Monday, 22 September 2025

Maintenace and improvements throughout 2025

 29th April 2025 - Cleaning the deck

This time I thought I'll clean the deck early so I can enjoy the season without the job always been on my mind.

30th April 2025 - Grey water tank pump will not turn off after it has emptied the tank

Measuring for a new seal for the grey water tank.

5th June, we finally found the seal, brought two so we have a spare, hopefully that will fix it.

No water flow in the electric motor. Called in a mechanic for this job, he found the problem in 10 minutes. We needed a new impeller for the electric motor. 

30th April 2025 - Flyscreen for forward hatch

Making a flyscreen for the forward hatch, plenty left over to make a small one for the bathroom and for the kitchen area.



12th May 2025 - Oil Change

Oil change including oil filter


30th May 2025 - Grey water still not stopping once it's empty. We have had to switch it off at the Circuit Breaker Panel. Was a real pain when we forgot to switch it back on.

New pump for the grey water tank

Cleaning the bilge once again because the grey water tank overflowed, forgot to turn it back on.

Hopefully the grey water tank is now fixed. 

9th June 2025 - Darken the bedroom and insulate at the same time. 

Had this great idea, put insulation on the cabin's windows. This will help keep in warm in winter and cool in summer and make the room dark to be able to sleep passed sunrise.

Panels cut to size and painting black on one side, this will face out, so it blends in better.

Before

After, I had to have the bathroom door open, or the photo would have been black.

21st June 2025 - Grey Water Tank still playing up. Now to try the pump.



This is called a joker valve. It's a one-way valve that with this tear is no longer working correctly.
And it should look like this.

I can confirm our grey water tank is now in good working order

30th June 2025 - Kitchen Chairs

Another dinner chair broke, lucky we were in a port with an IKEA a bike ride away 

Looks good, we didn't get the black chairs, the white chairs are new to IKEA and they have a thicker plastic.

28th July 2025 - Toilet

Fixing the Toilet, not flushing property.

1st August 2025 - AIS Transponder

AIS Transponder bits

Installing AIS Transponder

29th August 2025 - Galley window gas spring

Galley window weighs 11 kilos so when the gas spring goes we get a workout to lift it up and when we close holding the hatch so it doesn't fall.

Preparing for the lift

Holding it up and securing the left corner in the latch

Because the gas spring wasn't doing its job, we used the boat hook to stop the hatch bending out of shape.



Yes it's upside down, it has been this way since we have had Sun Chi

Found out why, the screws have not been counter sunk so they stick out the smallest amount, which causes the gas spring not to laydown flat. For the new gas spring we are going to get a longer fitting at the end.   


you can see the gas spring doesn't sit flush and it will not close.

New one in and this time the right way up.

31st August 2025 - Benchtop

Replace the hinges on the benchtop, only 1 spare one left.

While the bench top is off, we are going to try to clean behind the bench.
Photo above is before cleaning and below is after cleaning.


Taking back to Australia to make new ones.
Canvas cover

Helm cover








Wednesday, 17 September 2025

Diksmuide, Brussels and Singapore - 17th September 2025

 Early start to finalize preparing Sun Chi for winter and a 7:30am lift out.

Train to Brussels for the night before our flight home.


Brussels

Found these guys outside of our hotel. They're BYD cars that look like they're practicing self driving.

Singapore



Tuesday, 16 September 2025

Diksmuide - 10th September to 16th September 2025

Marina Facilites:

Berth: for a 10-meter boat for 7 days (week) was 72 Euros
Electricity: 0.50c or 1 or 2 Euro coins. 1EUR = 3.14kwh or about AUD0.70c per kwh
Water: 1 Euro gets you 150 liters
Shower: 1 Euro for 3 minutes of hot water
Washing machine: 1 Euro for every 30 minutes, if the cycle you choose goes for an hour you will need to add 2 Euros 
Drier: 1 Euro for every 30 minutes
Key to get into the Showers and Laundry is a 20 Euros deposit which you will get back once you return the key.

Our last week before we head home, this week will be getting Sun Chi ready for winter and some relaxation in the afternoons.



Yser Tower

The current tower was built alongside the remails of the original, it was finished in 1965. It remails a site to Flemish nationalists and is the center for their annual Yser Pilgrimage.


AVV = All for Flanders
VVK = Flanders for Christ









The first tower was built in 1928-30 to commemorate the Belgian soldiers killed on the surrounding Yser Front during World War I and destroyed in 1046 in World War II


Back to getting the boat ready.