29th May

Tempus fugit. Close to one year since starting this project in earnest and the name is on!!!!

Still got to do the starboard side and the "eyes" on order.

Been playing with my welder and lathe trying to make a self steering system.  I am no expert but enjoying learning.  If there is something that I have not done before I have to try and learn how to do it.

Trimtab all mounted and bolted in position.  Is it the correct size?- f... knows - but all I know is it turns very smoothly with little friction.  Ready for glassing, filling, sanding ,priming, sanding , sanding and maybe a bit more sanding etc. Time will tell if my guesses are close.  Tab is 50mm from the front of the stock to the trailing edge (ie between 15 and 20% of cord of the rudder).  I will share all my experiments once I start sailing.

This is the start of the control system to operate the trimtab.  Had a big disaster because when I drilled all  the holes in the control arms my "6" mm drill bit was actually 6.4 mm diameter which gives .4mm play between every joint on my pins.  After several linkage points it all adds up to be a big disaster!!    My plan is to keep all play to a minimum and reduce friction as much as possible and make it bomb proof.  Drilling lots of holes in the bell cranks to give many options for experimentation.  Going to scrap all this and make new bits with less tolerance in the pins.  Cost - nada- just hours wasted and starting again.  Once sailing and tested  if I can get it to work well  I will make new bits that are the correct size for Nuts without lots of holes etc.  Sleepy time - off to bed Good Night.