they consequently are rotating in the same direction! He writes, that it during sailing is necessary with heavy rudder adjustment, - I'll bet! It can't be pleasant sailing, and one can wonder when this fault has been made, anyway not at the Moonraker yard! If he wants to correct it, he has to change the starboard gearbox, as two left hand propellers are fitted.  

Amanda’s engines.

After a long winter with necessary changes of arrangement and equipment for mounting of the new engines, Amanda was relaunched mid April. Certain practical surprises occurred during the replacement, e.g. had the vessel when put on the hard been put to close to a concrete flower basin, that the shafts couldn't be removed, so the vessel had to be lifted once more!

The undersigned hasn't yet been sailing with Amanda, but Leif seems pretty content with the invested 400.00.-DKK (£36500.-), though small surprises was hidden in the handling of a Moonraker doing 28-29 knots, which it does now, - an increase of 50%. Unfortunately the time has been short and the web-site has therefore not yet been updated with a site with the engine replacing. 

Website.

A guy from Croatia mailed me about his window beadings, which had begun to fray and needed replacing. I have therefore updated the websites instructions regarding the problem. Solutions / Strip for sliding windows.

English proofreader

Nothing wrong with our ambitions! Is there amongst the readers or their friends, a person (Englishman or another with good knowledge of English) who might proofread our English web sites.  

2006-08-16

Get together at Rorvig.

Four vessels attended the rally and  arrived Friday, Bolette as the last after having sailed a bit over 60 miles from Kragenæs to Ballen, but as no free moorings were available, they decided to go straight to Rorvig another 60 miles, all in all 120 miles! You'll believe they were pretty exhausted!  Sprællebassen (331) should have participated, but did the Fjord of Roskilde already in week 28, and was prevented from being present. 

Majka arrived as the first, on just one engine, as port gear had broken down. The ride home Sunday also had to be on one engine, convoyed by Bolette! 

Amanda could show off with its new engines Volvo Penta KAMD300, which were properly inspected! 

The weather was brilliant, sunny and warm, as the Summer by the way has been all the way. 

Crystallized injectors.

Moonraker Owners Club.

Sorry to say, no one turned up to take over after Morvyn, and therefore it has been advertised in Motor Boats Monthly that the Club has stopped to exist.

Morvyn suggested, that I took on the job, which I declined, as it for one thing should be an Englishman who did, for an other thing that we don't have the capacity to deal with it.

I suggested several months ago, that they should advertise in one or more major English Magazines and call for the people, who certainly are sitting around in Britain, having the feeling and power to take over. This he hasn't had the guts to do, which is sad and rather quite apathetic, I think.

Web site.

-A  short photo series about Amanda's new engines, Service / Solutions / Replacing engines.

-New Moonraker pennant, Library / Merchandise.

-We doesn't possess the capacity to publish an English version of our Newsletter, but could it be, that someone still want to support the Moonraker cause and become members, - and settle with the extracts from the Newsletters, which is translated and brought on the English site "Latest". English Version / About the Club / How to join.

-The get together 2006 at Rorvig has been put up with photos and a brief description: Events.

-The International Moonraker Register is drop by drop filled with vessels, partly some who voluntarily sends in Data Form, partly through my search amongst all the Moonrakers at sale worldwide. Recently a 1974/E showed up at sale in Australia, a vessel I had a black & white photo of, lying 1974 in Skovshoved Harbour, Denmark, named "Masai" and owned by an Australian Paul Mitchell. It was identified by mail correspondence, and it shoed up to be "Masai" and the seller was Paul Mitchell!

2006-10-30

Propellers.

When I am measuring out the consumption of diesel, it has always been by registering from full tank to full tank = tanked amount of litres. Here I have very precise calculations, which tells that with 3-bladed 17x13 propellers, the consumption at 1500 revs (8-9 knots) is 2,65 L / nm.

After switching to 4-bladed 17x13 has my pattern of refuelling been different, and I have therefore not many precise refuels to make calculations from. However I have over 762 nm at 13-1500 revs (8-9 knots) registered a consumption at 1466 L, which means approximate 2,0 L / nm.

My engines doesn't reach the recommended 2600 revs at full throttle, but only 2200 revs, so as the rule of thumb says that each inch change in pitch gives a change in revs on 100-200, the propellers rather ought to be 17x12, if it wasn't because, I mainly on the whole sails just at 1500 revs, and that I want to optimize the fuel economy, by having propellers fitted, which gives the best economy at exactly these revs. The top speed hasn't changed, as it still is 19 knots.

Incidentally I through the years have had propellers with different pitch mounted, and this scheme ”Propeller_305”, is showing the connection between size, pitch, revolutions and speed.

Barry Greenwood, who owns Golden Sands nr.259, wrote in Moonrakers International some years ago:

“I fitted new four-blade propellers, size 16x13 with a blade area ratio of 0.87. Earlier this year and during trials with clean antifouling the boat achieved 20.3kts at 2350rpm with full fuel tank, half-full water tank and two crew. Later in the year when slime had built up we could only achieve 18.8kts. then made these changes:

The props were made 16x12x, and on speed trials I got 20.3kts.  At the end of the following year the speed was down to just under 19kts. with clean antifouling etc.

I had the props repitched to 16x11 and although I could get 2500 rpm the boat speed was down to 17.3kts. 

I had the pitch changed back to 12 but the boat speed never went above 19kts. apart from once, when I had tide and wind with me-it did 20.2kts! - again with clean antifouling.  

On recent trips the max I can get is about 18.8 at 2350-2400. I tend to cruise at 15-16 at about 2250rpm.

Propeller/speed relationship is not an exact science, and the conditions of the boat, the sea, the atmosphere, can all have a bearing on the outcome. Although I had the pitch changed back to 12, each time it is altered they balance and fettle the blade edges and you lose a bit off the diameter. I also have Strippers fitted and carry a RIB, which I believe knock off about 1kt.”

Web site.

- The promotional film shot in England and at the Mediterranean by JCL in 1972/73 is now, besides VHS video, also available on DVD (+R). The price is the same 90.-DKK, but the postage is cheaper than by sending a VHS video: Europe 23.-DKK (VHS 43.-DKK), Outside Europe 35.-DKK (VHS 62.-DKK). Modern DVD players does play all formats, but you wish a DVD (-R) it can be procured. Library/Video-DVD. Watch this interestingly film from another time.

- When vessels become as old as our Moonrakers, it happens, that instruments not more are available exactly as the ones you have. Then the choice is to replace with new mismatching instruments or try to fix the old ones. My hour meter's front lenses had become yellow and cracked, as they clearly had been made of some plastic which isn't UV stabilized. As the meters otherwise was in working order, I had them disassembled and replaced the plastic with clear glass. Service/Solutions/Hour meter.

- The Catalogue site has been expanded, so you can get your catalogue model of Moonraker on CD, besides the photo copied issues. Price for CD with content asked for, 50.-DKK + postage (Europe 14.-DKK / Outside Europe 20.-DKK). Library/Catalogues.

Finding a solution.

As the web site constantly is expanded with "sites", it might be difficult to find the direct way to the answer to ones problem. It might therefore be a good idea to start at "Library/Moonraker Data" and here search on the problem, as a number of links are put on data which might be relevant.

Next one might go into "Service / Solutions" and "Service / Drawings / Handbooks" and check if anything is matching, and if so far no solution has come up, just mail me and we'll try together!