How to navigate with google earth

MARCH 2016 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com 29

A QUESTION OF

SEAMANSHIPBill’s answer from p26

It would have been easier to leave in the

dark, with no wind to complicate the

manoeuvre. But that would have meant a

tedious passage under engine instead of a

sparkling sail so we didn’t really consider it.

We did think about taking a sternline

to the boat on the pontoon astern to haul

ourselves clear of the berth, allow the

wind to swing her, then motor out. But it

seemed over-complicated and would have

blocked the channel for 10 minutes or so.

What we did was rig a sternline as a slip

rope, to the port quarter of the boat on

our starboard side. The plan was to motor

astern, paying out slack on that stern line

until our bows were in clear water. Then use

the sternline as a spring, to pivot us to port

until we were pointing towards the seaward

end of the channel, then go fi rmly ahead

with the rudder hard to port and slip the

sternline. It sounds simple but there were

snags. There was only just enough width in

the channel. As we started to reverse out of

the berth the stern, predictably, swung to

port and we had to hold onto our sternline

briefl y to straighten her up. This swung the

bow to port, almost hitting our neighbour

on our port side. Luckily their crew was

able to fend off. Once clear of the berth

we did just have room to swing the bows

to port by motoring against the sternline

but there was an anxious moment as we

put the engine ahead with the helm hard

to port and slipped the sternline. We were

now turning the boat against the way she

naturally wanted to go, forcing the bows to

windward. If we used too little power, we’d

drift onto the boats on our starboard side.

But the more power we used, the greater

the risk of a really damaging collision with

the boats to starboard if she didn’t turn

quickly enough to port. And if we were

slow recovering the sternline as we slipped

it, the prop could have caught the rope. It

all went to plan but if it hadn’t there was no

plan B and no obvious overshoot available.

A safer option would have been to ask

the marina workboat, a dory with a well-

fendered bow, to stand by as a tug to push

our bows round to port. But she was at the

seaward end of the channel, well beyond

hailing range, directing arriving visitors

to their berths and my French is not good

enough to make radio communication easy!

We got away with it, but it all felt wrong,

forcing the boat to turn against the way she

would naturally go. If a gust had arrived

at the wrong time it would probably have

ended in tears. If I have to do it again, I

hope I will have the patience to wait for the

marina workboat and the good sense not

to be too proud to use him as a tug.

‘How would you escape from

this ‘lobster pot berth’?’

Are AGM batteries

worth it?

Q

I bought a yacht three

years ago. The domestic

batteries were on their last

legs so I replaced them like-for-like

with two 120Ah gel batteries for

nearly £600. I have just discovered

that one or both of them has lost

several of its cells and the two-year

warranty has run out. The suppliers

told me this can just happen.

I am loath to spend another £600

on more gel batteries. Can I use

sealed calcium batteries, which are

nearly identical but cost £105 each?

If I can, why do we bother with gel at

nearly three times the price?

David McCormick

A

Nigel Calder replies: A good-quality

battery should not fail in two years.

Something is not right and needs to

be sorted out. It is probably not the batteries

that are at fault, but the manner in which they

are being used.

If the boat is on a swinging mooring and the

batteries rarely get fully charged, they may

sulphate internally and die from a gradual loss

of capacity. If the boat is kept in a marina with

a shore power, an improperly regulated battery

charger may cause persistent overcharging.

The most cost-effective replacements

depend on use and charging, as well as the

alternator and charger fi tted. If you can

regularly recharge the batteries from shore

power, a high-quality fl ooded battery will

be the best investment. Alternatively, if you

run the engine on your mooring to charge

the batteries and have a relatively powerful

alternator fi tted, AGM batteries will be better

as they have a higher charge acceptance rate.

These may cost twice as much and have a

lower nominal cycle life, but take into account

the cost of running the engine and they may

turn out to be a better investment.

An AGM battery may be better away from shore power

How to prepare

a yacht for sale

+44 (0)1590 673312

And for your next yacht, see:

Berthon.co.uk/winter-collection

To buy or sell, contact Berthon’s

expert yacht brokerage team on:

Useful tips for a quicker sale at the right

price, from the UK’s leading experts

1

Get the paperwork right. You need

originals showing a 5-year title chain,

including: VAT receipt or other VAT

paperwork, RCD documentation, all

service and maintenance records and all

the major invoices for the yacht during

your ownership. Carefully presented

records speak volumes about how a

yacht has been looked after.

2

If it’s broken, fi x it. It is a surveyor’s

job to pick up on faults. If you don’t,

it will take longer to sell and you’ll get a

worse price – the purchaser’s discount

will be much more than the cost of

mending the breakage. Repair or replace

areas showing wear and tear.

3

The yacht should be thoroughly

cleaned. Have the topsides and

superstructure polished, stainless

gleaming, and a fresh coat of antifoul if

she’s ashore, to set the right tone. The

interior should be cleaned by professional

valets and de-cluttered. It’s worth making

up the owner’s berth so that the yacht

looks welcoming.

4

Get some good photos of the yacht.

Your broker will need to take

good pictures of the yacht inside and

out, so she needs to be ready to be

photographed. Ask the broker’s advice

and if she’s afl oat, go out and get good

shots of her under sail.

5

Ask your broker what the

marketing plan is for your yacht.

They should be focused on her unique

selling points. Do take their advice on

pricing and on doing any jobs that they

feel are important to present her in the

best possible light.