Guy, I've been thinking about building a hollow mast for awhile -- can you post some pictures? I would really be interested in how you decided to do it! Did you go the birdsmouth method, or some other way??
I'd like to see pics also Guy, if available. Our Texas partner built his mast 'hollow' out of Douglas Fir I recall. (I've added a couple pics here from those he'd sent me.)
Simply routered out hollows in the planks he then glued together, leaving solid where need be for fasteners eventually. I don't recall asking him what the result weighed, DF being heavier than the Sitka Spruce I used. Forgotten what mine weighs by now but if you wish I'll weigh it when I take my kit down out of winter storage.
Chuck if you're confident in modifying your sail your efforts should be less than what I went through to add weight to your daggerboard as I did. Last year's lack of motivation leaves me still wondering whether the 9 lbs / 4kg hung down beneath my hull will affect healing moment much; physics being in charge, 9# @ -24" ought to be worth maybe ~ 5# half way up my mast? Cutting total weight's a better choice IMHO than adding of course, but we do what we do to 'see what happens' before attempting something else, yes?
(Need to re-up for notice of new posts... I've been missing out on what's been posted again despite the 'Stay subscribed' box being checked off.)
]]>My next plans for the boat are to do a little sewing on my mainsail to get a better shape (take out the broad seaming on the leech), and build a little plug (for use when sailing) that lies flush with the outside of the hull that I can snap into the Hobie drove clips the closes off the through-hole for the drive. If either (or both) of those things help sharpen up tacking angles, then I will probably back off on my plans to rig a jib.
Guy, I've been thinking about building a hollow mast for awhile -- can you post some pictures? I would really be interested in how you decided to do it! Did you go the birdsmouth method, or some other way??
]]>I have a few plans that are not 100% firm yet, the first in June being a wooden boat show on Hardangerfjord, at a place called Norheimsund. Mostly about big old boats, but Svale will sneak in as part of the show too! I hope the sun comes out.
I would also like to attend the Dinghy Cruising Association rally in Denmark again, Lymfjorden was fun two years ago, and I hope will be again, if I can afford the time off, as it's quite a way.
On other plans, I would like to test my hollow mast at some point, it's been built, but not tested, so I must do that. Otherwise just keeping up with a few improvements hear and there, maybe organise the stowage a bit better, and a clip or two to keep paddles attached but out of the way, and I have a dream of building a boat tent, but I suspect painting the house will come first this year!
Happy sailing to all of you!
Guy
]]>SP, very sorry to hear about Sadie.
Svale is now hung up on the (outside) wall of the garage, with a cover to protect her from the worst of the weather. I hope not to find anyone nesting in her in spring, I will have to get going with a varnish top up before the birds get going in the spring! What better motivation to kick off the season early!
fair winds all!
G
As pedalling has become a part of your life again you must do more Waterlust 'flippering' (as the Dutch called it!).
Gaia is now safely up in the roof of the garage and I only have one winter task and that is fitting a roller to my tow hook crane contraption so that sliding the boat onto the roof will be less creaky as I become more creaky! I'll leave painting and varnishing until the Spring.
Wishing you and all Waterlusters a very Happy Christmas and all at Fyne boat kits a Happy and prosperous New year.
]]>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neaTbxu67v0
A lot of fun, but not much wind as you can see!
Yeah well fun is the important part Martin! There's such a thing as too much wind you know.
Your 'custom' sail rig I think is a result of your prior experience with that sort of thing taking the fun out of A Day Out. I know I've suffered similar... why I instead opted for the ama kit. Which in itself offers a major stability improvement to this design, but adds a measure of frustration when preparing to get out onto the water when a public ramp is necessary.
My hinged aka project came to an abrupt halt last spring. I'd been working steadily towards a solution to the Wide Beam Effect the amas + aka adds to the launch/recover effort. Had to leave it where I did when we had to bid our last remaining 'rescue' canine Sadie a final farewell mid-May.
She'd evidenced the presence of wide-spread cancer a month or so before, and I'd been 'nursing' her along since about this time last year as she began to show signs of her advanced age. Being a 'rescue' she could have been 16 for all we know; we shared almost ten years together, for which I'll be forever grateful. A beautiful spirit in such a small body.
I'll be picking up where I left off with that pretty soon now that bicycling season's done (at least for y'rstrly) here. Getting back on to two wheels was a wonderful return to something I hadn't done since Before the MOVE a decade ago. The terrain here offers much more challenging riding potential; I had to 'upgrade' my 50+ year-old Motobecane Grand Record road bike to deal better with the hills I can ride very close to home. But the bike project took focus off the Waterlust adventure... can't do as much as I used to believe myself capable of as I close on my 75th birthday next spring.
Here's hoping you're all well and enjoying the approach of the Holiday Season once again. Come back here and let us all know what you're up to, yes?
]]>A lot of fun, but not much wind as you can see!
]]>Yes it was a wonderful trip. With her cut down rig Gaia is not a competetive sailboat in light airs. While others were sailing I was having to peddle to keep up...But that is not all bad.
One has to get into the mindset of 'motorsailing' and enjoy the sensation of the wind helping you pedal rather than the other way round. I enjoy pedaling and it keeps me fit.
With the pedals I was easily able to keep up with the fastest of the other boats (and point up better) as long as my stamina lasted!
Regarding living conditions. Yes. With a mosquito net over the cuddy and cockpit (held on with velcro) I slept very well on-board and could have cooked comfortably if required. (It wasn't, as meals were provided on the 'mother ship').
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