Sail Rock

I have brand new Manecraft seal that suits a 1” shaft that is surplus to requirements. Please PM for details.

Thanks for the tip! 😀

MF - My project is still a work in progress. A good reference is Bill Belcher's "Yacht Wind-Vane Steering". He suggests a trim tab width of about 20% the width of the rudder. I haven't bother with any "math and equations", apart from using the NACA 0010 figures in Belcher's book to design the trim tab's foil cross-section. I have included lots of holes in the trim tab control arm so I can adjust the amount to torque applied by the wind vane. I have also cast a bunch of small lead ingots that I can add or subtract from the windvane counterweight - apparently it takes a bit of playing arou

Hi crew members, Does anyone know a way to bend an aluminium sail track along its principal axis, i.e. the stronger axis. My challenge is to install a track (UA 1424 section) for a storm trysail so that it deviates between two halyard exit points - see attached Powerpoint file. I want the track to go all the way down to near deck level so that the trysail can be hanked on, ready to hoist before the s**t hits the fan. I'm thinking a profile bending machine might be able to do it - has anyone had experience doing this? I'm appreciate this won't be easy, maybe impossible?? Sail Rock

I discovered heaving to is a good way to steady a boat while reefing the mainsail, particularly when sailing single handed. I’ve also heaved to approaching an unfamiliar harbour entrance at night to wait for sunrise.

Watched it and it is enough to make you weep 😢

See my posts in this thread dated 7 and 15 July 2023 for history of the original Chico.

Yes, I will send you a PM.

I am building a trim tab self steering system for a Chico 30 based on the Auto-Helm system supplied by Scanmar (who no longer sell the product, except their remaining inventory of spare parts). PM me for details. SR

… and here is the account of the 1971 Whangārei - Noumea race. It appears the skipper and crew of Buccaneer enjoyed a ‘gentlemanly’ race with five star dining and plenty of victuals, particularly when they realised they were being well beaten by Chico and Kishmul!

Interesting, BP. Chubasco is moored on the piles in Westhaven. Still seems to be in reasonable condition.

For the Chico 30 aficionados out there, attached is an article from Sea Spray about the original Chico before she entered the 1971 Whangārei- Noumea race. More about the race in my next post …

Prop walk (it’s normal)

I also use the Sikkens product on coachroof handrails

Yep, and nor would you want to want to build near a sandy beachfront like Mercury Bay or Omaha. Rising sea levels are well documented and will accelerate with melting ice sheets in Greenland, Antarctica, etc. Warming oceans drive more energy into weather systems so more frequent heavy rainfall and wind events. The combination of the two will likely accelerate erosion of the coastline. We can face up to this or stick our heads in the sand (at any beach of your choosing!).

Whichever way the wind is blowing and the tide is flowing, i.e plan your passage considering the various weather models and the tidal streams around Cape Reinga, East Cape and Cook Strait. I’ve done both ways. Keep an open mind. Don’t sail to a deadline and be prepared to stop at Mangonui, New Plymouth, Gisborne or Napier for a few days waiting for a favourable weather window.

Yep, I was talking about “baby stay” apparently a “panting rod” is something else. You learn something new every day!

Well done, Pedro. That piece of coast can be a tough sail at any time of the year.

Yes, the panting rod (or inner forestry) is required to provide fore-aft support in the middle of the mast and prevent it “panting” (flexing) in a seaway. It is a bit of a pain on the Chico because it effectively eliminates any space to store a dinghy on the foredeck. I noticed on another Chico that pairs of lower shrouds were arranged each side, rather than the usual singles, which presumably restrains the mast fore-aft at the spreaders and does away with need for the panting rod.

My added advice to the preceding is check the tidal flows around all the major capes (East, Te Reinga and / or Palliser) and try to time your passage around them with a favourable set accordingly. Avoid a strong wind against spring tide flow or else you will be in a world of pain!

I would be happy to sell you my copy. PM me

I’ve also watched a couple of their videos. They’ve done a fabulous job refurbishing Moanaroa. I’m intrigued by the large cut out in the trailing edge of the rudder though. Presumably to accommodate the swing of the Aries self steering paddle. It is inspiring seeing people are still doing “no frills” offshore cruising in small boats. Must get off my bum and do it myself!

She looks very tidy 🙂

She looks well set up. Doing a circumnavigation, I wonder?

I had this problem a few years ago. Took the mast out while doing other refurbishment at a boat builder. Found aluminium conduit that conveys masthead lighting cables inside the mast had severely corroded allowing water to track past the foam plug. Pulled that out and removed the remains of foam plug as best I could. Replaced conduit, fitted some closed cell stop ends inside mast: one at bottom halyard (topping lift) outlet, the second about 300mm further down. Then squirted Gorilla foam in between them. After foam had set, removed the top stop end by hacking it to pieces with various sharp im