I bring Stargazer alongside, to meet Richard. He owns Evolution Rigging. Like all the riggers on the Orwell he’s working flat out. Next available booking - early August. It’s the combined effect of today’s announcements about the relaxation of lockdown and the fine summer weather. Same story whoever I rang, to ask about servicing Stargazer’s slipping genoa winch.
Richard, though, wants to help us out of our predicament. He meets me on the pontoon bearing a Cardboard box in which he has assembled a DIY winch service kit.
It comes complete with an exploded parts diagram. “There simple, this is an easy winch to work on. Can’t go wrong.”
Seeing the alarmed expression on my face, Richard partially dismantles one winch as I take notes. Then demonstrates how the springs locate in the pawls. Five of each per winch. “They only fit one way. Can’t go wrong, really.”
He patiently shows me how to compress each spring, to slide the pawl fully home. A damaged, or broken, spring is the likely culprit for our slipping winch. “With the stripping, cleaning (just use some diesel), lubrication and rebuilding - each winch should take an hour.” Stargazer has four winches. My project for tomorrow is to service them.
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