35' Steel "Colin Childs" refit

I've heard people rave about the effectiveness of that vaccum filled ceramic bead insulating paint. Hope to try it this year. The beads are a fine powder that can be added to any paint,and enough to do a gallon is around $14. Friends who use it say it totally eliminates condensation and has some super high insulating values.
Brent

 

Engine in

Thanks Brent, I will check it out locally

This was the engine going in. The local crane guy wanted to charge me a fortune for this so I had fun designing and building this bipod gantry. With this I was able to install the engine "man alleen". It really is much safer and easier to give my assistant the day off when doing something like this.

I am developing a thing about crane operators, I mean who do they think they are? just because thier poles are bigger...

 

I did one of these when our yawl was in residence out in the back forty.
My diesel had been sitting in the hallway for some time and I was given notice that it had to go. I used some scrap lumber and had the whole deal done by noon. As it turns out those crane guys do have longer poles .... out by the water I hire one when ever possible and last had my big batteries swung in the boat- saved some wear and tear on my back trying to lug the things around. Helps to know the operator- a six pack is the usual fee .

 

Nice lift mate !!, very sexy legs on yr " gantry " . re the crane guys fees, probably something to do with the fact they've invested a lot of mula in their rigs .

 

How is the project going Greg? Any recent pics?

I'm finally making some progress on mine. Thanks for your advice on patching.

Sean

 

Flying colour

Hi Sean, sorry i have been slacking with my posts.

The mast is up. Thought I could do this myself... y'know with a gin pole and stuff. Well I could not even get the gin pole up. Time to eat humble pie and go back to the crane guy. I think of that Frenchman who stepped his mast single handed on the around the world? and that on an open 60!!

Some interesting things: there is a trick for the strop. You take a longish loop, double it around the crane hook, sheet bend around the balance point of the spar with one end as a load line down to the winches. That way when its standing you dont have to climb the mast to untie the strop, you just pull on the load line.

Anyway here is Contingent Sea flying colours after nearly twenty years. The Burgee is Knysna Yacht Club (hand stitched by me!)

 

It's always more sport and educational to think out the self reliant alternative first before caling the crane guy. Calling him first, without trying to think of an alternative, would be like paying someone to have all your fun for you.
Brent

 

Canvass

Thanks Brent, yes I still like to think I can rig something for the future.

Have started on the "software". This is the machine I settled with, bit of a compromise. I would have liked a longer stitch length, and a walking foot, but this thing is built like a swiss army knife and sews canvas fine.

Anything you ever need to know about this stuff you can find on the sail rite site, checkout thier tips. My tip? seam tape, lots..

Oh and for gods sake dont tell the boys in the pub.

 

Final drive

This is what the final drive looks like.

The broken bearing came out of the boat (after some enthusiastic hammerwork). It took me ages to figure out what it was. Silignum Vitae! Imagine that, around the world with a chunk of gum tree up the nought. The one next to it was a spare, beautifully made.

I decided on Vesconite: thier site is excellent with a calulator for dimensions etc. The stuff turns easily and I grooved them on a small shaper.

The only major difference is Vesconite prefers water as a lubricant, so I drilled the side of the tube to let more in. Corrosion city I know, but I cleaned the tube and painted inside with epoxy tar, setting the bearings into the wet epoxy.

I will be looking for a drip at the gland to tell me that water is getting through the bearing

 

A 1/4 inch stainless blade bolted to your deadwood , sharp edge out, just touching the prop hub, sure cuts lines fouled around your prop quickly.
Brent

 

I had used this on the Dix44 just completed instead of foam. The paint come with the ceramic beads mixed to it, goes on easy and thick and the best part is you still see all of the steel and no surprises or nasty things waiting to happens behind foam. It has a very course texture painted and the only drawback if it is an issue is its lack to dampens noise such as foam.

It is also very effective - painted two identical plates with primer and coated the one with this ceramic paint and setup next to each other on work bench. Fixed a heating torch up about 300mm from the plates and start the flame. The primed only plate started to discolor and smoke the primer and the ceramic coated one was still cool to the touch...

 

I found it a huge improvement when it comes to reducing condensation, but doesn't eliminate it, and is no where near as effective as foam in our northern winters.

 

Final

Well this is my final post. I would love to tell you that she is sailing but unfortunately that is not the case. The truth is the project has overwhelmed me.

Just as we were beginning to smell the ocean I have lost the plot.

If I could give any final advice for anyone considering a similar undertaking:

Make sure your romantic partner is on the same page! Had I brought home the local barmaid it would have been less of an issue- no wonder boats are "she"

Have a plan beyond the re-fit: when you get to the harbour the people there will line up to separate you from your wallet. Budget - in my case - twice the total expenditure to date just for mooring, crainage, levy, registration, safety..

So Contingent Sea is for sale on gumtree and I hope she finds a good home. Judging by the response already there is a good chance.

Thank you all for your excellent advice over the years. I am looking forward to new prospects and challenges,; perhaps a 30' aluminium........aaaaaarg!

 

Really sad

Hoop jy kry 'n goeie koper wat die boot sal waardeer - groete, Wynand

 

Next time ,get your *** out cruising BEFORE looking for a partner