That was the week (and a half) that was

 So having got Pagan back in her element and finding that, as half expected, one or more head bolts had failed to torque down, what happened next?

Simon rocked up on Saturday and we set about dealing with the stripped head bolt thread and it's partner in crime opposite. Although the second bolt had gone down to torque, two out of three of the bolts across the head at the aft end of the engine had now stripped (the centre bolt having already been helicoiled when we first rebuilt the engine) and we decided not to take any chances and do both of the outer bolts.

That was all done in an afternoon and everything put back together again. There's still a few outstanding periperhal jobs, the main ones being fitting a new and relocated engine stop cable and fitting a cooling system header tank and plumbing in the calorifier. These can, however, wait until later possibly even until the winter. We also have a low speed timing issue on the engine, which we suspect is long standing, which again isn't an immediate attention job as at normal running speeds the timing is fine. It won't do the engine any harm as long as we don't trundle around at below 1500rpm for hours on end and I can't imagine we'd ever do that.

Jane and I were then on a mission to turn Pagan inside out and put her back to being a cruising yacht instead of a caravan / workshop. During the course of that excercise, we'd determined that not only were our domestic batteries fried, so was the two or three year old engine battery. It wasn't taking or holding a charge and I've reached the conclusion that before it committed suicide, our defunct battery charger had taken out the domestic and engine batteries.

That meant a trip to Chelmsford to pick up a new No.1 (Engine) Battery from Halfords.I chose a reasonably priced 95a/h sealed lead acid battery, larger than really needed for the No.1 battery but it'll have to do double duty as I won't be fitting new domestic batteries until over the winter (we need more capacity than we can squeeze into the existing battery compartment and that means a new battery box in the port cockpit locker which isn't a quick job to create).

Finally, by Tuesday, we were ready to let go from the pontoon and go for a blat up and down the river within sight of the moorings. A good solid hour plus of zooming up and down and I was a very happy chappy.

We picked up our mooring on the second attempt and picked up where we'd left off on the immediate to-do list. The principal job now was sorting out the running rigging, bending on the sails and fitting the new sail covers.

She does look shipshape and seamanlike now she's sporting her full rig again!

That said, all of the running rigging needs to come off over the winter and be thoroughly cleaned. I don't think we need to replace anything, all the lines are sound, but it's all grungy and stiff.

The big test came on Saturday ...

Could we make it to Burnham-on-Crouch without breaking down?

Yes we could!

We probably got some funny looks motoring downriver when the sailing conditions were near perfect but this was an engine test run not a jolly. And she performed flawlessly finishing off with just about the nearest thing to a perfect marina docking manoeuvre we've ever managed.

We met up with Simon at The Old White Hart for a meal and beer where we were joined for drinks by our good friends Neal and Jos. It was nice to get out for the night but the fly in the ointment was an unfolding family crisis back at home. That had to be left in the hands of other family members overnight as there was nothing we could do about it!

Sunday saw us run back up to Fambridge again under motor. No funny looks this time as the wind was, in any case, due wrong blowing straight down the river. Given the overnight wind forecast and the need to unload the boat and get away as early as possible the next day, we decided to splash the cash and go alongside for the night.

We really do need to cut down on the amount of kit we take away with us as it takes way too much time and effort to cart it to and from the van to the boat! Anyway, by mid-morning we were ready for the off.

There was a stiff breeze blowing downriver and a bit of a chop running but we succeeded in picking up our mooring at the first attempt. Getting the second buoy tail aboard and made fast was a bit of an excercise though as it had wrapped itself around the riser chain. A bit of faffing about and we got it sorted and made fast.

All that remained was to shut down and switch off everything - seacocks closed, gas and electric off and isolated, all things that lock locked and that was that. A ride ashore on the trot boat and away home.

So ended a very pleasing eleven days. Pagan is back in commission and shapng up. I am feeling the love again, it's been sheer bloody mindedness that's got us through the last 12 months as a year ago we were on the ragged edge of calling it a day.

There's still a mahoosive to-do list but it's back to being things we planned and/or anticipated.

We're not sure exactly what our plans are for the rest of the summer and autumn as a combination of Jane's work rota being changed, yet again, and the aformentioned domestic crisis (a very elderly father who up until now has been able to care for himself but may now need someone present 24/7), mean that we're going to have to re-plan and change holiday bookings etc.

I'm hoping we can get out for a short cruise to somewhere other than the River Crouch before the season is over. We'll see.

We're also undecided about whether to haul out for the winter or leave her in. Hauling out is expensive but on the other hand it's not easy to do significant work on the boat when she's in the water. And by next spring there are several projects I want finished - the v-berth refit, fitting new anchoring gear including an electric winch and new domestic batteries and charger/inverter being the main ones.

Onwards and upwards ...