3rd October

Done a few bits on the self steering.

All very rough. The black bracket is a locking device.  I can swivel the inner tube (which the vane is connected to)  to any position and lock it in place.  The pushrod that goes down inside the tube can swivel.  The counter balance weight  will be experimented with for weight and length of arm on the threaded rod.  Going to make a couple of vane sizes to see what works OK.  All pushrods are 6mm threaded rod (ss) to make it easy to be adjusted for testing.

Next job is to make the bottom bell crank mounting bracket on the bottom of the tube and a support post that can be bolted onto the transom.  This whole exercise is only for experimental purposes.  Not worried about neatness and a sexy look.  Half of the stainless is only A2 and stick welded to hold it together.  On a reliable self steering system you dont want nuts and bolts.  They have a habit of coming loose. 

Doing lots of thinking about quick engage and disengage system as well as easy weather helm adjustment. 

Also thinking about an emergency rudder system in case Willy gets hungry.

Hurricane Kirk skimming to the north of us in a few days and watching Lesley.

Will keep you posted - Cheers

 28th September

The start of the experimental horizontal windvane.  I have some fiberglass tubes that telescope and going to use them as the support.  I wrapped some epoxy saturated glass (after sanding and acetone prep) over the inner tube which will be on the top. (just the end where the stainless steel homemade hinge will be bolted on) to make it a bit stronger.

Also cut some 316 stainless to make support brackets. and bent them for the 17.5 degree angle.  In all my research it seems that between 15 and 20 degrees is the best angle so I picked the middle.

Im going to make the tube support and hinge bracket before actual vane hinge so I can get the exact dimensions. 

Fired up the antique lathe to make the bearings.

First go was with some mystery material which I thought was Delrin but I guess it was some type of nylon or acrylic.  Not easy to machine and very messy.  

I then turned down a big diameter piece of Annealed POM (Delrin) which was totally different.  A big waste of material but it is all I have.  What a difference!  Nice and clean and smooth.  I am no expert in lathe work , just what I see on Youtube and my lathe was salvaged from the Ark.

Delrin on the left and mystery material on the right.  Only need 2 bearings but made 3 of each so have spares. I think the mystery material should go in the rubbish bin.

I will post  an easier to understand  description of what Im trying to achieve when more bits are made.

Enjoy your weekend!

 26 September

Cockpit nonslip EVA fitted.  I was hoping to do the cockpit floor in 2 pieces but just did not have enough in a big piece.  Used 3 sheets of 90cm by 2.4m and have plenty small offcuts left over.  It is very comfortable and a good nonslip.  Just dont know how long it will last.  It is pretty soft.  I attacked a small offcut with 80 grit and nothing happened.  If it lasts for 2 years I will be happy.  

Lots of rain on the way with a tropical storm passing close to the north of us.  

Starting on the self steering tomorrow.

 25th September.

Nonslip EVA foam going on.  A bit of a mission to get it positioned well.  Once you start sticking it down the position is fixed so better be close!

Round circle on first photo is for vent which has not arrived yet.  Only got cockpit seats and floor to do then deck is finished except for guard rails.

Been doing lots of thinking and plan drawing for self steering vane system.  Prototype will be fully adjustable in all parameters to try to get it to work well in as many conditions as possible.  Epoxy, glass, welder and lathe will be in action soon.  If all fails will revert to simple vertical axis system.

 20th September

Done a few bits.

Deck getting more populated.  Sheeting fixing eyes bolted down.  Going to use low friction rings (much cheaper) instead of blocks.  Mounted a bit further foreward than on the plans.  That allows the length of the strop holding the ring to fine tune the sheeting angle.  A barber hauler can also change the sheeting angle if needed.  I didnt feel like hauling Nuts out the workshop and putting up the mast again to fine tune the sheeting position.  It should be close so good enough for me.

Also decided to fit my spare hatch.  Opening from the bow.  Will be closed for 99% of the time when sailing but gives good vision of the jib from inside and will be great on anchor in the tropics to get a breeze through the boat.  

Round paper template to the port of the mast is going to be a dome ventilator above the "galley" .  I made a dorado box with a wind scoop  but decided it would be too much hassle with fouling on jib sheets and didnt want to make deflector bars.  Did that on previous boats and it worked well but on a tiny boat got to make compromisers. 

Jib sheeting fixture from inside.  8mm through bolt eye on a small doubler made from an offcut from the cockpit floor.  8mm ply with 200g of epoxy glass on each side.  Took a long time to do these small jobs as had to wait for epoxy to cure before drilling holes which were then filled with epoxy to coat the inside of the holes and when that was hard I could paint with PU paint and wait for that to cure before fitting!!  Cut grass and went fishing between Nuts jobs.

Weather super good so off fishing with sister Nuts again tomorrow.

 16 September

Went fishing with sister Nuts over the weekend and loaded the freezer.  Grey Triggerfish - delicious.

Got deck fittings sealed and bolted down.

U bolt fixing points for safety harness and mainsheet. Put a large backing pad under the cockpit floor u- bolt.  All the others go through on the centerline on the double deck  thickness.

Still got to decide if Im going to fit the second deck hatch which will be fitted fwd of the main bulkhead on the stbd side to provide a through flow of air..  (the tropics get hot).  Also got to fit the dorado box and jib sheet block fastenings.  I will wheel Nuts out the workshop again and put the mast up to hoist the jibs and check out sheeting positions again.  At least I have all the halyards and sheets now.  Been doing whipping and splicing.  Plenty to do but not in a hurry.  

Started to think about wind vane and got a few bits to experiment with.  First prototype will be horizontal axis.

 12 th September

Nuts back in its birth space.  Dropped the mast and dragged Nuts back inside the workshop to finish off the deck.  Very easy with a simple support on big castor wheels.

Drilled the cleat holes 5.5mm for 5 mm bolts. 

Holes for my home made deck organizer.  6.5mm diameter for 6mm bolts.  I overdrill by .5mm on each hole so I can coat the inside of the hole with epoxy.

More holes drilled for safety harness and secondary mainsheet fixing u bolts.  I have made 2 possible positions for the main sheet.  One as on the plan on the cockpit floor as well as one above the companionway on the deck.  Will experiment with both options as well as a double mainsheet on the deck.  Just back from coating all the holes with epoxy to seal the plywood.  I will give it a day or 2 to cure then fit the cleats and safety harness u bolts.  

Finished the boom and got the sliders for the kicking strap, sheet and vang riveted into position.  (got several options for the sheet position)

I just want simple and easy to work with.  

Decided to put a topping lift on.  A bit of a pain with a square top main but safety aspect as a secondary main halyard overcame my reluctance.  Just going to use 3mm chyneema and hope  for the best.

Weather for fishing was a bit iffy (for where I was hoping to go) so only heading off on Saturday.  Mrs Nuts hates fishing but sister Nuts loves to fish so we will try on Saturday.

Got confirmation today that all my paperwork for MMSI has arrived in Poland and the process is  proceeding.