While the winter and Covid-19 lockdown has somewhat limited our marine activities in recent months, our volunteers have not been sitting idle. We have spent a lot of time, and some of the money kindly donated by our supporters, adding some improvements, safety upgrades and general servicing of our RHIB Caper and the trailer she sits on.
A 75 litre stainless steel fuel tank has now been added to the bow, replacing the plastic portable tank which previously supplied the engine. As well as significantly increasing our fuel range without the need to carry extra cans, the tank is custom shaped to sit low in the hull, allowing storage of essential items above it on a custom shaped cover designed by our resident engineer and chairman, John Kent.
The wiring inside the console had been modified numerous times over the life of the boat which had left it with numerous joints, piggyback connectors and other gremlins that did nothing to aid reliability. It has now been completely rewired with a new fusebox, 10sq.mm battery cables and screw terminals along with a general tidy up. A fuel gauge was added to go with the new tank.
An EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) has been added which will alert the coastguard and give out exact position should the worst happen at sea. The offshore pyrotechnics kit has been replaced as they were at the end of their service life (and thankfully never used), along with an new mounting for them on the rear A-frame. An air leak from one of the tubes has been repaired, a drybox for personal items has been added and the powerful 115HP engine serviced.
Meanwhile the trailer has had new mudguards fitted replacing corroded originals and a new jockey wheel fitted.
Our first trip out was the 6th April where Casper performed faultlessly.
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