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Back to Work: Outboard Repairs, Seacock Swap, and Stripping Out Bodges

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Sorry for the radio silence! The last post went up back in July, and while the blog has been quiet, I’ve been anything but. Pretty much every spare moment since then has been spent working on the boat, and it’s amazing how quickly time disappears when you’re covered in Sikaflex or head-down in an engine. The biggest milestone was finally getting an outboard sorted. The boat didn’t come with one, so this was a huge step forward. I found a good engine, gave it a full service, and even fixed a couple of issues: a blocked fuel tap and a snapped handle. Cleaning out the tap was easy enough, but the handle repair was a bit more creative. I drilled through what was left of it, dropped in a bolt, and sculpted a brand-new handle around it with epoxy putty. Surprisingly, it worked - and it looks half-decent too! Next on the list was sorting out the sink drain. The old seacock was a corroded mess, so I swapped it for a TruDesign composite fitting. Thankfully, the skin fitting was still solid, so ...
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Tractor Training, Sealing Leaks, and Stuck Winches

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  Another solid weekend of progress on the Achilles 24. This time, it actually started on Friday. The day started with the removal of the corroded remains of an ancient brass seacock - the valve that allows the onboard sink to drain overboard and can be closed to prevent seawater ingress. It had been left open, and fell apart in my hands when I tried to close it. Thankfully, the bronze skin fitting is still in good shape, so I only had to order a new valve. I’ve opted to use a composite valve from Trudesign out of New Zealand. The valves are very highly rated and being plastic, won’t corrode. I also ordered some stainless steel jubilee clips to reconnect the sink drain. After last week’s disruption thanks to the industrial estate fire, I was finally able to complete tractor training at the club. I’ve been looking forward to this for a while. Not just so I can move my own boat around, but also so I can help out with launches and recoveries. Big thanks again to Alan Thomas for taking...
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Starting the Restoration: Making a 1979 Achilles 24 Seaworthy Again

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This past weekend was meant to be the first big push into restoring the Achilles 24. I had a packed to-do list, tools loaded, and sunscreen ready. But late Friday night, a huge fire broke out at an industrial estate just down the road from Erith Yacht Club. It took 150 firefighters and 25 engines to bring it under control, and the surrounding area was closed off on Saturday while crews dealt with lingering hotspots and smoke. The fire service laid 2 kilometers of hose and pumped water from the Thames One of the key things I’d planned for Saturday was tractor training at the club. It might not sound glamorous, but it’s a big deal. Members who are trained to operate the club’s tractors can move boats around the yard and down the slipway, including getting my own yacht from storage to the work sheds where I can hook up to power and water. It’s also a way to give back, since I’ll be able to help other members launch and recover their boats during the season. Unfortunately, the closure mean...
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I Bought a 1979 Achilles 24 - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

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I bought a boat. Specifically, a 1979 Achilles 24 - or something very close to it. I say “1979” with the same confidence you might say, “This milk smells fine.” It’s not confirmed, but based on the sail number and a few key design features, it’s a solid guess. Close enough for now. She’s red, fiberglass, and let’s be honest, rough. But she’s mine. This blog is where I’ll be documenting the resurrection of this little cruiser, from barnacle-bedraggled beginnings to blue-water dreams (or at least weekend sailing without sinking). Think of this as part restoration log, part therapy, and part warning for anyone else thinking, “How hard could it be?” The Boat & The Buy The Achilles 24 has a bit of a cult following among small cruiser fans, and for good reason. Designed by Oliver Lee and built by Butler Mouldings in the UK, it’s a 24-foot, fin-keeled fibreglass sloop that punches well above its weight in terms of sailing ability and rugged charm. According to the Achilles Owners Associ...
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