New Hawk Antenna.

One piece of equipment that I have been meaning to buy for sometime is a Windex type apparent wind indicator. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I saw this ad on the PBO Forum.

Hawk masthead ariel and wind indicator



This is a combined masthead VHF ariel and wind direction indicator - don't wait for yours to fail - change it now whilst the mast is down


Cost new £70 plus p&p selling for £47 including p&p

 


















As I had managed to snap my antenna against the house wall I thought this would be a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and save some money in the process.
Due to the snow and Christmas postage it took a while for it to turn up but when I got home from work on Monday it was sitting in the hall waiting for me. All excited I unwrapped it and put it together. It was as new and still in it's box as you can see but when I assembled it I realised that I had two port indicators :( It's not just the colour of the indicator, the plastic is shaped to give the correct angle according to the locking block selected.


Losely fitted together





showing two port indicators



















I did a quick google search and spoke to Hawk, at Hayling Island, who said that the arms are available seperately for just a couple of quid. Fab.. I'm sure that I could make these ones fit but I will pop in next time I am over there and pick one up. That way I'll know where the wind is coming from.. I still have L&R on my shoes :~P
If the old antenna is still useable I shall repair it with some heat shrink and mount it on the push pit rail as a spare incase the mast ever comes down.

Big bruvva

Not much work going on with Jelly Bean this week; I can't be bothered to clear the snow :)
So I've been scouring the internet for the latest Fantasie 19 related items and came across this advert for a Fantasie 6.3metre. http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/PAA6001

It's a cracking looking boat with full standing head room for £3,800. Would be nice to see what it looks like inside.

This ones not a Robert Tucker design though, John Bulter is responcible for this one; he also designed the Westerly Cirrus, 28 and Tiger. Judging by his website the new deisgns are stunning.

Builders comments (From boat world guide No2.)

The Fantasie 630 is a modern sailing cruiser which offers the accomodation of a far larger craft, but at a far more reasonable price!

This has not been achieved at the expense of the cockpit which is 6 feet long, self draining and is protected by high coamings. The fore-deck is also large with plenty of room for sail changes, nor has the sailing performance suffered, she is fast, responsive and light on the helm. She points high into the wind and performs equally well in light airs or a stiff blow.

So there we go, a fantasie with full standing head room (If you're 5'10" or shorter), 5 berths and still only a 2'9" draft

I'd have to get the coucil to divert the pavement around my front garden before I could concider having a bigger boat  though  :D

Reefing lines part 1

As I have finally finish both dodgers and the temperature has risen to 5 or 6 degrees, I thought it a good idea to get out and tick another job off my ever growing list.

When I had the new main sail made I asked for slab reefing points to be put on. This they did and for the last three years I have been reefing in a very Heath Robinson stylee; using any bits of rope that I could lay my hands on when needed.

I had bought some of the hardware two years ago but never got around to fitting it. This is what happens when you leave getting the boat ready until February :~)
After reading 'A silhouette called Misty' I thought it about time to get on with it.



I positioned the anchor point and the cheak block opposite each other so that when the clew was pulled against the boom the reefing line would be at about 45 degrees.

Both of these were pop riveted onto the boom while the cam cleat for the control line was held on with countersunk machine screws. The boom was simply drilled and tapped to accept these.

The gear for No2 Reef was position on the opposite side of the boom to balance things out.



Full Sail





First reef





Second reef



The reefs seem quick and easy to put in although this was on my front garden with absosutely no breeze blowing :~) The line in the picture is cheap stretchy line from B&Q that I had in the shed and is only to assess how it works; these will be replaced when I know how much line I will need.

Currently the tack still needs manually hooking onto the reefing horns but I will change this as I want to be able to reef the sail without leaving the safety of the cockpit.

Brrrrrrrr

It's been a long time coming but the snow is finally here.