Search found 282 matches

by SoggyBadger
Fri Jul 15, 2016 6:51 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Cotton sails
Replies: 9
Views: 8889

Re: Cotton sails

You might find that the ones with 7.5 inches between seams have false seams i.e. the cloth is simply folded over and sewn to look like a seam. This was done in the belief that the more seams there were, the less the stretch.
by SoggyBadger
Thu May 12, 2016 12:17 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Merlin, tacking the top batten
Replies: 14
Views: 12952

Re: Merlin, tacking the top batten

It's been many decades since I raced Merlins. Never had a problem tacking the top batten though. The "secret" is the quality of your roll tacking. It needs to be very smooth in light winds to avoid shaking the wind out of the sails. Also, after you passed through head to wind ease the main...
by SoggyBadger
Sun Apr 10, 2016 9:44 pm
Forum: Boats and bits wanted
Topic: vagabond sails
Replies: 4
Views: 6097

Re: vagabond sails

My best guess would to be to put him in touch with one of the still trading UK lofts which were making dinghy sails in the 60's. Banks and Jeckells springs to mind. I'm sure there must be others still trading. One of them may still have the measurements in some dusty old filing cabinet....
by SoggyBadger
Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:57 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Which sewing machine for cover repairs and more?
Replies: 5
Views: 6923

Re: Which sewing machine for cover repairs and more?

The other thing I'd advise is use the best needles you can get. On my industrial (a far-east 20U copy) I switched from "normal" needles to Titanium Nitride coated ones and it made a significant difference. And that's with being powered by a 1/4 horse clutch-drive motor.
by SoggyBadger
Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:57 pm
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: Typhoon.
Replies: 7
Views: 8888

Re: Typhoon.

I remember drooling over the Typhoon when I was young, fit and agile.
by SoggyBadger
Mon Jan 11, 2016 10:07 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Heron centerboard case leak
Replies: 12
Views: 14231

Re: Heron centerboard case leak

I have been considering fitting a bulkhead at the front with big hatches in ,so it could double as storage BUT the purist in me says its just wrong on a 1952 ! . The jury is still out on this. I've read of a number of these conversions. None were particularly satisfactory in the end. Always leaked....
by SoggyBadger
Thu Jan 07, 2016 7:41 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Heron centerboard case leak
Replies: 12
Views: 14231

Re: Heron centerboard case leak

When it comes to buoyancy bags it's best not to scrimp. You'll need a Crewsaver standard front bag for under the foredeck. Overall you'll want a minimum of 500lbs of buoyancy. 600lbs would be better though.
by SoggyBadger
Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:09 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Are buoyancy bags repairable??
Replies: 9
Views: 9022

Re: Are buoyancy bags repairable??

realnutter wrote:I've ordered the kit... I guess a bath of hot soapy water is the best way to find the hole(s)
There's no benefit in it being hot and soap may create bubbles which mask the bubbles being released from the puncture.
by SoggyBadger
Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:51 pm
Forum: Boat maintenance, repair and restoration
Topic: Are buoyancy bags repairable??
Replies: 9
Views: 9022

Re: Are buoyancy bags repairable??

I've successfully patched the bow bag on my boat using the Holt-Allen repair kit. The challenge is in finding the leak in the first place.
by SoggyBadger
Sun Sep 06, 2015 9:16 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Dinghy mast raising
Replies: 12
Views: 9964

Re: Dinghy mast raising

Put the boat tail to wind, attach both shrouds and it'll be a piece of cake.
by SoggyBadger
Mon Aug 31, 2015 6:26 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Transom draining flaps
Replies: 13
Views: 13237

Re: Transom draining flaps

Some people seem to manage without transom flaps or bailers :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA8bmfjGwfI
by SoggyBadger
Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:40 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Covers for wooden boats
Replies: 17
Views: 15635

Re: Covers for wooden boats

My technique for winter storage is boat cover followed by layers of shed roofing felt and finally a poly-tarp. I feel it's votal that the boat should be nice and dry before being laid up. I think it's moisture contact with the deck that causes the damage rather than the cold itself. I ought to add t...
by SoggyBadger
Tue Aug 25, 2015 8:08 pm
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: Osprey history
Replies: 10
Views: 10149

Re: Osprey history

They always had a spinnaker, but chutes would not have been used on early boats. The practice was to launch from spin bags stored between mast and bow tank bulkhead. Memory defeats me but mine might have had a hatch in the deck there... When I started racing Ospreys (1971 I think) there were one or...
by SoggyBadger
Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:19 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: Wayfsrer
Replies: 5
Views: 5027

Re: Wayfsrer

Secondary means of propulsion - so either a set of oars or an outboard. Anchor - something like a smallish Danforth with a couple of metres of chain then at least 30 metres of either polyester or nylon. Anchor/mooring fairleads up by the bow. Jib furler if it hasn't already got one. Slab reefing for...
by SoggyBadger
Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:41 pm
Forum: Boats and bits wanted
Topic: mast for a squib
Replies: 9
Views: 8394

Re: mast for a squib

I think using any old dinghy mast on a keelboat would be courting trouble. Have you tried contacting the Squib CA? They may know of a suitable mast going spare.