PD Racer South Africa

[Angélique]

Thanks Dries and Sharpii

Reading all this I think if there is a starter boat builder who just wants to have fun and do a lot of dicovering by himself he should build from the PDR site. But if it's a pilot project for a bigger build and the main objective is to learn the required boat building techniques during this first one, he better buy the OZ Racer plans, if he want it to be PDR class legal he only has to change the rocker to meet PDR standards.

But what are the differences between OZ and PDR rocker, and what is faster or otherwise better if everything else is made the same . . . . . :?:

It's not really an issue for this thread as the objective here is to build class legal PDR's, but I'm trying to learn something while reading along, so please kick me out if I'm distracting too much from the main objective . . . . :idea:

Cheers,
Angel

 

[DriesLaas]

Hi sharpii2, Thanks for the info. It is the easiest temptation in the world to try and change something that already exists. I think some people just cannot resist putting their personal stamp on something and claiming at least some creative credit.

We decided that the SA fleet of PD racers will comply as closely as possible to the existing standard, so as not to cause further dilution of the class.
So to all the doubting SAFFAS out there: Yes we have designed and built better looking and faster boats than the PD Racer locally. And no, none that were cheaper and quicker to build than the PDR, or has a better chance of acceptance.

A quick update:

I now have in my posession, carefully stowed under a brand new tarpaulin, ten sheets of best Singaporean 6mm thick marine ply. From which every attempt will be made to construct four PD racers of simple layout. At least three. I'm busy with the router nesting.

I also measured my existing sail rig, and convinced myself that it is JUST possible to fit 6.9 square metres (74 sq feet) of floppy bits up top.

 

[DriesLaas]

cnc routing of pd racer

Herewith the cnc version of the pd racer.
Use this info at own risk, the prototype will be cut within the next week, then I will let you know if everything fits properly. But it should.
If you rout this, the radii left by the cutter will have to be romoved, probably with a nice sharp file. I did not drill holes for wire/cableties yet, will see about that. ( I may use ductape to temporarily keep it all together whilst glueing....)
Oh yes, I clean forgot about the bottom panel during all my reckoning, so it takes three point something sheets to build this version. (we'll get three boats from the ten sheets.)
I left zero tolerance on the joints, will program for a 6mm dia cutter, but cut with a 6.35mm cutter, so this will give the tolerance required.
I can't think of anything else now.

 

[DriesLaas]

There is a problem with the layout of the lower panel, the slots are too short. I luckily found this before cutting, so do NOT use the dxf I posted, let me verify it first.

 

[Manie B]

Looking Good

ok I have checked the DXF and its really good
congrats on a job well done

I can be there anyday as of Saturday to come and help

 

[Angélique]

It is in inches and 8ths. Look at the inch drawing and see that station 1 is 2 5/8 then look at the tolerance drawing and see that ideal is 2,5... same with station 2: 5/8 and ,5 Which means that there is a +/- tolerance of 2/8 or 1/4" for sloppy building practices or those with all thumbs. The over to bow means that not all the boats are the same length...look at the tolerance for length. So this is the remaining distance from station 7 to the bow.

Thanks for explaining that way of writing the eighths of inches Steve, but the "over to bow" measurement in the tolerance table kept me puzzled for a while, then I saw it and it all fitted together (like finding the Higgs boson ). The "over to bow" measurement in the tolerance range is made from the point where the bottom meets the bow transom to the point where the bow is at minimum required height which is 4" above the point where the bottom meets the bow transom.

Cheers,
Angel

 

[DriesLaas]

Hey Angel,

Thanks for clarifying that, it had me going as well.

I finished all the cnc programming work, so the first dust shall fly as soon as I get a chance to load the router.
By the way, total cutting time to do the whole boat is less than an hour, with about ten minutes to clean and load a new panel. So I hope to cut everything in about two hours.

 

[Manie B]

ok folks and just to add a bit
what Dries is doing for us is a "slot" system

 

[Wynand N]

I want one

How about a donation kit to a poor pensioner? You can have any advertising pasted over the duck in return

 

[sharpii2]

Hi sharpii2, Thanks for the info. It is the easiest temptation in the world to try and change something that already exists. I think some people just cannot resist putting their personal stamp on something and claiming at least some creative credit.

We decided that the SA fleet of PD racers will comply as closely as possible to the existing standard, so as not to cause further dilution of the class.
So to all the doubting SAFFAS out there: Yes we have designed and built better looking and faster boats than the PD Racer locally. And no, none that were cheaper and quicker to build than the PDR, or has a better chance of acceptance.

A quick update:

I now have in my posession, carefully stowed under a brand new tarpaulin, ten sheets of best Singaporean 6mm thick marine ply. From which every attempt will be made to construct four PD racers of simple layout. At least three. I'm busy with the router nesting.

I also measured my existing sail rig, and convinced myself that it is JUST possible to fit 6.9 square metres (74 sq feet) of floppy bits up top.

I think you're off to a good start.

There have been a number of 'hatchings' here in Canada led by none other than Gordon Sieter. I think the largest one was 10 boats assembled over a long weekend and raced the next. The boats in that hatch were similar to what you have in mind. Gordon lead several other hatches as well, making his local fleet the largest in the class.

I think the sail area you have chosen is good. The boats will move along nicely with that spread of sail, but not frighten beginners.

I don't know if the batten/roach is a good design for tyro sail makers.

For a time, I logged all the rigs in the fleet (at least the ones I could find). I discovered there were two rigs that consistently ran neck and neck. Those were the leg-'o-mutton (a Bermudan with a raised clew and a sprit boom), and the balanced lug. Those were followed by the Bermudan rig and the boomed lateen rig coming in as a somewhat distant third and forth.

Believe it or not. Just about every fore and aft rig known to man has been tried in this fleet. This includes at least one wing sail. There are a few sloops in the fleet, but it still is dominated by cat rigs.

Yes, there are a few 'bat wing' sails in the fleet. Maybe that can be a SA specialty.

Lots of luck.

 

[Manie B]

sharpii2 what do you think is the best sail rig that can be reefed

I like the idea that Matt Lyden has on the Paradox where the boom is a roller reefing system

the balanced lug ?? seems ok ?? for this application ??

love to know how you see reefing a PDR

thanks

 

[Manie B]

Wynand glad to know you are in
the plan at this stage is Dries will cut the first one and we will assemble it
as per his drawings which is what he would like

mine will come later because my micro will be the "support" boat for around the island (3to5 Feb) and you must be there (micro carry 1 ton beer )

my PDR will be with the cabin = sleeps 2
only change I am making is to lift the roof approx 50 mm
once we have messed around with mine we can do minor changes and see what you would like

I want my PDR for the extra 2 beds, and for the friends and family and children to enjoy, learn to sail, learn to row. That is why my PDR has a very beautifull central position for rowing, just put the centre board away, lock the rudder and "viola"

Jeez if somebody ever sees this owner of this boat that I post pics of all the time please tell him LOVE YA DUDE

 

[lewisboats]

You can make something like this...see a Duckworks: http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/korhonen/ocean_explorer/index.htm

 

[Wynand N]

my PDR will be with the cabin = sleeps 2
only change I am making is to lift the roof approx 50 mm
once we have messed around with mine we can do minor changes and see what you would like

Thats cool with me Manie

This is what I have in mind (blue one) with my duck - complete with the bowsprit and furling head sail and of course a Jolly Roger flag on masthead
Nice to have some headroom, saloon, galley, double bunk, head with shower and proper boat look....

Edit: Just noticed this was my 1,111 post and when I logged on the message said there are 111 unread new posts...must play the lotto tonight

 

[Manie B]

Steve the Ocean explorer is reallly beautifull

Wynand that boat also has a "soft top" which means you can walk thru to the bow "to tend" the anchor
clever hey
excellent choice