Major Repair at the Fort Lauderdale, USA
Overview report of works carried out on the Motor Yacht “Blue Guitar” at the Port of Fort Lauderdale, USA, and at our workshop at Immingham.
The Motor Yacht “Blue Guitar” was built in 1967 at Cowes, Isle of White at the Camper & Nicholson’s Shipyard. The vessel’s original name was “Marivon”. During one period the vessel was owned by the famous guitarist Eric Clapton, hence the name change! There is also a painting hanging in the vessel’s lounge featuring a portrait of the Blue Guitarist. The vessel was subsequently sold to an American businessman and the vessel crossed the Atlantic to spend its later life in the USA. The present owners’ ethos is to keep the vessel with its original fitments and machinery. The M Y “Blue Guitar” has always been powered by two Gardner 8L3B diesel engines through two Gardner 3UC reversing / reduction gearboxes. L. Gardner & Sons Ltd Diesel Engines were located at Patricroft, Manchester, England and were a large manufacturer in their time. Their engines were widely used in fishing vessels, buses, lorries and fair grounds for generating electricity.
Because Port Equipment Engineering possessed previous Gardner engine experience due to many years carrying out repairs on Gardner powered fishing vessels the company was asked to assist with various required repairs aboard the M Y “Blue Guitar”
List of works carried out at the Fort Lauderdale, USA and at our workshop at Immingham: Investigate the reported fault on the Portside Gardner 3UC gearbox, the gearbox was completely dismantled and all defective components itemised, obtained replacement components from England and Ireland, the gearbox was then rebuilt, and tested under load conditions
Both Gardner 8L3B main engine “Metalastik” rubber mountings were found to be defective and were replaced. This procedure involved the removal of all main engine foundation bolts then both main engines were raised with jacking screws to enable the “Metalastik” rubber mountings to be replaced.
Both Gardner 8L3B main engines were re-aligned with their respective propeller shafts.
The starboard Gardner 8L3B main engine fuel injection pump assembly was completely overhauled and re-calibrated.
The Port Gardner 8L3B main engine governor assembly was overhauled and all ball bearings etc renewed.
Both starter motors on the Port main engine were found to be defective and were transported back to the UK for major repairs. Various new components were installed into both starter motors
(contactors, copper winding, carbon brushes, armatures, drive pinions etc. The repaired starter motors were transported back to the USA then re-installed. At the completion of the above works sea trials were carried out along the coast between FortLauderdale and Miami.
