Following the Pied Piper.

[salt stains]

A really neat arrangement Graeme - especialy as you have used the handrails as a boundary to keep it all close. On Rum Go the lines are all over the cabin top making it trecherous for feet; something I will have to change. Keith

[Candyfloss]

I sailed on a boat like that once Keith. It was a misery, specially when you are foredeck hand.

I nearly didn't leave myself enough room, or should I say I calculated the requirements perfectly. It all only just fits, but the main & jib halyards lead perfectly to the winches, which is pleasing. I wanted to make the nonskid patch as wide as possible 'cos without lifelines, over the cabintop will be the preferred route for'ard & the handrail acts as a toerail.

[vnkiwi]

Absolutely beautiful, just hope my wee copy will do it justice.
Will await the rigging before deciding where all the r/c gear will be hidden, as I want the full cabin interior to be as yours.
A challenge, but I love a challenge, and you have set the bar so high.
Keep up the good work
regards
vnkiwi

[witchywomoon]

Looking good ...

gloria xx

[Candyfloss]

You're going to put a galley in a Piedy Vn? You can't do that. It's sacrilege!

Just joking.

Thanks for the kind words guys.

[Candyfloss]

Super Red Letter Day today. The painter showed up!



I wanted to get it done now while it's still Winter, & before Brian's tangelos start falling & rotting on the ground & the fruitfly population reaches Chinese proportions, 'cos those little suckers just love hurling themselves at wet two-pot. Today was good enough, but only just, which is to say, it didn't actually rain while he was spraying, & it was warm enough;



And here's a close-up;



Now I can do the graphics. Frabjoyous Day!

[Larks]

Looks like a nice job Graeme, obviously only because of great preparation though!!! Looking forward to seeing those graphics in real size.

[RFNK]

Looks great Graeme!

Where did you find such a small painter?

Rick

[Candyfloss]

Me too Greg.

The dwarf painter was really hard to find Rick. In fact, anyone smaller than me is really hard to find, probably because they're so small............

Astonishingly, he has a 32ft Townson boat (not a Townson 32. I know that's confusing, but please, take my word for it. Des has designed a lot of 32ft boats, it was his favourite size. Mostly it's hard to tell the difference, but this particular one is quite beamy, something you definitely cannot accuse the real thing Townson 32 of being) on a mooring in Coromandel Harbour. He was delighted to see my boat & did the job real cheap.

[RFNK]

Well, if that bit you showed is any indication, he's done a fantastic job! Your boat's going to be the pride of the fleet!

Rick

[witchywomoon]

Looks like a great paint job...

[Candyfloss]

I'm very happy with it. Went back this morning & I'm still happy with it.

Borrowed Aaron's laser level & masked off the boot top;



After masking off the waterline, actually it's 25mm above the float line, I jacked up the back of the boat & masked off the top of the boot top, 100mm above the waterline at the front, & 40mm above at the back;



It was easier than I thought it would be.

[johnno]

Looking superb Graeme, finishing line almost in sight!

[floatingkiwi]

Absolutely fantastic Graeme. You've really showed us what you're made of mate. Excellent job all round. .

[Candyfloss]

Got the signs on & the first coat on the boot top today;





Second coat tomorrow & I'll have the masking tape off.

[RFNK]

Just great!

Rick

[snow(Alan H)]

WoW thats bigger than I imagined. There will be no mistaking her on the high seas

[Candyfloss]

The dancing couple were a bugger to get off the backing paper & onto the boat. All the little bits wanted to stay were they were & had to be started with the point of a craft knife before they would leave home & start their new life as a graphic on my boat. Even then, really small bits like the button on the man's shirt had to be lifted off the sheet & applied to the sign with tweezers afterwards.

Compared with which the name went on a treat.

The signwriter pronounced the name "Collider" until I corrected him.......

[Aliboy]

"Collider" - At least I will know what to look out for when cruising over your way. Congratulations, your boat is looking damn fine.

[Larks]

The dancing couple were a bugger to get off the backing paper & onto the boat. All the little bits wanted to stay were they were & had to be started with the point of a craft knife before they would leave home & start their new life as a graphic on my boat. Even then, really small bits like the button on the man's shirt had to be lifted off the sheet & applied to the sign with tweezers afterwards.

Compared with which the name went on a treat.

The signwriter pronounced the name "Collider" until I corrected him.......

Careful about sharing that Graeme, that might stick

[Candyfloss]

Here you go Greg. A finished "Kay-Lee Two" with no, repeat no, masking tape on her at all;

[Larks]

I love it!!!! What colour antifouling will you go for?

[Dagwood09]

Stunning work. I have been quietly following the thread since day one with some envy of the skills involved. I'm quite a fan of Des's designs since owning a Starling some 30 years ago. I remember wanting one of them 'cause they looked like a proper boat compared to a P class!

I went back to look at what you started with and note that the photos have all disappeared at the beginning of the thread - that's a shame.

Regardless, well done and I'm looking forward to seeing her in the water - can't be too far away now!

[RFNK]

Graeme, I also think it's a shame that the early photos ain't there as you've really done such a fantastic job with this restoration (I'll retract that if she sinks!). Why can't you just put some of them up again now? Before and after shots.

Rick

[Candyfloss]

You're right guys, I needn't have taken them all down, so I'll put some of the more interesting ones back up again sometime soon when I'm sober & bored.

Greg, I thought black would be a goer for antifoul, but I'm open to suggestion. Green, maybe. Nah, not three shades of green on one small boat. Red. I ain't got no red on the boat. Not orange. That might start a "troubles".

My (Irish) grandmother's maiden name was Orange. She came from Belfast. The street she was born in has been bulldozed flat, it was such a "trouble". My brother went to find it & walked into a pub near where it was supposed to have been, & asked where it was. The barman said "What the **** do you want to know that for?" My brother said "My grandmother was born there." The barman said "Well, that's alright then", shouted him a Guinness & told him why it's now a park. It seems I have a long heritage of rebels.

[Larks]

I was wondering if you might have been going for the teal (or whatever green it is) that is similar to the boot stripe, black'd match the dancers I guess, or even white? Are you going to use an ablative and leave her on a mooring or a hard antifoul and leave her out on stands?

[Redeye]

I think I'd go for black antifoul. Anything which reduces the amount of light reflecting around under the boat will also reduce the algal growth...

looking great, btw

R

[Candyfloss]

Hard antifoul. She'll be on a mud berth in the Kauaeranga River, & it dries at half tide. The water is brackish.

Thanks Red.

[AnalogKid]

An amazing transformation Graeme. Even my lad was impressed when I showed him the latest pics (it usually takes at least a double backflip on a motorcross bike to impress him these days). I know there's a large contingent from Auckland would love to come and witness the splash, so no sneakily slipping it in the water while we're not looking.

Andy.

[Rayjing]

Black antifoul Butch,look better in the traditional marina where you will keep her.

[Candyfloss]

Cut a hole in the panel at the end of the galley for the depth sounder/GPS Paul G. gave me, and built & fitted this mount to angle the screen towards the cockpit and make room for the cables behind;



If you're reading this Paul, thanks very much. I found an extension cable for the GPS aerial & a nut for the transducer. The unit checks out perfect.

[RFNK]

That's great - and you've already got a nut for the tiller!

Rick

[Candyfloss]

You mean this one Rick?



Hope you've got your airfare saved up for the launching.

[RFNK]

That's the one!

Hmm, nice idea! Depends on timing! But I'd really love to be there!

Rick

[Candyfloss]

Repainted the galley end & fitted the GPS and the teatowel rail;



Made & painted this I-don't-know-what-to-call-it to stop the gas bottle from sliding around the galley;



Made a retaining strap from a strip of aluminium that came with the main hatch and firmly bolted the battery to the little bulkhead under the forward berth;



And mounted the solar panel battery charging controller on the opposite side of the same little bulkhead. The wiring will go through the hole;



Yes, it is still possible to get the floorboard in & out. I will have to get it out to fit the depthsounder transducer, the hole for which I have already drilled (just in front of the front of the keel), but I can't fit it until I get the boat off the trailer.

Which will be next weekend, th' good Lord willin' & th' creeks don't rise.

[salt stains]

Hi Graeme. Having looked, several times, at the latest bunch of photos it is very easy to see why there is a smile on the face of the nut in the cockpit! Brilliant. We are hoping that you will be launching after Di gets back from Europe in October. Do please post the time and place. Keith & Diana

[Larks]

Looking good Graeme!!!

Just a suggestion re the battery (if you're not already doing it) is to fit a strip of rubber - even car tube rubber - around the battery under the aluminium strip to give a non slip grip in the battery and stop the strip from wearing through the battery over time with small movements and vibrations.........I've had a couple of jobs repairing the effects of batteries that have done just that, albeit in aluminium hulls on power boats with more vibration, and replacing the mounting systems.

[Rayjing]

Rick,I flew to NZ in June,it cost me $300 return with Air NZ,carry on luggage only,jetstar can be the same. I live in Medowie,and flew out of sydney. Just thought you would like to know.
Cheers Ray

[Candyfloss]

Thanks Keith. Yes, I'll definitely do that.

Greg, you are absolutely right. Job for tomorrow.

[RFNK]

Rick,I flew to NZ in June,it cost me $300 return with Air NZ,carry on luggage only,jetstar can be the same. I live in Medowie,and flew out of sydney. Just thought you would like to know.
Cheers Ray

Medowie! We're almost next door neighbours! That's two Kiwis in the area I know of - close to a plague! You'd better come for a sail and I'll introduce you to the other one. He's restoring a Daydream - a bit slowly...

Thanks for the tip re flights, it's very tempting.

Rick

[RFNK]

Hmm, when is this launch likely to be Graeme?

Rick

[Candyfloss]

Not a hell of a lot of point in launching too early in the Spring, Rick. The weather is usually awful, windy & showery, & not very warm. On the other hand, I don't want to overstay my welcome at Brian's place, although I'll just be sitting beside his drive, well out of his way.

Late September, early October. There's some gear I've got to get before I can go sailing.

[Rayjing]

Medowie! We're almost next door neighbours! That's two Kiwis in the area I know of - close to a plague! You'd better come for a sail and I'll introduce you to the other one. He's restoring a Daydream - a bit slowly...

Thanks for the tip re flights, it's very tempting.

Rick

No problem re flights, would enjoy going for a sail sometime.
Cheers Ray

[Candyfloss]

Brian got the Helitrax fired up today & dragged the keel out into the open;



Couldn't use the little digger, it's 50mm too tall to fit into the barn. Pretty bad planning, huh? Then we layed some old ply sheets on the ground, Brian brought over the truck, & we lifted the keel over;



Then put packers under it to get it vertical & reasonably level, and set it down;



Tomorrow, the big move. Watch this space!!!

[Larks]

I'm looking forward to seeing pic's of her out in the open

[Candyfloss]

Does anyone know if you can replace a solar panel with a battery charger? That is to say, if you disconnected your solar panel, or if for some other reason it stopped working, could you replace it with a battery charger and the solar panel controller would, or would not, know the difference? And quite happily, or not, keep the battery topped up anyway?

Which is to say, I can't think of any reason why you can't just use the solar panel controller as an intelligent battery condition monitor, regardless of the origin of the input. For instance, I believe they are fairly forgiving of the voltage they receive. Too much amperage might give them hiccups. I'm just curious really.

[Larks]

Does anyone know if you can replace a solar panel with a battery charger? That is to say, if you disconnected your solar panel, or if for some other reason it stopped working, could you replace it with a battery charger and the solar panel controller would, or would not, know the difference? And quite happily, or not, keep the battery topped up anyway?

I'd say it depends on the capabilities of the controller and the battery charger, but is there any reason why you wouldn't just bypass the controller and put the charger straight on to the battery terminals on trickle charge?

[Rayjing]

Looks like good weather over there at the mo,hope it lasts for you.

[Candyfloss]

Thanks Ray.

My dad told me not to leave a battery permanently on charge. The purpose of the regulator in your car is to prevent overcharging. However, the domestic elevators I built & installed in a previous life had all 12 volt controls, backed up by a 12v SLA battery so that in case of a power failure you wouldn't get stuck between floors. It had a brutally simple 12v charging circuit that was permanently "on". Safety regulations require that the battery is changed every five years. So I'm confused. Is it that a battery will be happy with a permanent trickle charge, but die if the recharge is more robust than a mere trickle?

[RFNK]

The new battery chargers cut the flow to prevent overcharging, unlike the old ones. If I were you, I'd just chat to the battery supplier about what you want to do and they'll be able to recommend a charger and schedule.

Rick