Extracts from newsletters 2007


2007-01-04

Status 2006.

Happy new year! The balance brought forward from 2006 is less than at last new year due to expenses to the new pennants, but is however satisfactory. Accounts 2006 are attached to this Newsletter.

One of the society's vessels, - Camillo -, is at sale,  Fleur de Lys (Nemlig Ja) and Moonstar have been sold during the year.

Newsletter by E-mail.

The sending out of the quarterly Newsletters is a considerable expense entry in the society accounts. This entry might be reduced, if the Newsletters were posted by E-mail attached as a PDF file. With the present appearance and contents such a PDF file would be 50-90kb, if included colour photos up to 180-200kb.

It is evident, that members, who are not able to receive E-mail, and others, who continuously wish to receive the paper version, still will be able get it.

Please, send me a letter / an E-mail, whether you want the Newsletter as a PDF file or not. Should anyone wish a sample of such a PDF Newsletter, then order it, and this edition of the Newsletter will be forwarded as a PDF-file.

New E-mail address.

Please note that my E-mail address has been changed to t.dehn@moonraker.dk. The old address, was haunted and vandalized by a vast number of spam mails, which probably was due to the fact that our web site was scattered with my address, and search machines searching for addresses, with the intention of resale, had an easy task!

Web site.

- The front page has been changed to "Moonraker", written with the original font, white on our blue background. In connection with this the society's E-mail address has been changed to to@moonraker.dk. You'll note that the address not automatically links to Outlook Express, when pointed and pressed at, and the visitor therefore has to write to@moonraker.dk to send an E-mail. My pious hope is that it prevents the search machines to find the address and shower me with spam! www.moonraker.dk/eng_index.

- In 2004 the web site on an annual basis had 21013 visits with all in all 207252 hits, in 2005 visits 27634 with 305825 hits, and in 2006 visits 42524 with 427629 hits, a doubling, which shows the development in our spreading and knowledge amongst Moonraker Owners around the world.

- The anode site is in an enlarged edition with further photos, which clarifies the initiatives needed to couple the exposed metal parts to just one anode. Service/Solutions/Anodes.

- When sailing early or late in the season, it's not unusual, that water is pouring down the inside of the windows. The vertically areas are easy to deal with, but water from the windows in the fore cabin is dripping down on the mattress. To avoid this - at times - flood, I have fitted a drain, as shown on the drawing and photos. I have used a tube approximate 16mm inward x 1.5mm thick, which is cut open lengthwise, and the one edge is put under the list and tightened. The tube will of course seek back to its round form, and to keep the drain open, I have put a stainless spring inside. It is important, that a joint is laid at the bottom of the window (as shown on the drawing), as the drops of water otherwise will jump out, when coming to the edge and fall beside the drain. At starboard and port side the drain is brought down to the bottom to the tube leading from the anchor locker and aft wards to the bilge. Service/Solutions/Window condensation drain.

- It might be something of a problem, loosening the cap on top of the raw water filter, as a rather big pipe wrench is needed, when it is stuck. The pair of water pump pliers in the tool box isn't much help in this case. With a piece of square brass or iron 15x15mm x 50-60mm fitted to the cap with two M6 screws through the top, its just straight forward, as an adjustable spanner put on the block easily opens the cap. Service/Solutions/Raw water cap stuck

 


2007-04-11

Moonraker blog.

In attempt to unlock the logjam, which has occurred after the closure of Moonraker Owners Club, have I, trying to round up the former users of MOC web site, and strengthen our position as the place of Moonraker knowledge, set up an English-language blog. The idea is to get people to participate writing letters, so we can maintain our site, not only as the Moonraker site, but as the extremely well-informed Moonraker site.

Seaworthiness.

If you surf around the net at e.g. http://www.ybw.com/ you’ll very easily find the comment, ”Moonraker is very difficult to handle in a following sea”. The comment is mostly used, when talking about Moonraker is in a negative context.

Yachtsmen in all kinds of boats know, that having a following sea is not the easiest circumstance to steer in; the problem is however, that it is stated, as if only the Moonraker, has the problem!

I have never read a test, where other boats together with Moonraker, have been tested, and it from this has appeared, that Moonraker is worse than other boats of same size and type! Exists such a test? Or is it just so, that people who doesn’t like Moonraker, have spread the theory, and at that, the majority of those who claims it, never have been sailing a Moonraker and just are followers, who “have heard someone mention it!”

A test in Motor Boat and Yachting dated September 14, 1973, where 6 different vessels (Apollo 32, Fairey Fantome, Fairey Super Swordsman, King Falcon, Moonraker and Laguna 11.5m) participated in a 4 days test under various weather conditions, doesn’t mention a thing about, that especially Moonraker should have such a problem!

The test is to be found at our web site Library / Others about Moonraker / Motor Boat and Yachting 1973, September 14 / Group Report.

Newsletter as PDF file.

This newsletter is as the very first sent out, attached to an E-mail, as a PDF file. To ensure that the letter reaches the recipients, you'll be asked to give a receipt. Should anyone experience troubles in opening the file, please contact me.

Next Newsletter.

Next ordinary Newsletter is expected to be sent out August / September 2007.


2007-08-28

Moonraker forever.

The moulds for Moonraker, which have been up for sale for a long time, have been bought by two Englishmen, who intend again to take up production of the Moonraker 36. It will take place through a new company, Moonrakerboats by Dave Lancashire and Gill Algor. They are going to produce the same model, which Vic Bell had produced for him self in 1991, Moonraker Super de Luxe, which can be seen on our web site "About Moonraker", at the bottom of the page in the paragraph Product development.

A web site has been set up www.moonrakerboats.net. To our knowledge, the first specimen will be ready late 2007.

The get together cancelled.

Unfortunately the rally in Nivå, July 28-29  had to be cancelled, as too few had signed up.

Live and learn!

Beginners as well as experienced make mistakes, also elementary ones! This year Rimfaxe was launched April the first, after a period with splendid sunny and warm weather, just for making the vessel ready. After the launch out on the sea for a longer trip, nice weather, flybridge weather! What is that for a strange smell? Burned? Down in the cockpit, - no, there was no smell. Then may be it just was smoke from the ferries! Continued the navigation, the smell was still there, opened the hatches down to the engines, - the port one was warm, - extremely warm! Cooling? Up and check the raw water outlet, - not a drop came out!

Elementary my dear Watson! I had not, as I use to, checked the water outlet, after the launching!

The cause to the lacking raw water, was an open draw off crane on the intercooler, by which it sucked air in and prevented the vacuum, which should bring the raw water forward. But now it was too late! The impeller showed up to be a charred lump, which not was able to suck. Old fool!

Grease spot on the carpet.

Last year we had the carpets in the boat replaced, mostly because a rather big "grease spot" had emerged at the pantry, presumably due to waste from a frying pan or the like. This year I discovered a similar "grease spot" on the same place at the pantry. Bloody hell, who has now spilled again!! (it couldn't be me, mostly because I seldom cook!). My wife meant it was coming from the bottom! Rubbish, what does she know about that?

There was nothing to see under the carpet, no visible crack. But, but, - a closer look showed, that diesel  was leaking out from below, - from the diesel tank? If my wife hadn't had that idea, I might have replaced the carpet once more, and experienced another spot on the next carpet!!

I used a grinding machine on the spot on the floor, and found a crack, which subsequently was closed with glass fibre and polyester.

Moonraker blog.

One can not exactly say, that the site has been crowded with contributions! Can it be true, that Moonraker owners have no experiences, good as bad, which they want to share with others?

Web site.

- Strange alterations has been added a photo of something of a different Moonraker, as the flybridge has been cut flat of. Service / Strange Alterations.

Next Newsletter.

The next ordinary Newsletter is expected to be sent out November / December 2007.

Best regards

 

Terje Dehn

 


www.moonraker.dk  /   to@moonraker.dk