Folder 11
First test day on the River Charente.
After 7 years of steady restoration ( including her trailer ), ' Dragonfly' emerges. . Summer 2014
To get the show started I have my worthy team to hand. Rob Kyle and Andrew Eckford. As a long-time landlubber I owe them a great deal
I had started the engine up some years before and it had seemed just fine. Of course it had never been run with water through the cooling system. We ran a hose into the engine and she fired up, if a bit erratically. The water did not seem to be circulating very well, and the fuel injectors seemed to be sticking. . .but. . . it seemed just a matter of fettling a bit.
After they left I set to with the water problem and eventually found that the water pump was not working, due to the fact that one woodruff key ws missing ( corrosion ) and the other had sheared. So. . back to the lathe and the old propshaft, and I made 2 new ones , plus 2 spares. The pump now works perfectly again.
So then it was off to the launch at Bourg Charente. . . .an easy to use hard slip. ( all of this was the first time for me ), and we did not have to use the tow-bar extension I had fabricated for the trailer. So, here she is. . . . .about to get wet !!
A wee push and she was free once more. . . . .and. . .floating !!
I do well remember my feelings at this exact moment. . .almost like giving birth !
Of course this was the time to perform the launching ceremony. With the Dinghy's whisky flask filled with a good single malt, I poured a shot into the river. . .one, over her prow, and a well deserved one into me ! Now, she really WAS, and IS ' Dragonfly'
It felt VERY strange to be at the controls for the first time. Would she work ? more to the point. . .would I know what to do ?
We did a couple of little sorties mid river, and decided the engine fuel metering needed a look, as she was 'hunting' a bit too much.
JOB DONE !!
A bit of white ensign for encouragement.
IIn the concluding folder I will describe the second day of final testing and our results.