Frank
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Posts posted by Frank
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Are you want to keep the option to look forward over the dodger? On small boat is kind of useful but I'm not sure about on a larger one.
its a good point, I need to do more research, It will most likely have tempered glass panels fwd facing so vis through the dodger should be very good. For a clearer view I expect to be looking to oneside when seated or over the top perhaps by standing on the cockpit seat. Another possibility re the height over the companionway would be to have an additional moulded "blister" to avoid bumping your head . Its kind of hard to draw here but standing in the cockpit looking at the rear edge of the dodger you would see a double bubble curve.
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I don't ever use a mooring when I don't KNOW whats on the bottom of it, and that it's in good order. I've much more faith in my ground tackle than an unknown mooring.
Right On !
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Aesthetically it would look better lower and longer and by extending the roof you could add some roll down canvas sides for added protection when required. I would add raised lips on the trailing edges (top & sides) to help deal with water running across it and onto you plus it would provide a better grip for hanging on to. I would also move the handrails further inboard so that you can still use them if necessary more comfortably on the leeward side when heeled over.
Nice job ! I'm planning on using the same construction technique on a hard dodger for a 38 ft yacht. Its always going to be difficult to get good proportions on a small yacht such as the Nova. I might have put more curvature in the roof so you retain the height over the companion way but the outer edge is lowered. But hey when your coming back from man-o-war bay in a howling SW you will be way more comfortable.
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yep,, carbon tow, lash n bind, then epoxy kevlar tow probably OK also.
If you prime with epoxy that may prevent the electrochemical corrosion mentioned.
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I have seen a number of dogs on yachts and it seems reasonably common these days. Does anyone have any tips or advice for having one onboard?
We have 8 week old Cavoodle joining the family next month, she will be about the size of a Toy Poodle. I wonder what age she would be OK to take out on the yacht for weekends etc?
We had our labraspoodle on the boat heaps, he loved it, used to swim off the back too, their paws do not grip on hard surfaces.
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Opua from about Novemberish and into the summer will be busy, some cruisers from the US and Europe terminate their travels there and put the boat with a broker. Not the langkawi prices to be fair but as discussed elsewhere on crew.org lots of costs to import, some obvious some not so much. Probably works out about the same in the end. If I'd had another 100K this would have been my choice locally http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/yachts/keeler/auction-1357570905.htm. Incredible boat.
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Just had a random look at some yachts listed through Langkawi boat sales , some pretty sharp deals there, I like the look of this http://www.langkawibss.com/yacht/metalu-diam-40-altego/
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Nice.
I was talking to a guy on our pier with a 36'er the other w/e, wished I'd asked him if I could jump on and take a nosey.
He'd headed back to the UK a year or so back, went out to the Chathams for a week and then his motor blew up as he left so he had to spend two weeks punching into the wind to come back here.
Mmm that would have got tedious quite quickly
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Yep that's her, Chrs for the kind words.
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Is this her? Thats a lot of boat.. congratulations
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Well I know one person who wont have to worry about who will buy their boat because I just bought it, its a Wauquiez Hood 38.
Sorry but I cant work out how to post a picture, should be an interesting vessel the idea is to take her offshore in about 2 yrs.
So they do sell
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All to avoid Cat 1?
IMO Cat 1 is like a WOF for your boat. The standards and regs come from the sum of the things learnt from issues in the past, and from many more sea miles than any of us have individually.
The only real issue I have with our Cat 1 system is that it is too far behind current technology. Like LED flares, modern construction, cordage, anchors, as well as electronics etc.
In my experience, the inspectors (bar one) were very reasonable, and would make allowances outside the letter of the rules if you had good reasons for what you had, or why the boat was like it was. Many people have been frightened off even discussing requirements with local inspectors before repeating rumor and innuendo, and thereby propagating inaccurate info. My advice is, if you have a boat and are considering Cat 1, talk to your local inspector early, and get him involved. You will find it is not as bad as many make out. If you find you have an issue with one, try a different inspector.
Leaving and returning to NZ is the highest risk passage that many (most?) cruisers make - at least those who come to, and leave from NZ.
If you boat or yourself are not up to the Cat 1 standard, should you be going??
Oh, and finally, if your the skipper of an offshore registered boat, and you return here, Customs will want written proof of the GST status of the vessel, or you will be required to pay GST on entry to NZ.
I agree totally agree , I suppose you can get an unreasonable inspector , that's always a risk. On the other hand my wife's uncle did a 7 year circumnavigation in a 31 ft boat and spent a lot of time in the high latitudes. He did Cat 1 inspections for a few years, afterwards and you could not have a more experienced and reasonable person for that purpose.
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Hi
I think we would all agree there are some dodgy boats out there left to rot for whatever reason. There are a few around my yacht that have not been maintained for years. Boats are cheaper now and with newer boats coming down in price the older boats are not popular inmany cases. Like everything in life a boat has a life span and maintaining costs money. Hopefully my yacht will be a classic but I feel we all think that of our own boat.
For responsible people they make a call and either sell the boat or dispose of it. Not everyone does that and in so me cases when a person passes away the existence of the old boat may be unknown to the family.
Yes old boats can be a problem and this is not unique to NZ. At the end of the day it comes down to personal responsibility.
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/abandoned-boat-be-removed-harbour
There have always been derelict boats probably since Viking days. I guess in the pre fiberglass/ferro/steel/aluminium era there was only wood and they were bio degradable so they sank eventually or perhaps got burnt. Without hard data you cant say if the problem is worse that it has been in the past but I think what you can say is that you cant simply run them up a creek at high tide and abandon them anymore. Certainly fiberglass boats may deteriorate but they wont rot away in our lifetime and you cant burn em. This is a problem in the US as the boats of the production boom years of the 70's and 80's reach the end of their life cycle.
http://boatingindustry.com/top-stories/2017/01/12/aging-recycling-hulls-a-looming-crisis/
Fibreglass can be re-cycled or up cycled. There are plenty of tired fibreglass boats out there, not derelict as such but certainly needing a lot of money spent on them to overcome a decade or three of deferred maintenance and equipment upgrades. Is it economic or should you just dump it on the market and hope someone will buy it ? It is a cluttered market though and prices are substantially depressed over what they were say 5 years back. Charter companies exiting fleet stock, older European Production boats and imported vessels that have cruised here from Europe or the US continually add to the older NZ production stock. With all the other factors in play its hard to see an uplift in values anytime soon. Good if you are a Buyer I suppose. BTW try Whangarei or Opua located listings for a mix that's a bit different from the Auckland listings.
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The argument gets complicated depending on what you need the energy for and the rate of delivery of the energy (Power)
Solar panels are remarkable, I Love em !. I use Lithium battery technology in another of my hobbies electric RC model aircraft.
these electric model airplane motors are brushless and their power using Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries is staggering, You can see videos on youtube of electric RC cars putting out 13 HP. (remember in a small model car !) they are also incredibly efficient more than double that of the very best heat engine, plus way less moving parts, less mechanical stress, etc etc.
So you can certainly deliver say 50 Hp or more with modern electric motors and but not for many hours if you are drawing that power from a battery. The battery soon needs recharging and the solar panels simply cant charge at a high enough rate to compensate for the rate of demand.
Battery technology as with solar panel development is continuously improving, large corporates are pouring billions into it.
Today we boaties can have a fridge and a freezer whose power demands can be meet by a reasonably sized solar panel which was unheard off say 15 years ago. So we are reaping the benefits of rapidly advancing technology maybe one day we will be able to say the same for our auxiliary engine but its going to need some big technology breakthroughs to overcome the energy density fundamentals. Now if you want real sustainable/usable power hoist those damn sails, have a big rig and an easily driven hull
Talking about sail power, while sailing back to the mooring on a stinking hot summer day (what happened to those ?) I was over the side getting a tow and cooling off The breeze was light,when I saw a slight puff moving towards the boat barely even ruffling the water. I figured with the boat towing a bucket (me) it would not lift the speed at all but as it hit the sails the boat heeled maybe another 3 deg and immediately picked up another knot like I wasn't even there. It left quite an impression on me as to the power the wind on your sails generate, even in light conditions and on a relatively small boat like a Carpenter 29.
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Not sure I follow your thoughts there wheels.
Are you saying if you take an alloy framed 1000w solar panel (assuming 100% efficient) say 30mm thick, an eqivilant volume of fuel has 13 times more energy? What if you left the panel in the sun for 13 hours? And yes, panels are not and likely will not soon be 100% efficient, so it might be more like 30 hours say, but I'd imagine most boats looking at deck storing fuel wouldn't be using that fuel for a week or two until they have used their main tanks anyway.
What happens when the solar panel is in the sun for 7, or for that matter 30 days?
Or have I misunderstood? I dont disagree with the point that diesel is the most cost and space efficient fuel, just confused by your example.
Frank, an electric motor cannot charge as it discharges, was that part of your question? Would take more energy to power the charger than the charger would produce, as wheels says, every time you convert energy there are losses, you'd be going electric to mechanical back to electric. When you run an alternator off a diesel, it uses more fuel.
The argument gets complicated depending on what you need the energy for and the rate of delivery of the energy (Power)
Solar panels are remarkable, I Love em !. I use Lithium battery technology in another of my hobbies electric RC model aircraft.
these electric model airplane motors are brushless and their power using Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries is staggering, You can see videos on youtube of electric RC cars putting out 13 HP. (remember in a small model car !) they are also incredibly efficient more than double that of the very best heat engine, plus way less moving parts, less mechanical stress, etc etc.
So you can certainly deliver say 50 Hp or more with modern electric motors and but not for many hours if you are drawing that power from a battery. The battery soon needs recharging and the solar panels simply cant charge at a high enough rate to compensate for the rate of demand.
Battery technology as with solar panel development is continuously improving, large corporates are pouring billions into it.
Today we boaties can have a fridge and a freezer whose power demands can be meet by a reasonably sized solar panel which was unheard off say 15 years ago. So we are reaping the benefits of rapidly advancing technology maybe one day we will be able to say the same for our auxiliary engine but its going to need some big technology breakthroughs to overcome the energy density fundamentals. Now if you want real sustainable/usable power hoist those damn sails, have a big rig and an easily driven hull
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In my search for a yacht, I've come across a few out there that are in need of a re-power due to a dead engine or having extremely high operating hours and my thoughts have turned to the viability of an electric or diesel-electric hybrid propulsion conversion. It definitely won't suit everyone's needs but I would think that there are situations where it would be a viable option like those that do longer passages, just use the motor around marinas and moorings or anchoring, etc. I think the load would also be a factor so electrical needs, yacht size and weight will have a bearing.
The biggest downside to the pure electric option would be reduced range and a slightly reduced cruising speed under power to help maximise the available range. Not ideal for those that must somewhere at a certain time but for those with more flexibility with their schedules and destinations and a desire to sail it's probably not a major issue. On the plus side, you could run it just enough to remove the impact of prop drag thus gaining a little extra sailing speed or alternatively use it in the regeneration mode to put a charge back into the batteries. This wouldn't be a huge amount and is dependent upon sailing speed but it might be helpful. Obviously, there are other charging options available such as solar, wind and hydro generators. You also get an opportunity to reduce noise, vibration and smell from the diesel and reduce the number of holes in your hull.
Another potential downside is for those that run desalinators that aren't 12V so a generator would be required. My thought was a small diesel generator that could power the desalinator and/or recharge the battery bank when required but doesn't always have to run when you use the motor. Also, I'd think using a generator to run a desalinator or charge batteries etc. would make more sense than running an engine used for propulsion. Yes, it would mean a diesel engine back on the boat but the usage and requirements would be different and the diesel could also be used for heating.
Generally, the biggest hurdle seems to be the cost of batteries, particularly Lithium Ion which means you're effectively paying for your fuel up front. The electric motors, controllers, etc. aren't that expensive, heavy or bulky and spares could be carried.
Are my thoughts on the right track and what am I missing?
The energy density of diesel fuel is 13,333 watt hours per kg . For the current best Lithium Iron technology it is approx 200 watt hrs per kg. So diesel can deliver 66 x more energy per kg than lithium iron, that's the brutal reality of the maths , you just cant store sufficient energy. Improved battery technology is aiming at 500 Wh/kg and that gets it down to 26 ;1 much better but still brutal. The electric motor is 90% efficient, the diesel perhaps 45% if using latest technology so that helps a bit. Diesel electric does not make sense, there would be transfer losses. The motor would likely be brushless to take advantage of the latest technology, the speed controller for that will be pricey and if it fails the motor is useless. The Speed Controller will need cooling as well as the motor. This could be a fan or liquid (the sea water) so more complexity there. On the plus side it would be quiet and smooth. Perhaps a fuel cell would be a better option ?
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I think a few coronets have gone a long way. It may have even been a mate that went to three kings in one.
I have vague recollections of him telling me after a few rums in Whangarei cruising club. Although they're so hazy I cant be sure.
From memory it was completely unplanned, and they sailed north under kite with a possible underdose of blood in their alcohol system.
I may have 2 stories mixed up there. Not sure
A Coronet rings a bell, that may have been the boat, he did it twice according to the article.
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Twisted Sisters went offshore - twice. 1st time as a standard 9m Turissimo
Cats have a good record offshore.
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Webb Chiles did his first time around in a Drascombe Lugger (open boat) he is currently completing his 6th in a 24 foot day racer, the best boat to have is the one you've got!
I think James Hatfield an English Heart Patient did a circumnavigation in a 20 footer that eventually foundered off NZ. From memory he finished the trip in a bigger boat. A fibreglass version of a Cornish Crabber I think.
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Did a lot of ocean miles single-handed in 17 foot 10 inches LOA.
Obviously, what you can carry on board is limited, eg 30 gallons of water giving 60 days at the old half a gallon per man per day rule, so comfort is not going to be all that great.
I think small boats are strong and not subject to the same stresses in a seaway as their larger sisters - you tend to bounce from wave top to wave top rather than plowing through the wet stuff.
Kudos to you ! have you written of the experience ?
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Peter Freeman in the 80's circumnavigated in a home built 32ft Hartley Ferro, held the world record for fastest sub 50ft boat non stop.
Interesting , you wouldn't think of Ferro boats breaking speed records
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100's, maybe almost 1000's, of 6.5mts boat have crossed the Atlantic.
Yes of course ! particularly the Mini Transat Boats at only 6.5 Metres, Chris Sayers Book is excellent !
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I'm fascinated by the little pocket offshore cruisers.. 17-24ft interests me.
Andrew Fagan is a legend. Shane Acton is another.
Who sailed to the 3 kings in a trailer sailer and what was the boat? I did hear of a TS, possibly a Pacer, that sailed there several times.. maybe the same one?
From my fairly inexperienced view it seems a good small boat can be just as seaworthy as a big boat but becomes very uncomfortable in the rough. I have been caught out in marginal conditions (for a TS) off the BoP coast and while I felt completely safe, it was certainly uncomfortable.
I can't imagine what it would be like in 6-7m swells in a small boat.
John Guzzwell (Trekka ?) would have to be added to the list I found this on a google search http://www.tonygrove.com/boatbuilding/trekka.php.
The chap who went solo to the three kings was in his 80's I think and If I recall correctly the article was in Boating NZ a year or three back. A chap I worked with in the Naval Dockyard built a Farr 9.2 that he sailed around NZ. He left the boat in Bluff for a few months before completing the circuit. The three kings will be one of the first trips when I get my new (old) boat.
The Ashley Book of Knots
in MarineTalk
Posted
Good Book that .