[Miss Kathleen]

Hi Guys,

The ‘glass’ in mine appears to be perspex. Just did a polish with a buffer and it is crystal clear (almost).

It would be possible to replace by loosening the retaining ring – as seen in the pic.

Cheers

Dennis

Attachments:

1. 

   Fuel-Cover-1.jpg
   

[Miss Kathleen]

David,

Also added a new folding ladder which conveniently works well as a step from the jetty.
Removed the wire safety line above the winches and replaced it with a stainless tube. This works really well especially as a handhold. This makes it much better for winching as the safety lines always snagged the top of the winch handle. This also provided better support for the folding steps. The winch wqas moved when the hard dodger was added, and is a major improvement in boat handling.
Then, since the folding steps used up some of the space – moved the gate further forward.

I still need to add a better method for securing the steps.

The addition of the swim platform has taken off the pressure of all the comments about those modern boats with walk-on access from the stern!

Cheers

Dennis

Attachments:

1. 

   Step-1.jpg
   

2. 

   Handrail.jpg
   

3. 

   Gate.jpg
   

4. 

   Swim-Platform-1.jpg
   

[Miss Kathleen]

Attached some pics of the new platform.
The white base is temporary and will be replaced with a teak grid.
The tension supports work well in “helping” the dinghy into the water.
The small ladder works well, and is vertical.
I did not want to go out further as a windvane is yet to be fitted.
For the next time – a little wider, and could even be higher
Platform is 500mm above water level

Not sure how to add multiple pics

Attachments:

1. 

   Swim-Platform.jpg
   

[Miss Kathleen]

Hi David

We had the same dilemna and was solved by building two access points.

The first was a folding ladder on the side.
The second was a swim platform. The is also a small ladder from the platform for cockpit access. I would have made it deeper but plan to add a wind vane in the near future.
Overall I am very pleased with the results.
I wiĺl post some pics soon

Regards

Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Found some pics of the shaft – before and after. In the “before” pic you can see the rust from the clamp.

The new base has a recess that allows the “old” bearing to remain in place, and also holds it down

Hope the pics upload.

Regards

Dennis

Attachments:

1. 

   Rudder-Shaft.jpg
   

2. 

   Rudder-Shaft-Compl-2.jpg
   

[Miss Kathleen]

I had the same problem. There was a hose clamp which caused some rust that eventually seized the plastic bearing to the shaft and wore away the wood base. Solved the problem by mounting a plastic 1 inch plastic plate over the existing bearing and which also served as a bearing. Works well.
Cheers
Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Hi CS,

Two pics here of the hard bimini

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/117161376876600674340/albums/6103286430664503969

My solar panels are 130W each. They are attached on the front with aluminium brackets that are screwed and tapped into the solar panel frame and then into the 32mm stainless frame that holds up the bimini. The rear brackets are bolted through the bimini roof.

There is still room between the solar panels for a hatch, and the panels have been located close to the outside edge to limit the shadow (which is inevitable). Overall, the benefits of the panels on top of the bimini far outweigh any disadvantages. Flexible panels would be great, but I already had the non-flexible type.

In time I may opt for a flexible panel on the hard dodger. The effectiveness of the wind generator (yet to be installed) will drive this requirement.

Cheers

Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Hi CS,

Having just completed a hard bimini I have also found that using the standard sail cover is as issue (no that it wasn’t with the original bimini), and a stack-pack will solve the problem. Current procedure of sail ties and cover are done by standing on the aft pushpit rail and some steps on the mizzen mast.

Tor’s sliding hatch sounds interesting and I look forward to the details. The one change to the solid bimini (future project) is a see through window in the centre between the solar panels to check on the sails – not only the mizzen, but the main as well.

Would be appreciated if you could spare some details of your custom stackpack’s.

Regards

Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Hi Guys,

Tor, the front window does not open. being curved it would have been a real challenge. The sides are real glass. The front is plexi-glass.

Joe, I dumped the normal bimini and constructed two frames that will support a hard-top bimini. This is a WIP and hopefully will be completed soon. Need this before we go off for Christmas as it supports two solar panels. I will post some pics once done.

Cheers

Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Had a similar problem when some water came from the stern end.

The cause of the problem was that the bush in the wooden beam (well shown in John’s pic) had seized. The PO had used a hose clamp to hold it in position. The seized bush rotated with the rudder shaft making the hole larger, and causing the rudder shaft to wobble – and thus the leak.

I made a new bush and then added a substantial plastic block to the beam. The rudder shaft ain’t going nowhere after this.

See some pics in the link below;

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/117161376876600674340/albums/5862318906250377281

Regards

Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Hi All,

Dodger is 99% complete. Windows are in! A hand-hold or and we are done.

Have since relocated the winches further aft.

See link below;

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/117161376876600674340/albums/6062945667079974257

Regards

Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Tor,

Seeing some of the changes on other 424’s, the relocation of the winches is next.
Currently the support for the bimini is where the winches will go.

I have just started making a hard-top bimini which will have supports rising from the stern and along the backstays.

By the way, the original spray dodger really protruded into the passageway. The new dodger is a vast improvement.

Cheers

Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Thanks Bob.

The window man will be sorting templates first. I will confirm on the glass type.
I was surprized when he said that they bend the glass to fit the shape, depending on whether the profile is within the bendable range. If the bend is excessive then we will have to use plexi-glass. The sides, being flat, will be easily achievable with glass.

Cheers

Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Quent,

Thanks for the link. In the long run this would be the quickest solution.
Currently the mechanical unit is set with a “do not touch” notice as I am trying to keep a balance between a cold beer and a flat battery!

Cheers

Dennis

[Miss Kathleen]

Quent,

Agreed.

It is much like using an iPad as a navigation device. They are great to use, but will never replace the Garmin GPS (IMO). Some folk use them in waterproof cases, but they have a tendency to overheat and then just shutdown!

Remember the days of using a compass, paper charts, boatspeed, sextant and a lighthouse to find your position! Now all in one electronic black box – GPS

The Arduino is a device that will be an additional monitoring tool and falls into the category of ‘tinkering’. It will not replace bilge controls, gas alarm, engine sensors etc.

Just an item on the project list when I have had enough of sanding!

Cheers

Dennis

[Author]

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