CVRDA

Just an additional to my findings on sailing Spider. She seems to go quite well. My 12 year old daughter was crew for me on Saturday in light conditions and to be honest, initially we were almost trying to sit on each other. We both seemed to want to use the thwart. It was so light that neither of u...

Tonight I sorted the rudder and looked at the original main. I cut all the stitching at the clew and then cut the bolt rope at the clew. I then stretched the foot and the luff so that the bolt rope retreated into into the channel smoothing out the sail cloth around the bolt rope. I then got new bit ...

I sailed Spider today. Quite nice really. Only in Light winds with Katy. Mast was the least of my concerns: Self bailers both let water in. Looks like new gaskets required on both. Also the rudder blade did not want to stay either up or down. Still helped from snagging too much weed though. A worn c...

Unfortunately, that mast and boom is in Bonny Scotland. It would be £125 by the time I picked it up. Yes the bend in the mast might well be implicated in my droopy boom, etc. Last night I took the boat up to the sailing club and bought Sparkle home for its re-deck. I tried to bend back the mast last...

Update: I have re-instated the blocks and cleats on the thwarts and gone for a pulley type kicker arrangement using the bright yellow rope and blocks supplied - able to be set either side of the thwart -abandoning the wire/lever type kicker. The rest of the wheel kicker setup is being re-purposed fo...

Pack it in you lot!

Anyway, I have already got a leaky Holt 500.

Still trying to get Spider ready for the weekend - but am a bit tied in knots with the rigging.

Another couple of evening scratching my head, should do it.

Cheers

Can I have her back now? She is not a Banana Boat, as indicated above. She is, however, a design that has been optimized for the river/restricted waters like, perhaps, the original banana boat - A MkVI with a bit more rocker if you will. If you search through the Merlin Rocket Owners Association Web...

Not with the hard water coming out of the taps in Swindon.

It would look a mess in no time.

The lime scale would eventually seal up a clinker version though

My old....Sorry your old 'Desperation' is looking very nice.......

Yes I know what you are saying. Two of the last 4 boats I have acquired over the last few years I have bought brand new breathable covers......One of which I have recently sold...Doh! Sparkle came with a fitted cover, but its on its last legs and needs to be replaced....£200 for a N12, if I am quick...

I am sure we have all been there, having bought our new 'object of our affection' only to be saddled with a cover that is either, on its last legs, does not really fit, or not there at all. Of course, if you combine that with a boat that has changed shape over the years, you are now into the 'made t...

Thankss Rupert. The biggest issue I am going to have is putting it together, as I did not take it apart. Just work through the pile until nothing is left...... On another subject - The mast. Sami pointed out to me that the mast has quite a noticeable set to it. There is a definite curvature along th...

Continuing where Sami left off. I have put in two small veneer 'patches' on the deck to replace a bit of filler - one on the bows and the other on the stern, starboard side. Much prefer a small veneer patch than a blob of filler - even if it is not the same colour as the wood surrounding it. Three c...

Home, safe and sound. Very busy on the road, but no serious delays.

And I might be bringing its shrouds to Whitefriars tomorrow, as I think a new pair is needed.

Rupert, you will have to point me towards the guy with the tools to make a new set up......

See, I knew I would get you involved one way or another....

Cheers