Wildfire Dinghy

[simonsmith]

Hi members. So, we've started stripping all the fittings and rotten wood off of our newly acquired Wildfire in preparation for gel-coat repair and painting. A couple of items have caused us to scratch our heads, not difficult when working in our cold Inverness driveway. Please take a peek at the photos to see what I mean, I'm probably being thick, but what are these?

1. There’s a 2x2 inch hole in the transom. It can’t be for the tiller, so what’s that for?
2. Aft of the center thwart there’s a small wood-filled pole, just beside the self-bailer??

Cheers in advance for any help.

[Rupert]

Can the transom one not be the Tiller? I agree it looks small, but it would stop you over steering!

The post - to slot the parasol into when picnicing?!

[JB9]

W42 had a hole just like that for the tiller. It looks as though the fittings have been added later.

The wooden post is a little odd.

[Brian 42]

Ah the pleasures of owning old boats that have had decades of owners trying out their ideas on them. I can't better the parasol suggestion for the post thingy .... I notice the bailer is off centre as well - ours is bang in the middle. Perhaps someone fitted some kind of centre mainsheet hoop??

The tiller hole is definitely a tiller hole. The tiller is quite a narrow section and doesn't come near the edges (it bumps the side tanks before then.

Keep the pics coming - it'll be interesting to see the rebuild coming on.

Brian
W84
RS600 644
Skin on frame kayak in construction

[Ed]

A quick game of quoites if you get bored?

eib

[jpa_wfsc]

Heavens preserve us... but if someone used the boat for angling, then a post in the middle makes some sort of sense as a rod prop. Also for cruising, there would be sense in a strut there for the camping tent?

If it was for a centre mainsheet system then there must have been some horizontal supports - there should be evidence of their fittings.

[iowlen]

1. Tiller hole.

2. Toilet roll holder !!!

[simonsmith]

Hi Folks,

Your replies have certainly caused a smile, although I'm not sure it's ever sunny enough up here for parasols. Here's another poser for you. As you undoubtedly remember, the Wildfire has a hollow daggerboard which is ballasted by lead weights. Does anyone know how heavy these weights should be? Too heavy, I sink, too light, I flip over!!

[Nigel]

Apparently 6 pairs of bags, each containing15lb (6.8kg) giving a total of 180lb (81.65kg).......according to Burrett

[simonsmith]

Wow! That's a lotta lead. Still, I suppose that's about the weight of an adult on the end of a capsized centerboard. Not wanting to show too much ignorance, but who's Burrett anyway?

[neil]

Wow! That's a lotta lead. Still, I suppose that's about the weight of an adult on the end of a capsized centerboard. Not wanting to show too much ignorance, but who's Burrett anyway?

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/t ... /sortby/3/

standard reading for the more studious CVRDA member

[Nigel]

Quite a lot of cash too for that much lead shot I would have thought.

Anyone have any sourcing suggestions for Simon.

[Rupert]

I have lead - in flat form - if that is of any use, down Swindon way. I was quoted approx £1 per kg if I take it to the metal merchant, so you can have it for the same.

Long, long way from Inverness, though...

[jpa_wfsc]

Depleted uranium is cheaper...

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 830AAbVehn

and heavier, so you would need less.

Its OK as long as you rarely get closer than 3' from it (how deep is that daggerboard?)


j./

[JimC]

Its OK as long as you rarely get closer than 3' from it (how deep is that daggerboard?)j./

The radioactivity in depeleted uranium is so minimal and of such low power it would be doing well to get out of the sack you put it in the keel with. But, and its a very big But, Uranium is so chemically toxic that I for one would not want to go anywhere near it.