Redwing update

[Larks]

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.

Actually, digging down one side and making a reasonably shallow ramp might allow you drag it out with the chain block or 4wd? It'll still be a big haul but it'd probably be a lighter drag than dead lift.

[PeterSibley]

Jacks and a pile of blocking works pretty well Greg.

[Rik van der Vaart]

800kg... the 40kg I'll have to deal with already give me the jeepers... 800kg... holy sh*t.
Awesome job Gary. Congrats.
I need a whiskey...

[Duncan Gibbs]

Four lots of blocking either side and bars across either end with two chain and blocks would be easy.

[WX]

800kg... the 40kg I'll have to deal with already give me the jeepers... 800kg... holy sh*t.
Awesome job Gary. Congrats.
I need a whiskey...

You'll be right Rik, two rules. Lots of heat and no moisture in the mold.
I wish people would stop taunting me with comments about whiskey.

[ben2go]

Thanks for sharing that exciting project.I had scrapped the idea of building a boat that requires lead ballast.After seeing that,it doesn't seem so bad,as long as the molds are prepped and dried properly.

[WX]

Go for it Ben, you look young enough to last the distance.
I'll let you in on a little secret. When I decided to build this boat, I told a friend, he laughed...he'd seen my woodworking skills.
Virtually everything I have done on this boat I'd never done before and I haven't finished yet because I've never sailed solo in a yacht on the ocean before but I will.
If you don't know something know someone who does.

BTW It's a miserably wet gloomy day today, talk about luck it in yesterday.

[ben2go]

Go for it Ben, you look young enough to last the distance.
I'll let you in on a little secret. When I decided to build this boat, I told a friend, he laughed...he'd seen my woodworking skills.
Virtually everything I have done on this boat I'd never done before and I haven't finished yet because I've never sailed solo in a yacht on the ocean before but I will.
If you don't know something know someone who does.

BTW It's a miserably wet gloomy day today, talk about luck it in yesterday.

I am 35 and in bad health currently.Hopefully I will be back on track by next year and building something with 2 or 3 years.Until then I live vicariously through you guys that are building boats.

[WX]

I am 35 and in bad health currently.Hopefully I will be back on track by next year and building something with 2 or 3 years.Until then I live vicariously through you guys that are building boats.

I am sorry to hear that Ben I do hope you return to 100% good health soon.

[RFNK]

As do we all! Hope the recovery is speedy Ben!

Rick

[ben2go]

I am sorry to hear that Ben I do hope you return to 100% good health soon.

As do we all! Hope the recovery is speedy Ben!

Rick

Thanks.I should be 100% or close to it.

Sorry.I didn't mean to stray off topic with my health comment.

[WX]

Thanks.I should be 100% or close to it.

Sorry.I didn't mean to stray off topic with my health comment.

I don't mind.

I'm sewing the last v-berth cushion cover today. This one is a bit patchwork as I've had to sew offcuts together to get the coverage but I think it will look fine.

[WX]

First side of the cover cut out and the velcro stitched on.


I've been a dyslexic today. I cut out and sewed the velcro on the other panel and then had to rip the stitching as I'd sewed it on the wrong side. Fixed that and got both panels sewed together at the front and decided I was having sooo much fun I'd save some for tomorrow. This is doing a test fit.

[WX]

The rain dropped off to a light drizzle so I figured I'd see if I could lift the mold. I tried using my old chainblock but it wasn't really up to it. So it was drag out a bottle jack and a chunk H girder...I tried a chunk of timber and that split and the 50mm gal pipe just bent. Being so wet and muddy the big problem was the blocking kept sinking but after several hours of patiently jacking and blocking I managed to get all the cement off and the whole thing raised a few inches. Using a crowbar I broke up the cement and packed it down under the mold, then the rain returned and I figured it was time for a cuppa.

From what I can see there doesn't seem to have been any distortion of the mold and there seems to be only one spot where there's been a small bit of lead leakage.

[PeterSibley]

That's looking great Gary! I'm looking forward to this !

[WX]

The bit I want to see is the stepdown, there was a lot of bubbling at that end. Oh well, tomorrow?

[johnno]

Keeping my fingers crossed while we all have a cuppa!

[WX]

The sun is shining today and there's a bit of a breeze so the ground should dry out a little. I had a look at it all this morning and I'm thinking I might be able to get a couple of lengths of timber under one end. I can then use a couple of bits of water pipe as rollers and drag the whole thing out with the Ute.
It will have to wait till this afternoon through, this morning it's back to sewing.

[PeterSibley]

Be careful you don't bend it Gary... it sounds silly but lead is very soft.

[RFNK]

Or scratch it - after all that trouble you don't want a scratched keel! You could always move the boat over and bolt it on, then just flood the backyard. Too easy!

Rick

[PeterSibley]

Or scratch it - after all that trouble you don't want a scratched keel! You could always move the boat over and bolt it on, then just flood the backyard. Too easy!

Rick

Cruel bugger

[WX]

Okay now I know you've all been waiting this so here it is...........
The final cushion, now this was a right bugger, I mean look at the shape to start with and then I had to curve it around the mast. I mean, how much can a Koala Bear?

Luckily the mistakes are on the bottom.

[PeterSibley]

Gary, I still reckon that mast is too short .




and ... well done

[johnno]

Gary, I still reckon that mast is too short .




and ... well done

It looks like it's ready for a bit to be scarfed on top Peter, I'm sure Gary has it under control! Nice comfy bunk Gary! It seams well sewn.

[WX]

Oh you wanted to see the ballast?
Well after a morning of extreme sewing it was time to tackle the ballast...tada.
My idea worked, not without some work I might add but here it is.
Note the mess.


By this time it was late in the arvo but I settled to removing the large number of roofing screws that Mr Sibley had used to assemble the mold. Of course my cordless drill wasn't up to the task so it was out with the small socket set. Rain did threaten to stop play but I covered myself with a bit of tarp and doggedly stuck to the task. In the end it was down to hammer and Jemmy bar. Then with one last wrench the side fell away and I perceived a very fine sight. Mr Sibley you build a very fine mold.

The black is just carbonized plywood. On this side there doesn't seem to be any voids, it really is quite good. The other side has a decent sized lump of lead that had leaked out but I think that was more to do with not getting cement packed in close enough. Anyway I'm very happy with it.
Oh the dowels, all but one has left me a good pilot hole for the bolts.

[skuthorp]

Gary, I still reckon that mast is too short .




and ... well done

That rat did more damage than he thought........... And yes, well done.

[PeterSibley]

A pity that last dowel floated away Gary but a good result !

"a morning of extreme sewing it was time to tackle the ballast...tada" I'm visualising a new TV phenomena EXTREME SEWING!!!

[WX]

It looks like it's ready for a bit to be scarfed on top Peter, I'm sure Gary has it under control! Nice comfy bunk Gary! It seams well sewn.

It won't tear and it was a real challenge and on the bottom there's one seam that's inside out. I reckon it's not bad for a beginner.

[WX]

A pity that last dowel floated away Gary but a good result !

I'm very happy with it Peter.
The ute got a work out hauling it out of the hole.

[skuthorp]

I'm very happy with it Peter.
The ute got a work out hauling it out of the hole.

You mean you've been keel hauling and the boat isn't even launched yet

[WX]

You mean you've been keel hauling and the boat isn't even launched yet

More like slinging the lead.

[Duncan Gibbs]

I'd say more mud was being slung than lead!

Well done Gary... And Peter!

[WX]

There is certainly a lot of mud Duncan.
Tidied up the area a bit and filled in the hole. I then removed the rest of the mold.


An old handsaw got rid of the worst of it and it's not looking too bad.


Then it was out with the power planer.

And one from the front.


At that point I figured I'd treat myself to half a day off.

[RFNK]

All good .... now hurry up and bolt the bloody thing on!

Rick

[ben2go]

There is certainly a lot of mud Duncan.
Tidied up the area a bit and filled in the hole. I then removed the rest of the mold.


An old handsaw got rid of the worst of it and it's not looking too bad.


Then it was out with the power planer.

And one from the front.


At that point I figured I'd treat myself to half a day off.

That is keeler!

A thing of beauty.

I knew lead was soft but didn't realize it could be worked with decent quality wood tools.I am certainly learning a whole lot from your thread.

[WX]

Lead shavings are not soft like wood shavings when they hit you though.

[RFNK]

Gary's been shot full of lead from a plane and he's still standing.

Seven with one blow.

Rick

[Phil Y]

A nice one to add to the stable.

[andrewpatrol]

Gday WX,
How much allowance for shrinkage did you allow for on the mould? I'm working up the courage to pour my keel and have to figure out the details
Andrew

[PeterSibley]

3% if I remember correctly Andrew .

[WX]

Andrew, Peter made the mold for me.
Peter, The leakage at the front amounted to around 4-5 kgs. I'd say because of the plastic I didn't get the cement packed in tight enough at that point.
I need to put a tape measure on it and compare it to the plans but I reckon it's spot on.

[WX]

All good .... now hurry up and bolt the bloody thing on!

Rick

Patience there, you can't rush these things. I have to drill the bolt holes and I don't even have a 3/4" bit...yet.

[P.L.Lenihan]

The contrast of the light touch sewing of cushion covers to the heavy pouring of lead......nothing sweeter than that Gary! Very well done with that ballast pour.I almost heaved a sigh of relief myself, from way over here, after read through the event.

I've heard tell from a slew of sources, young and old, sober and drunk, that it is reasonably safe to substitute a 3/4" bit with a 19mm bit. The bolt won't know the difference.


Continued success!


Cheers!


Peter

[WX]

Thank you Peter.
I had to work this morning ($$) and this afternoon I had to grovel around the edges of my dam to find one of the water lines that's stopped working while trying not to fall in. It feeds my hot water system. So I didn't get to do any work on the ballast. I did have a poke at the remains of the wooden dowels that were put in the mold to mark the bolt holes. Some of these seem to have survived as charcoal quite well. Mr Sibley reckons he has a bit close to the size I need.

[PeterSibley]

You need a long 3/4" Gary ? How long ? 550 mm or so from memory ?

I know I have a 5/8" that would do it but I'll have to look for a 3/4".

[WX]

You need a long 3/4" Gary ? How long ? 550 mm or so from memory ?

I know I have a 5/8" that would do it but I'll have to look for a 3/4".

Peter I'm thinking of visiting you soon, that is as soon as I get some spare time. I have a bottle of Dalwhinnie and some of it has your name on it.

[WX]

A celebratory drop.

All but one of the dowels worked perfectly. For the two holes in the step down a 20mm speed bore was enough. One hole I will only find if I tip the ballast on its side and there's one we didn't dowel right at the front. That will have to be drilled from scratch.

[shade of knucklehead]

What is in that bottle?

[PeterSibley]

Peter I'm thinking of visiting you soon, that is as soon as I get some spare time. I have a bottle of Dalwhinnie and some of it has your name on it.

You are welcome sir !

[PeterSibley]

A celebratory drop.

All but one of the dowels worked perfectly. For the two holes in the step down a 20mm speed bore was enough. One hole I will only find if I tip the ballast on its side and there's one we didn't dowel right at the front. That will have to be drilled from scratch.

One of those dowels floated to the surface at the end, I suspect it was knocked while we were scraping muck and oxide of the top.