Sailing
As we look at more of our worn out systems we see more places where we can replace deck hardware with Dyneema and Low Friction rings. The latest is our genoa tracks. Ours are the old style with a pin on the car. So they can only be adjusted when
Progress
The other day we made Lee Boards for our starboard saloon berth. Today we've started the process of making them adapt to their other role which is to be a backrest. It isn't finished yet. I need to find a way to retain the back rests
Plans
Today it was time to start getting the mizzen mast prepared for the Dyneema Rigging. FR4 Tangs Jane got busy on carving the FR4 mast tangs. We need 8 (2 forestays, 2 cap shrouds, 2 lower shrouds, 2 running backstays). This was working with the basic "triangles" I
Safety
I've been for the first test ride in our Highfield Classic 290 Rib with the ePropulsion electric motor. Now just drifting upto the beach with the tide. Being lazy and reducing the distance to pull the dinghy up. I recorded some of the ride on Strava the electric
Progress
Following the first stage of clearing the starboard side of the saloon we got stuck into a whole lot of progress. We had a number of objectives. We wanted to remove the soffit to make fitting the new chainplate backing plates easier. We wanted to get it all cleaned (quite
Progress
Very conveniently, on the first morning of our summer holiday, we had a call from Anglesey Fabrications to say that our modified bow roller was ready for a test fitting. Very close. Just a slight adjustment to the cutout of the tails so it drops fully onto the hull. Then
Progress
I've done the first basic cut out of all our tangs. They are made from FR4. The 6 bottom left are for the mizzen shrouds. The 2 top left are for the mizzen running backstays. The 6 bottom right are for the main shrouds on the main mast.
Motor
So I've just added the classic "Heavy Weather Sailing" 7th edition by Peter Bruce to our library. Very interested to note how well our choices fit with the various chapters: Chapter 1 on boat design could have taken the Rival range (although never mentioned) as a
Progress
Today I started on the tangs for the mizzen mast. This has 9mm Dyneema shrouds. So I have an 18mm sheet of FR4. This means I can have sides tall enough to put a retainer between them to stop the shroud jumping out. This first one is 80mm wide, tapering
Progress
To celebrate our 33rd Wedding Anniversary we have fitted the chainplate backing plates in the lazarette for the mizzen running backstays. These were the least accessible, so it is good to have got them done. They are temporarily held in place, while the thickened epoxy sets, with the old chainplate
Plans
Yesterday evening I updated the template for our extension to the existing bow roller. It doesn't look quite so massive now. It has holes in the right places for attaching the forestay, yankee furler, anchor rollers and anchor retainers. The anchor retainers will be adjustable plates bolted to
Electric
On Friday, while preparing to fit the backing plate in the cockpit locker we decided to remove the drive unit for the original Neco autopilot. This is a beefy electric motor that uses a chain drive onto one of the shafts of the Whitlock steering system. From all we can