I have been doing what i usually do with boat projects ie sitting up late at night and thinking about the project. This post won’t be much about what i think about the boat so far because apart from sorting the gear out, getting the spars off and having a crawl around in the cuddy i haven’t actually done anything yet.
What i am going to start with is everyone else’s thoughts about aspects of the boat….for example when i was taking the spars off i thought “hello someone’s put this tabernacle on the wrong way round” and that reminded me of when i first got the liberty and discovered that the previous owner had fitted the rudder blade the wrong way round…..the steering was ‘odd’ to say the least.
So : Father Ted has been sending me more and more information so lets start there.
- ”
So Narwhal has a new home. Nice boat and well used by previous owner Ian. Suggest that the tabernacle may have been put back wrong way round. Best kicker arrangement is a lever system used by the Europe dinghy and available from Selden, Sails from Exe Sails who have made for Dayboat before – foresail either jib version or Genoa. If you decide on replacing the main mast can be either Selden Cirrus or Super Spars M6 with tapered top section, but you will need to sort out the bottom arrangement for fitting to the tabernacle – alternative is to replace tabernacle with a standard mast step. Just a few suggestions to be going on with
-
… and handrails atop the cuddy. available in teak from Force 4 with either one, two, three or four loops. Usual is four loop version either side of roof. Makes traversing the narrow side deck a lot safer. I really rated Ian’s choice of name as so appropriate, with sticky out bit up front on both boat and beastie. Good luck.3. Oh dear, this is like scratching an itch.The shape of the cuddy does rather liken her to an ugly ducking, but it is a very practical size, and one gets to appreciate it in a blow with spray all about. The cuddy shape is reinforced with iron hoops glassed in, but they do not rigidly support a rig that is in real tension. The solution is a king post under the mast position, as DD16 has been fitted with by Ian. Plastic drain pipe works well in compression, but of course one can use wood or stainless material for the king post if that turns you on.The centreplate is a low grade iron casting. It is not completely flat and does have a shape. One can fettle the leading and trailing edges but beware of making these too fine as the metal is brittle. The flat aluminium rudder blade is prone to stalling, therefore a change to a wood aerofoil blade would make a great difference to the handling.Re changes to the rig. One could change to gunter, as the DD is outside the Class Rules that apply to the DY. However, the Bermudan rig works fine, and hoisting and lowering the main mast is a matter of practice, and with the tabernacle the right way round not so difficult. As the use of theboat is for pottering and maybe a little cruising, I would suggest keeping the Holt Reefing Luff spar as one can shorten sail, jib or Genoa, progressively. At present DD16 has the Genoa option. The mizzen sail while small is a useful feature, and of course is indicative of her origins.If kept on a mooring a fitted cockpit cover is essential, not just to keep the rain out , but also birds crapping over the inside. Again, like the sails, Exe Sails have made covers for the DD.Itch has gone away for the moment so better get on with some Sunday tasks. Good luck.
2 .I await with some trepidation your thoughts on what you may actually do with the rig to this Dayboat. I guess that of many queries and comments that may/will arise pending what is to be revealed, is the one that are you intending to keep her yawl rigged. Btw while she may by some specs be technically a ketch not a yawl, sail size ration main to mizzen can also be a defining factor. For yawl see jolle.
Peter Cash.
1.think you are on the right track, just like wood spars ’cause they add to the classic look.
Enjoy the ability to wander out to the boat with tea in hand from your back / front door. Oh and not having to remember everything you might need for a job.
LikeLike
Yeah…..but.
Guess where my boat toolkit is ?
LikeLike