Great progress on Femti throughout May — and a big thank‑you to Mark for leading the charge, and to Steve, and Brian for all their hands‑on work.
We knew our beloved RHIB Femti needed some TLC, especially with the battery not charging properly. Early in the month we rolled up our sleeves, broke out the multi-meters, and soon found the culprit: the electric regulator.
Thankfully it sits right on top of the engine, so once we confirmed the part number, a replacement was sourced on eBay and delivered. Steve kindly took on the repair and got Femti back in good health.
Since we were already elbows‑deep in improvements, we added a new voltmeter (with a USB charger — because why not make life easier). That went in the following Saturday, and with everything buttoned up, Femti was declared ready for sea trials.
On Sunday, Mark and I took her out. She behaved beautifully — charging system, engine, and trailer-board all checked out. We even tested the small electric outboard I use for my dinghy. It pushed the RHIB along at 3–4 knots which, as Mark put it, is “better than nothing” as a backup.
Next stop: the south coast, boat‑handling training, RHIB diving, and more adventures. Fantastic teamwork all around, and great leadership from Mark.
A note to members: Femti is available for club use. We can organise boat‑handling courses, weekend trips on the Thames, or diving outings on the South coast. If you’re interested, just get in touch with the Boat Officer to chat about options.