NOT Sailing Northern Ireland - Anchor locker - Martial Art Inspired Waxing - Ep. 398

Propped on yard stands in Northern Ireland, Beverley Leigh and Gaynor find their refit progress paused by a single missing assembly aboard Sailing Yacht Salty Lass. The duo has completed all below-waterline hull tasks on the Bavaria 36, yet returning to the water remains impossible until replacement steering components arrive.

With the rudder dropped and the quadrant disconnected, an empty sleeve passes through the hull. Rather than waiting idly, the crew directs their energy toward ground tasks, hull maintenance, and anchoring gear while Beverley summarizes their status:

“once we get the parts, the rudder can go in, and once we get the rudder secured and the rudder quadrant back on, we can get splashed in the water and go. So, it’s the only thing that’s keeping us here is the hole in the boat.”

Managing Hull Strain and Ground Storage

To safeguard the Bavaria 36 while supported by yard cradles, Beverley and Gaynor take deliberate steps to manage internal weight. The ground beneath the boat becomes temporary storage for heavy equipment. The anchor chain, recently treated with cold spray galvanizing, remains stretched along the yard surface rather than gathered in the bow locker. Leaving hundreds of pounds of metal forward would concentrate excessive structural strain on the hull during an extended stay ashore.

Domestic tanks receive the same disciplined attention. The primary water tanks have been pumped dry to eliminate deadweight on the cradles, leaving only a couple of liters in the aft tank for boiling tea. Nearby, the ship dog, Riley, keeps watch over the laid-out rode.

While the chain rests across the ground, Beverley installs depth markers calibrated in 5-meter lengths. To ensure fast, unmistakable identification while anchoring, the crew uses a binary counting system coded with colored inserts:

“This is the 10-m marker, and if you know anything about computing and you know your binary, you’ll recognize 001.”

Following this logic, 20 meters carries a 010 configuration, while 30 meters displays 011. Red markers denote 5-meter increments between standard depths, establishing an orderly reference before the ground tackle returns to the locker.

Martial Arts Inspiration on the Hull

Along the topsides, Gaynor undertakes a complete hull preparation routine, finding unexpected humor by borrowing philosophy from classic cinema. Sporting a ninja headband while working down the length of the hull, Gaynor tackles the labor-intensive surface polishing using simple, practical supplies.

The technique relies on pre-softened boat wax paired with common household cloths:

“I’ve had lots and lots of practice of wax on and wax off. I’ve just been using pre-softened boat wax and then some very cheap dishcloths for the wax on and cheap dusters for the wax off.”

Using circular motions to apply the wax and dry dusters to buff it out, Gaynor works across the entire hull. Surface prep beneath the waterline incorporates Sandafloor sanding motions, matching the disciplined rhythm of martial arts training. Meanwhile, Beverley repaints the boot stripe along the waterline. Gaynor jokes that between waxing on, waxing off, and sanding down, the crew successfully tackled three out of four training moves without needing to paint any houses.

The Anchor Locker Floor Template

With the chain laid out on the yard tarmac, Gaynor turns attention to the damp bottom of the bow locker. Seeking to keep wet rode elevated above sitting moisture, Gaynor scavenges a sturdy plastic pallet from the boatyard scrap area. Because plastic will not rot or decay in a damp locker environment, cutting the pallet into a raised false floor offers a practical way to allow bilge drainage under the chain.

Planning the fabrication begins with an exercise mat used as an oversized pattern. Gaynor aims to trim the foam mat to fit the locker base, transfer the profile to the plastic grid, and drill drainage channels. However, reaching into the deep bow compartment from the deck immediately presents physical hurdles:

“I don’t realize just how far down the anchor locker is, and I’m working on Tyrannosaurus Rex arms.”

Constrained by the awkward angle and the vertical drop into the hull, direct templating from the deck proves unworkable. Rather than forcing an inaccurate cut, Gaynor shifts strategy to rely on builder drawings and a rigid cardboard template. Because refining the shape requires closer deck access, the crew postpones cutting the pallet until Salty Lass returns to the marina slip.

Rudder Bearings and Test Fitting

The waiting period finally breaks when the delivery of replacement rudder bearings reaches the yard office. The bare rudder blade had remained laid flat on the floor for 2 weeks while awaiting custom parts:

“We have the rudder already lying in the floor here. It’s been lying here for 2 weeks, but the bearings have finally arrived.”

The dispatch took two weeks from initial order placement, prolonged when the component supplier took a one-week holiday. With the components in hand, Gaynor immediately completes a dry test fit against the rudder stock to verify clearances and smooth rotation.

Heavy industrial machinery operating across the yard prevents immediate filming of the mechanical reassembly. With the bearings verified and ready, Beverley and Gaynor prepare to sleeve the stock, reinstall the quadrant, and prepare the Bavaria 36 for splashing back into coastal waters.

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