
Sarvasto at Helsinki
My boat was transported to the new harbor a quite well. We have to remember, that wind was a little against and without useful engine, it was more laborious.
Problem with engine start to be annoying, so that was on the next on “to do” list.
Basic issue was the carburetor. Vire 12 have a BING made carburetor witch is useful and workable when it is in good condition. When it start to get issues, it seems to be hard to get back in order. Vire 7 Engine have different, and it´s factory is know of racing carburetors.

To get this Bing version to work and to be useful, i tried to adjust settings and i realized that i had to fix the pump also. Astounding is, that in Finland, at 2020 in July, there is no place open to buy parts for this model. I Tried from many place and .. no parts.
This issue did start to irritating me and i went to look for second option.
I had searched a lot of information about Vire engines lately. I realized, that i can find new or renewed parts from England and with support, with “how to do” video. Very good service.
I did contact vireengines.com author and after while, we had agreement about new carburetor. i Did buy similar version that is in Vire 7 and this has been proven to work.
Price was less than 300 euro, and the delivery was with a complete setting for change to other model. Deal!

Delivery for order like this, will usually take about a week, and then it is ready to use in hours. Then engine just need to start and run, sail and enjoy the sea.. yes, in fairy tails.
Searching for problems
Because of my engine was waiting for delivery, i could concentrate in to other issues. As we did in last season only small fixing to boat to transit it to Espoo city from city Turku, those small fixings was waiting now to be repaired properly.
I start to search these problem places with bigger loop and this examining did take a while. Result was a quite surprise, that i have a so many leaking points in deck and roof. These problems was not shown up at last season.

There was a also leaking windows, and those should get sealed soon. Hatch was leaking in front and in pilot house..

There was a few more difficult place to fix and i needed a help to open and close screws

More hands and more tools needed on the deck and below. Summer was beautiful and hot. Lovely days to work and fix the boat. Sailing is overestimated.

There were a hot days and ofcourse, feeling of summer was present. It was very warm to work under the deck. Sometimes summer can be really nice.
My friend Tuomas, who towed my boat to pier, come and help with searching more leaking points from the deck. He took water hose and spray all around the deck with it. We got very good result.. or.. is it good result?

Both hatches was leaking very much. Frustrating…

This testing with Tuomas, was very useful, because it did show, how much actually water can come in and ofcourse, where these most leaking points was hiding.
Sail boat is always leaking, they say. i know, it does, but these leaks was a little bit too much of leaking, so i had to put a new gear on, and start to fix these leaks.

After the rain, i did clean the water out from bilge, and i realize, that when i walk and jump on the middlewood, i see, that water is a bit rippling with my moves. This start to worrying me a little.
I drain the bilge, and i find out that there is probably a delaminated point, that have to be checked after fixing the leaking windows.

During cleaning, i also realized a new small issue, that when i try to fit control cables in right places with new engine, i can not move gear with throttle cable at the same time. There is a too tight corners and some issue with device. This look like, that i have a new problem to solve out.
My carburetor was still on the way in somewhere in Europe. I call to provider, and i got information, that device was in Poland at the moment.. i just wonder how long way it is from UK to Finland nowadays…
Porthole
Cabin windows, portholes was leaking badly. They have been fixed a while ago, and work was done well, but now, for some reason, they let the rain to drop in. Had to stop that.

First i had to remove all frames around the windows. Then all glues and spikes. After this, i had to sanding all to clear to get the new contact to hold tight and NOT to leak again.

First it was easy job, but the more time it took, the more harder the work did become

First window we made with my son, and it was good, because there was some learning points during the removing and installing.

This glue is made for toilet bowl. It is very strong and flexible, so this will not leak in future very easy.

Window was fitted to own place, and only leftovers need to cut away after few hours of drying. This was very laborious part of installation.

Second window was much easier than the first. Work was teaching the doer. Even this was going well, there was a lot to do before windows are again ready and beautiful

After rain, all fixed windows did not leak at all. Some kind of success, i think. Any way, the hatch did let still water come in, and this was now number one on the repair list.

Leaking hatch

This hatch still leaking and now it is time to put this to end. I had to remove hatch cover for it and few long screw, that was tight placed.

After removing the hatch, i find the reason why water coming in so easy. There was a crack in tree that block the water to come in to cabin. I find out, that glue is useful method here too.

i decide to use enough glue and hew then the rest away

I used enough glue to get this to last.

After spreading glue in all possible place, it was time to hew the most leftovers away. it was very easy and nice part of this work. Rewarding.

Later, i will find out how to hide the crack

Still leaking after rain. This was not a big surprise, the hatch on the deck was leaking.

I opened the bow hatch and i understood why water is coming in. Sealing is not tight and gaskets is not fit fully to right place, so i had to remove all material and refit and put new sealing. This Bow hatch is not new, and when i removed the glass, all parts was unstable and it was hard to get to stay in shape. Guess what is going to help here?

Removing old glue and after cleaning, set glass back to its place

After new sealing and gluing, i hew the surface and i was a pretty much happy with result. This magic glue was a very good tool for solving these leaking problems.

Most leaking issues was solved in few weeks and this opened possibility to start with next waiting projects with my beautiful MP27 sailing boat.

Now, new interesting issues was waiting. Lets make them done.
The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.
-Joshua Slocum
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