aardvarkash10

tru-dat!

we will never be single-handed unless one of us drops dead aboard (becoming a possibility). We sail pretty conservatively - the Big Billowing Hanky will only ever be up and out in perfect conditions. Thanks for the continuing input everyone - its educational reading the different methods and different experiences and makes me think about what is actually happening as you do this stuff. Can someone explain letterbox to me?

We hope so. It works static (no wind and tied up at the mooring) so yet to get used in anger Trials in real life first week of September. But thanks for the option - it still leaves us free to triple the boat expenditure later by taking everything to the cockpit (just been sitting in the spa discussing that with the Captain. She supports the cockpit controls, but vetoes the budget)

I do love approved methods that involve junkyard engineering

The sheave exit from the mast is at about 5', so even with the clutch directly under it, the max height from the deck would be about 4.5' or 1.5m. We aren't racing though, so I don't think the difference is critical is it?

Thanks for that everyone. Its nice getting the wisdom of experience. Yeah, fabulous, but the mast is set up with the spinnaker halyard on the port-side. I can still run it down to a block, through a turning block on the forward cabin top (there is a reinforced location there for a set of turning blocks), and then back to the cabin top port side.

Whats the approved method? I'm thinking drill the mast, fit the appropriate rivnuts, fix to the rivnuts using 316 hardware. Stainless or ali rivnuts? Wide flange, or standard? Blind, or through-threaded? Or am I doing this wrong?

yup - SO is with Mariner.

plausible deniablity - when The Captain asks why something is broken/needs upgrading I can say it was in an expected item, but everything else is ok. Until the next thing.

following up on this point, GET A DAMN SURVEY!!! If you know nothing about boats, the survey is your own assurance that there are no foreseeable problems lurking. Yes, it will help with getting insurance, but more to the point it may save you two costs: The purchase price of a vessel with hidden problems and hte disposal cost of the same. I would expect somewhere between 600 and 1k depending on who does it and the survey scope. In your situation (group buy), I'd get afull structure, rigging and mechancial (engine and drive) survey. Spread the cost and no finger-pointing afterwa

who'd have thought. Waves in an ocean. What next, sand in deserts?

there is also an H28 recently listed Hibiscus Coast address. Good spec and inclusions. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/yachts/keeler/listing/3218086059?bof=VX6CfyhR

Stepping Out cost $14k, spent about 600 in purchase costs, just under a grand a year in insurance, 3k a year in mooring, recent bottom repaint ran just under 2k (one in 5 to 7 year job), next antifoul job will be between 500 and 750 (one in 18 month job). Maintenance that we knew was required when we bought it has been about 2.5k (new sail cover and complete replacement of spray dodger), an unexpected engine maintenance was about $500 and a chunk of my time. We are hoping to have a pretty much maintenance free period for the next 18 months. On that basis, our 10m yacht probably has oper

perfect - thanks!

piggybacking on this. Looking for two separate clutches, old-style with the chromed / brass body and handles if possible. one to handle 6-8mm reefing line, the other 8-12mm spinnaker halyard.

thats how tech articles shold be written - so even the stupid among us can understand them. Thanks Brien.

nothing you can't stick with duct tape

I'm gonna stick that one in the "guesses" pile 😝

Thanks to Crew member lateral, I got a piece of 10mm acrylic that looks like it would hold back the Apocalypse, and is large enough to replace the entire upper board, which it will now do. I want to glue a lap onto the bottom of the sheet so that it overlaps the bottom washboard. I've cut a strip of the acrylic and routered its edges ready to glue on, but then I thought "what with?" I figure cyno-acrylate, any other guesses or knowledgeable comments?

not often said, but I agree This is like saying that GST is a charge to the retailer which they choose, or not, to pass on to the purchaser. This conveniently sidesteps the fact that the club's expenses are a cost on the members. Whether its a line item or not, the members are paying.

On the face of it, yeah. In legal nicities, maybe not. The prosecution is through the local body. In most cases a marina is held by a separate legal entity, albeit owned by the local body. I'd imagine that if push came to shove you would be better off making a consequential claim against the marina for some sort offoreseeable duty of care, reasonable quality of service/facilities failing etc

yeah, a dinnae ken arduino mate. I can barely cope with Pi plug and play... I'll get the thing up and running on its existing hardware first, then add to it. I'd like to put environmental monitoring on it (barometric pressure, temp etc) as well as 3 axis. That will give plenty of info for navigation without getting super-critical. After that, interface to the TP32 and call it done. This is a Gulf cruiser after all, not an ocean goer.

we bought a s/hand Aakron rhib, 2.4m. It replaced a soft floor Aakron that died as I outlined here earlier) from seam failure. The ali hull tows better, has more volume (deeper) and is more confidence inspiring when you are approaching a rocky shore. It needs more hp to drive it - we have a 2.5hp merc and it could really do with double that. And all the surface glued stuff (rollocks, lifting handles) have fallen off. Again. A bit annoying because the rest of the dinghy is like brand new, but the glue system Aakron use seems to have issues. This model isn't made anymore. The

Yeah. So is the Captain. Its been sitting to one side for about 6 months while I procrastinated over desiging and making a fancy aluminium and acrylic enclosure with vents and fans and blue LEDs and all the bollocks. Then I saw the Systeema box at the Warehouse for $4.95. More progress in 30 minutes than in six months.

Not a lot to say - Raspberry Pi 4B with a powered USB hub and a couple of USB buck converters to power it all sitting in a $5 Systeema plastic box. There is a little vertical recess in front of the chart table where it will sit. Keyboard and mouse driven. The screen is a 24-inch 12v unit mounted on a gas arm so it can reach the companionway. Screen is already on the yacht. I may add a small (5 - 7 inch) screen to the Pi itself as a secondary/backup OpenCPN loaded and ready to run. I have an old bluetooth GPS receiver I'll try on it, if not it will get a cheapo ali-depressed usb