Redwing update

[WX]

Started making some swivel clamps for the cockpit locker covers.

And as we have had several days of intermitant sunshine, well you know what that means eh?


It's in the hole folks! The cement follows it tomorrow.

Yes I know it looks like a body wrapped in plastic...but it's not...honest.

[m2c1Iw]

Cool

[PeterSibley]

Great Gary ...I'm looking forward to the pour ...don't forget I've still got the blower .

[P.L.Lenihan]

Started making some swivel clamps for the cockpit locker covers.

Great news about the impending pour Gary. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Be very careful with that hot lead!!!

But enough of my worries, those swivel clamps look very nice and will probably work really sweet once a nice rounded end is put onto the small flat part sitting hard against the locker cover.Otherwise, they may offer some reluctance to easily swivel.

Cheers!


Peter

[Larks]

I'm guessing they're rounded on the side away from the camera so that they swivel closed and stop in the middle....(???)

[WX]

They are only test fitted. I still have to sand them smooth, Round the corners and give them a coat of something.
It's been a good day, the Yard and the Boom are about ready for some varnish. The fabric for my bunk cushions arrived today, and I got the engine to run briefly. The fuel pump piston is sticking, it's a problem I had the first time my brother and I got it going. It's been sitting too long without a start and it's easy to fix but it means stripping the pump down. I'm going to leave it a few days with diesel in the line to see if it will free up by itself...well it might!

[WX]

I'm guessing they're rounded on the side away from the camera so that they swivel closed and stop in the middle....(???)

That's not a bad idea actually.

[WX]

Great Gary ...I'm looking forward to the pour ...don't forget I've still got the blower .

Yes, you did enter my thoughts a few times today Peter.
I'm pouring the cement tomorrow and I figure on leaving it for a week to harden up and lose some moisture. So I'm wondering, what are your plans for say Friday 6th?

[ben2go]

HELP!Get me otta here would ya!WX has went nutty with this boaty stuff.







Can't wait to see the final fitting and fairing.This has been another exciting project on WBF.

[WX]

I took Greg's advice and rounded only one side of the catch.


As it was a fine day and strangely the 4th in a row I thought what the hell, it's cement time. Sadly I'm a mix short and as I said elsewhere, I shoulda bought 3 bags. I'll get one tomorra.

[WX]

The mold is cemented in, now a bit of a wait.
Here's a little something that arrived in the mail today.

Barton ball bearing blocks for the 5 part Halyard.

The eleven hundred and eleventh post.

[johnno]

Moving right along...well done!

[WX]

Having fiddled with the engine all day I can honestly say I can strip down and re assemble a Yanmar YSE 12 fuel pump blindfolded.
I'm thinking of renaming the engine the Antichrist...however it was pointed out to me today by my brother that I have to bleed the Injector as well.
Could it be that simple? Surely not...nah.

[WX]

Well I think I'm going to have ask for advise here regarding bleeding the engine. I'll do it in a new thread with some photos and diagrams tomorrow.
The pour is now going to be next weekend...probably the 14th. Paying work takes priority these days.

[WX]

The pour may take place tomorrow, weather permitting. We have isolated showers forecast and the last few days a number of them have been isolated above me.
I going to get a diesel mechanic to look over the way I have the fuel system hooked up to the engine.
Right, a job I started on yesterday is the bamboo battens for the sail. I'm experimenting with fitting wooden ends to the bamboo to make sail tensioning easier.
This is the first one I made.


I'm enjoying using the wood lathe again, it doesn't get a lot of use.
The top one is my first attempt. The bottom one shows a later effort where I have tried match the outside diameter of the bamboo as well.

[WX]

Still raining off and on.
I've started on cutting and sewing the upholstery and I have a friend who really knows her stuff showing me how.
If people are interested I'll have a go at a photo essay on how to do it.

[m2c1Iw]

Yep.....I'm thinking about some bouancy bags come thwart cushions and I no not what to do.

[WX]

Okay I'll see what I can put together. My cushion covers are closed at the back with velcro.

[WX]

I spent part of Tuesday drilling holes through the plugged ends of the battens. A good tool for doing this is the Forstner Bit, it doesn't split or splinter the bamboo. You really need a drillpress for this job as the bit doesn't cut much of a pilot hole to start with. If you drill right though there will be some slight splintering of the outer layer. My way around this was to drill halfway though then switch to a twist bit and drill right through with that. That way you have a pilot hole to guide you from the other side.

[WX]

No rain for 3 days, want to pour the ballast this morning....rain.
Anyway this is my sewing room.

Backrests and settee cushions done and fitted. There's a bit of rough sewing in a few spots but overall I quite happy with the end result. It's actually
easier to do than I originally thought...once someone who knows how shows you how.

[RFNK]

Looks great Gary!

Now I think you should knit a tea cosy for the teapot which will adorn that drop-leaf table. Also in blue.

Rick

[WX]

Looks great Gary!

Now I think you should knit a tea cosy for the teapot which will adorn that drop-leaf table. Also in blue.

Rick

Right after I've covered the v-berth cushions Rick...hmm which teapot will I use?

[Larks]

A few rough spots will never be noticed and besides, they are well outweighed by the pleasure and cost savings of doing them yourself, well done Gary. I reckon we'll all be calling on you for lessons.

When I was cruising I kept meeting up with an American couple who were paying their way around the world with a sewing machine. Wherever they stopped they were swamped with requests for awning repairs, new awnings, sail covers, sail bags, dinghy covers, outboard covers, tote bags and so on. A lot of their work was replacing existing worn and battered stuff so they reckon they had very little trouble using the old items as patterns for the new ones. Just a thought if you fancy getting serious with this new vocation.......

[PeterSibley]

Inspection scheduled for next Tuesday eh Gary ?

[WX]

A few rough spots will never be noticed and besides, they are well outweighed by the pleasure and cost savings of doing them yourself, well done Gary. I reckon we'll all be calling on you for lessons.

When I was cruising I kept meeting up with an American couple who were paying their way around the world with a sewing machine. Wherever they stopped they were swamped with requests for awning repairs, new awnings, sail covers, sail bags, dinghy covers, outboard covers, tote bags and so on. A lot of their work was replacing existing worn and battered stuff so they reckon they had very little trouble using the old items as patterns for the new ones. Just a thought if you fancy getting serious with this new vocation.......

I have thought of that Greg but I'm not sure if I'd want to risk my much loved Husqvarna Automatic to a salt water environment. If I was to get serious about a cruising income I suppose I could get a Sailrite.

[WX]

Inspection scheduled for next Tuesday eh Gary ?

I live constantly in hope Peter. I've been outside a few times tonight but there's not a star in sight. Anyway tomorrow I'll start on the v-berth cushions, they will be a bit more of a challenge given their shape.

[WX]

I finished and fitted the larger of the v-berth cushions but for some reason I don't have a photo of in place.
However I do have a photo TAKEN from the new v-berth cushion of Kez sitting at the saloon table.

[WX]

I miscalculated on my fabric order, I should have bought 12 metres not 10. The result (you get a very different word if the l is misplaced) is I've had to be creative. Luckily I still had plenty of Odyssey lll left over from the sail. Normally with these cushions you cut the fabric to wrap around the foam with 25mm (1") overlap for the velcro then you sew in the end panels. This time I cut the top from the cushion fabric with a 50mm lap for each end...allowing 10mm for the hem at each end. The bottom I cut as a mirror image of the top. because this cushion is like a truncated triangle I joined the top and bottom panels at the front. The velcro goes at the back (aft end) as it's the widest and this is the best end to fit the foam in from. I test fitted the fabric around the foam to make sure it was a snug fit. I then measure the length of the sides of the foam (1100mm), doesn't hurt to make sure the sides are the same. So because it's 100mm thick foam the 2 side pieces are cut 1100mm x 100mm...no need to worry about hemming the edge as this stuff doesn't fray, besides, it's on the inside...just incase you didn't know cushion covers are made inside out.
To sew in the end panels fasten both velcro ends together and mark the middle of the front and back of the cushion...are you confused yet?
Now make sure you have the end panel inside facing out and fasten it with pins or staples flush with the edge of the cushion fabric and the mark you made centred on the middle of the end panel. Once done sew both ends but start 6mm in from the start and stop 6mm from the end, that's to allow for the side seams. Now do the sides. Once both ends are done and you've tidied up your sewing undo the velcro and turn the cover right side out.
Fit foam. If you done it right it may still seem like it's not going to fit and the urge to panic might try to overtake you but relax. Foam is 100% friction, you have to help it into the corners...keep at it till you can fasten the velcro. Once done run your hands along the velcro to smooth out the bumbs and wiggly bits.
Start with the simplest cushion, preferably square or rectangle and work up to the odd shaped one. My next and last cushion is a truncated triangle with a 200mm half moon cutout in the aft end to allow for the mast. I'm actually looking forward to it

[skuthorp]

Grandma taught both boys and girls to sew and use the machine. One of the most useful things I ever learnt, I taught the boys to make their own tents in the scouts way back.

[Larks]

I've got an old sewing machine that I bought back from mum and dad's when dad died and we moved mum to Bendigo. It is in a leather case but I don't know what brand it is, I can see I'll be calling on you to show me how to use it when I get to my upholstery Gary

[WX]

Happy to show you what I know Greg. I'm actually enjoying it. The cushion cover today easy took me 4 hours to do.

[WX]

I've got an old sewing machine that I bought back from mum and dad's when dad died and we moved mum to Bendigo. It is in a leather case but I don't know what brand it is, I can see I'll be calling on you to show me how to use it when I get to my upholstery Gary

Give it an oil Greg, the humidity could be causing rust etc.

[WX]

What a glorious day it's been, absolute bliss ona stick.
Why am I so happy? The ballast is finally poured!
Once the fire was burning well.

We kicked in the blower.


Peter giving a bit of fine tuning.


Once the blower fired up it didn't take long for the lead to start melting.

[WX]

When I tripped the lever I was ready to run but a dash wasn't needed, it was almost an anticlimax the way it just flowed calmly into the mold.

It was at this point that my camera ran out of room, so we shall have to wait for Peter to post some of his.
There has been some slump of course but that was expected. I can hardly wait till Saturday to lift it out of the ground and see how it looks. At least one of the dowels burned through but with luck there's enough to give me a starter hole for the keel bolt.

[RFNK]

Looks great Gary and Peter!! Fantastic!

Rick

[Larks]

Once the fire was burning well.

We kicked in the blower.

Is that what you call him these days? He's not really full of hot air is he????

[johnno]

Your camera ran out of room man???? Sheeesh, you got to get more prepared for these momentus occasions baby or you'll have the rest of us in fits!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done anyway, what a relief, or at least a weight off your shoulder and now in the ground!

[PeterSibley]

Yep, a good day, well morning . I wandered over to Gary's and after a cup of tea and a boat inspection we started a fire under this .



I built the melter a few years ago, it's a bit beaten up now but still quite functional, it's based on an old steel hot water system .My melt was a bit over 2 ton in the same pot.

I noted a small hole in the ground cunningly surrounded by concrete.We decided to fill it.




The fire was lit and after a while we turned on the blower. The difference was startling .Extra air is GOOD!

[PeterSibley]

It took 90 minutes to melt the 800 kg then we lifted the plug and out it came. The plug by the way is a steep tapered plug into a matching hole , 40 mm OD at largest , tapering to 28 or so IIRC.The plug is lifted by a lever(the bent bit of steel crosswise over the top of the pot ) with a guided rod to raise it.



Very little wood, perhaps enough to fill the space under the pot twice.





Lead melting



Still flowing.



I like this shot.

[PeterSibley]

20minutes after starting the pour, it's full.



Gary skimming some of the unnecessary oxides off the top .





SUCCESS!!!!

[johnno]

Now there's the smile of success!

[skuthorp]

Deserves a whisky mate!

[Larks]

Gary not only looks happy, I'd swear he is Happy...........did his six little mates turn up to help?

[RFNK]

You mean along with Snow?

A great day!

Rick

[Duncan Gibbs]

Well done Gary! (And Peter you old hand at this sorta thing!)

I wish I didn't have to go out into the World and earn some shekels today. I would have been there with bells on and camera whirring had I had the good fortune of an unexpected and major lotto win... Alas! I have to content myself with a day's gardening and a cold beer and not the momentous experience of a lead pour and a rather fancy cocktail... And a cold beer!

Well done mate!

[WX]

It was a great day and a great load off my mind. I've been looking forward to it and dreading it at the same...which is very tiring.
Great photos Peter. My camera is getting old and it's SD card has died so storage is only around 18Mb. I have another but it may have a dud battery.I'm buying another one this week.
A scotch would have been the icing on the cake but sadly my budget stretched to Coopers Green for the day.
Okay, it can rain again now, I don't care.

[m2c1Iw]

Ah so that's how you do it................and standing upwind. Well done, must say the melter really looks the goods, effective and safe always a good combination.

Cheers
Mike

[Larks]

What will you use to lift it out Gary? I see the chains layed under it ready to go but I assume there'll be quite a bit of suction as well as just the weight of the thing.

[WX]

Ah so that's how you do it................and standing upwind. Well done, must say the melter really looks the goods, effective and safe always a good combination.

Cheers
Mike

The blower made the difference. That and the fact that it all happened in such a relaxed manner.

[WX]

What will you use to lift it out Gary? I see the chains layed under it ready to go but I assume there'll be quite a bit of suction as well as just the weight of the thing.

I have a couple of ideas Greg. One way is to use a piece of timber though the chains and car jacks, I have a few. The other is a bipod and chain block. I may have to dig around it and break the cement away a bit. I'll know Saturday. It's a money making day tomorrow.