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Sail Rock

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Posts posted by Sail Rock

    Abandoned Boats

    in MarineTalk

    Posted

    This is a problem that I have been pondering for some time. A further two cents worth:

     

    1st cent: breaking up and disposing boats involves handling and processing hazardous materials i.e. antifoul coatings and GRP particulates, so consider all the health and safety overheads. (I can already hear the moaning about “health and safety gone mad”). And as someone mentioned this stuff has to be carted to Hampton Downs which is very expensive.

     

    2nd cent: dumping GRP and composite hulls at sea is NOT an option! Like any other plastics, GRP will break down into progressively smaller particles contaminating the ocean. And then there is the residual anti foul particles.

     

    And for good measure ...

    3rd cent: maybe we should stop bitching about Councils and work together to solve the problem. Rather than dealing with these shitters piecemeal, How about a biannual “kerbside, inorganic rubbish collection” of unwanted boats that are collected and processed in a large batch thereby realising some economies of scale. There might be a way to use some volunteer labour from the boating fraternity to help further reduce costs. Benefits to the boating fraternity:

    Free up valuable mooring space

    Free/ cheap salvaged boat & engine parts

    Cost effective exit route for owners stuck with obsolete/ knackered boats (either free or a small disposal fee)

     

    Flame away!

    • Upvote 2

    East or West Coast? Auckland to Wellington...

    in MarineTalk

    Posted

    I have sailed both coasts, only one time each, but agree with PeteG - best route depends on the current forecast. In any case allow several extra days for the whole trip in order to delay departure, put into Gisborne/Napier/Mangonui, heave to, or whatever it takes to catch favourable winds or ride out snotty weather.

    Wind vane self steering

    in TechTalk

    Posted

    Fantastic feedback guys! My current set up is a Raymarine tiller pilot plus a spare. This has been adequate for coastal sailing but my ambition is to sail offshore. Already have a solar panel but would need to increase house battery bank capacity to run the tiller pilot 24/7. That would add more weight so I am not concerned about added weight of a wind vane steering alternative.

     

    The tiller pilot has simple pinned connections that I suspect could fall out in a violent sea. I chatted to a skipper on another boat a few years ago on the way up to Fiji who blew out 3 tiller pilots by the time he got to Minerva Reef. He had 3 crew so they could hand steer the rest of the way. The bigger boat I was crewing on blew out an Autohelm linear drive which was replaced with a spare. I think hand steering for 1000+ miles is not feasible for the small number of crew that I will likely have (possible solo for some passages).

     

    Graham Kendall circumnavigated solo using an autopilot plus spare parts and he told me that it was very reliable. But his boat was bigger than mine and has wheel steering so could install a more robust auto pilot system.

     

    Jessica Watson circumnavigated with a Fleming wind vane and was knocked down several times but the Fleming just kept on working. I like the sound of that. I gather many wind vane systems work better as the wind blows harder. I also like the idea of being able to repair a mechanical system rather than electronic one. There are pros and cons for both.

     

    My goals are not as ambitious as Kendall and Watson. The humble Chico is small by today’s standards but is a proven boat offshore. The journey will be “camping” rather than “glamping”!

    Wind vane self steering

    in TechTalk

    Posted

    I am considering fitting a wind vane self steering unit to my boat (Chico 30) that has a transom hung rudder. It would need to be installed off centre so as to be clear of the rudder and I am wondering how well the proprietary systems like Hydrovane operate off centre when the boat is heeling. Also interested in whatever tips/opinions/advice people might have on the various systems available, e.g. Hydrovane, Monitor, Fleming, etc. Alternatively does anyone out there have a rudder trim tab type of system that I could take a look at?

    Carpet on cabinsole?

    in TechTalk

    Posted

    Had nylon carpet on cabin sole for years. One long piece sewn together and held down with dome snap fasteners. Lift it up at end of season, hose it down, dry it and it is good to go again. Much more pleasant to walk on in bare feet than damp, salty floor boards. Also less slippery when underway.

    Toilet hose

    in TechTalk

    Posted

    I re-plumbed the head and holding tank in my boat last winter. Also repositioned the head (a 1990's Jabsco) and refurbished it plus the holding tank and discharge pump (Whale hand pump). There was extensive calcification within the holding tank and discharge pump which I removed by soaking them in a solution of Barnacle Buster.

     

    The plumbing was a combination of fixed PVC and flexible sanitary hose. The fixed PVC pipes were coked up with a 5mm thick annulus of calcite and the pipes themselves had become brittle with age (they were fitted when the boat was built in 1978 so 39 years service wasn't bad going!), so I replaced them all. The old flexis were pretty clean but so bloody stiff that I had to cut them out. Re-plumbed with a combination of rigid PVC pipe and sanitary hose, using rigid PVC with various elbows where the bends were too tight for the flexi hose. The sanitary hose is quite stiff to work with but boiling water or a heat gun does the trick to soften it in order to get it onto the head / tank / pump spigots. A smear of Vaseline also helps. The finished installation works a treat and is odour free. A shitty job (literally!) but it's gotta be done, eh?

    Tracking devices - which one?

    in TechTalk

    Posted

    I am looking to buy a satellite tracking / texting device. Any opinions out there on the pros and cons of the various products?? So far I have researched:

     

    Garmin inReach Explorer+ Satellite Communicator, $730

     

    Iridium Go (from Predict Wind), US$1150

     

    The latter seems to provide more functionality. Whaddya reckon?

    Liferafts

    in MarineTalk

    Posted

    Tt appears Northland Sea Safety are no longer renting rafts. Too bad, good products and good to deal with.

     

    So - is anyone else doing it? If not where to next? (It's money I hate spending coz i hate the stupid things but no other options at present).

    In answer to BP's original question, you can hire a liferaft from Transport and Marine which is located in Glendene, contact Jason 021 645 185, email: jason@transportandmarine.co.nz

    I hired one from him last year. Fortunately I didn't need to use it!

    Marine toilets

    in MarineTalk

    Posted

    I have just refurbished an old Jabsco manual head (pre-1997). It has been reliable for 20+ years. Spare parts for this (and Whale waste pumps) are way cheaper ordered on line from UK. Use Barnacle Buster to remove calcite from head, pumps, pipework and holding tank. (Vinegar or other weak acid might do just as well). 'Flexible' PVC waste pipe can be made temporarily more flexible by soaking in boiling water for a minute or so - makes it easier to fit in tight spaces, onto connecting elbows, etc.

     

    Head now looks and works just like new - happy pooping!

    Cat 3 -securing washboards/hatch

    in MarineTalk

    Posted

    To secure the washboards I have a small hole in top washboard with a cord passed through and knotted outside. Line then just stretches over a little hook inside that can be reached from either inside or outside when the top hatch is open.

     

    To secure the top sliding hatch, there is an inexpensive special purpose clasp fitting that can be operated from inside or outside that is sold by marine stores, in either plastic if you are weight obsessive, or metal. My cat 3 inspector a few years ago had never seen this fitting and thought it was pretty neat.

    Efficient systems

    in TechTalk

    Posted

    Cj

    The solar panels shown in several of the photos you provided are just supported on single unbraced poles. I doubt they would survive in high winds or seas. For offshore, I would think fixing to the deck or a robust stainless steel frame would be required. That might make a sun tracking set up a bit more complicated.

    LED lighting

    in TechTalk

    Posted

    I recently replaced interior and exterior lamps with LEDs. The Hella products (tricolour/ anchor light and one interior Euro lamp) were expensive but worth it. Rest of the interior lamps were replaced with cheapies from Burnsco, all of which do the job adequately except the reading lights that generate RF which interferes with the FM radio. You get what you pay for!

    White Island

    in MarineTalk

    Posted

    I'm considering a wee sail from AKL to White Island this Easter. I know there is nowhere suitable to anchor overnight there so will probably just stooge around for a few hours, try a bit of fishing and possibly anchor in the lee of the island for a bit of a rest before returning home (if the sulphur fumes aren't too bad). would be interested to hear from anyone who has been there.

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