Long Steps, the build has begun.
I’ve four frames drawn, the stem, and the spine for the
forward section, the mast box and some of the detail around the “cabin”.
forward section, the mast box and some of the detail around the “cabin”.
The drawing is progressing in my “spare time” as I’ve other
jobs to get completed before I’m really free to get on with my own project, but
I need a break now and again and wanted to get started on “Long Steps” so the
overall timeline does not become impossible.
jobs to get completed before I’m really free to get on with my own project, but
I need a break now and again and wanted to get started on “Long Steps” so the
overall timeline does not become impossible.
To give an outline of “the project”. I have thoughts that as the numbers on my
birthday cake are getting alarmingly large, its evident that if I am to have
that life defining adventure then I’d best get on with it.
birthday cake are getting alarmingly large, its evident that if I am to have
that life defining adventure then I’d best get on with it.
A second motivator was an article in the newspaper last year
that described the adventures of a young woman who’d kayaked alone right around
New Zealand. It took her a year to cover the distance of around 2100 sea miles,
with a few of breaks along the way. What an adventure, she’ll remember that
forever.
that described the adventures of a young woman who’d kayaked alone right around
New Zealand. It took her a year to cover the distance of around 2100 sea miles,
with a few of breaks along the way. What an adventure, she’ll remember that
forever.
I’m not quite as ambitious as that, but to get around the
North Island is workable.
North Island is workable.
That’s about 1300 nautical miles, only a little less than
the distance around the British Isles,
or the distance from San Diego to Seattle. About, don’t quibble over the odd
mile or three.
the distance around the British Isles,
or the distance from San Diego to Seattle. About, don’t quibble over the odd
mile or three.
In an open sail and oar boat. Mostly open anyway.
The circumnavigation of Te Ika a Maui ( North Island of New
Zealand) has some challenges, I’m
planning to try local voyages first, and have put a lot of thought into the
design, so, below is a pic of the
working drawing.
Zealand) has some challenges, I’m
planning to try local voyages first, and have put a lot of thought into the
design, so, below is a pic of the
working drawing.
She’s 5.520 metres long, 1.660 wide, I’d expect a dry weight
of around 220 kg.
of around 220 kg.
That’s 18ft 6in x 5 ft 5in x 460 lbs.
Sail area 13.5 sq m / 145 sq ft.
One of the “interesting” things about the planned voyage is
that there are at least two long stretches with either bar harbours with
prevailing onshore winds or no shelter at all, even in favourable conditions
these two stretches of coastline could take up to three days to cover so nights
at sea have to be provided for.
that there are at least two long stretches with either bar harbours with
prevailing onshore winds or no shelter at all, even in favourable conditions
these two stretches of coastline could take up to three days to cover so nights
at sea have to be provided for.
Shallow draft is a must, there are some shallow river
harbours in some places, but much of the course will be in very open waters, so
this is to be essentially a blue water capable boat.
harbours in some places, but much of the course will be in very open waters, so
this is to be essentially a blue water capable boat.
Now I’ve mentioned this to people who’ve banged on about
Shackleton and Bligh, but I’m not that tough, so safety, self reliance in
emergencies and a modicum of creature comforts are all part of the design
brief.
Shackleton and Bligh, but I’m not that tough, so safety, self reliance in
emergencies and a modicum of creature comforts are all part of the design
brief.
What I’ve done is to take the midsection of the very
successful SCAMP design, with its high up bouyancy, sheltered “veranda”, self
draining cockpit and water ballast. The
same offset “board” and lying down space is there, along with the massive dry
storage that the little boat offers.
successful SCAMP design, with its high up bouyancy, sheltered “veranda”, self
draining cockpit and water ballast. The
same offset “board” and lying down space is there, along with the massive dry
storage that the little boat offers.
This is fitted into a hull shape similar to that of the “Walkabout”
design, that boat is very fast under sail, rows well, is easy to right if
capsized, and is a very good load carrier.
design, that boat is very fast under sail, rows well, is easy to right if
capsized, and is a very good load carrier.
The ducks and batten marking the curve of the stem.
I started the build today, drew out full sized and cut the
stem and spine, cut and glued the doublers around the stem, cut and finished a
stack of cleat material and sanded the whole lot so they’re going into the boat
almost completely “finished”.
stem and spine, cut and glued the doublers around the stem, cut and finished a
stack of cleat material and sanded the whole lot so they’re going into the boat
almost completely “finished”.
The first cut, thats a Makita 10.6 volt cordless circular saw, nice tool, very accurate, light and easy to use. Its great on plywood up to about 12mm.
The spine, stem, and mast box support will have B#1 B#2 and B#3 slotted over it egg crate style.
The jigsaw is a Makita 4200 BV, I’ve had it for over 30 years and its done a huge amount of work.
Good machine. As is the Japanese saw, wouldn’t be without either of them.
Doublers cut out, the edges radiused with a router and all glued up. Progress already!
Tomorrow will see B#1 and B#2 cut out, I expect to be
putting the whole lot together on the building frame in January, I have to
extend the floor in the boatshed, plus have an adventure in the Straights of
Magellan which will soak up a few weeks around the end of the year.
putting the whole lot together on the building frame in January, I have to
extend the floor in the boatshed, plus have an adventure in the Straights of
Magellan which will soak up a few weeks around the end of the year.
Plus I still have to get some work done.
But I’ve started. The boatshed / workshop is not empty any
more, the symptoms of empty workshop syndrome are under control again.
more, the symptoms of empty workshop syndrome are under control again.
