David Tyler wrote:

Darren Bos wrote:

On the pramhood-dodger front, an idea worth considering might be a combined hood/soft garage.  The Pardey's have an example of this in their "Get Ready to Cross Oceans" DVD.  Basically, it is a cloth cover which extends to the front of the sliding hatch rails and attaches to the cabin top, thus water intrusion is blocked just as with a hard garage.  The aft end is nothing more than a hoop that is attached to hinged arms.  One end of the arm attaches 80% up the hoop, the other attaches to the cabin top about 12-18" in front of the companionway opening.  A bit of bungee attached just below the articulation of the hinge on one end and near the aft end of the companionway on the other end pulls the hoop upwards, but also allows you to push it down easily to enter the companionway or to look forward with nothing in the way. 

Darren, could you send me a picture of this arrangement, please? I can't quite visualise it, and I'm beginning to think of an improved hood as possibly being one of my winter projects.

After looking into the copyright info, I think posting a picture of a screengrab is within fair use of the copyright.  I'm a fan of the Pardey's books and videos.  If anyone is interested in the Pram Hood/Soft Garage you can purchase the full Pardey "Get Ready to Cross Oceans" movie on Youtube or other platforms for about the cost of a starbucks coffee.  They talk about the pramhood and a bunch of other interesting things, that go particularly well with your favourite beverage on a winter evening.

With that said, here is the pic of the soft-garage-pramhood-dodger the Pardey's designed and built.  I have plans to install something similar during the refit of my boat.  You can most clearly see the hinge on the Portside of the hood.  I think you could sew some EPDM foam (camping mat) or similar into the garage portion to make it look neater if you wanted.

David Tyler wrote:

...

I've also very reluctantly come to the decision that the Suzuki 2.5HP is just too small. At least, for the big strong tides around here, where it's often necessary to work to a timetable, getting in and out of harbour at high water. I've bitten the bullet and bought a Tohatsu 6HP Sailpro with high thrust prop already fitted. I got it aboard and installed today, and started it up at high water. It's neaps, so Weaverbird didn't quite float and I couldn't go for a test drive, but everything seemed to be functioning very well, and I think I've made the right decision.

David,

your new Tohatsu is the same as I fitted to my Ingeborg. I am sure it will deliver plenty of muscle for that light boat, at around 5hp/ton. On Ingeborg it is on the small side with only around 2.6hp/ton, so I have to think twice before backing out of the finger berth in strong north-westerly winds. It is that critical moment; when I have backed out, it is all about getting steering speed to turn into the wind  -  against the wind pressure on the mast. During my first eight years of sailing, my boats were living on a mooring, like Weaverbird  -  sooo much easier.

There is one peculiar thing with some of these new 4-stroke outboards in the 4 – 6hp range: They seem to need a longer and faster pull to start than other four-strokes I have had (Honda 7.5, Yamaha 9.9, Honda 2.3). At first, when I bought my Tohatsu, I thought there was something wrong with it. Then the dealer showed me that it needed a real “lawn-mover pull”. After adopting that, the engine starts at first or second pull. The pull force is very light.

Arne

PS: I very recently added a simple block device to let me get a more effective pull while standing in the cockpit. A quick half-meter pull on my (blue plywood) handle gives a super-quick one-meter pull on the start chord handle. My conclusion is that the engine makers must have changed the gearing of the recoil starter, to make it lighter.

PS: I have made a new topic on outboard engines, here.

Robert Prince wrote:

The composting head looks like a very neat and practical solution. You have come up with a winning design, for sure. Do you know how much you spent? 

• A 19 litre plastic box from http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk - about £10, but a large delivery charge.
• Urine separator from the Little House Co - £45
• 12 litre urine tank from the Little House Co - £32
• Oak toilet seat - discounted on eBay - £16

I've just installed an "Air-Only" ventilator over the heads. It's the best ventilator I know of, in both design and quality of materials used. They are made in Malta, but they have an online shop.

I've also very reluctantly come to the decision that the Suzuki 2.5HP is just too small. At least, for the big strong tides around here, where it's often necessary to work to a timetable, getting in and out of harbour at high water. I've bitten the bullet and bought a Tohatsu 6HP Sailpro with high thrust prop already fitted. I got it aboard and installed today, and started it up at high water. It's neaps, so Weaverbird didn't quite float and I couldn't go for a test drive, but everything seemed to be functioning very well, and I think I've made the right decision.

Glad to see the progress David.  Is there a facility for stirring the solids?

I think you have the boat-building with other exercise idea right.  I'd stopped running and cycling in the name of getting more building done and I think it came out a wash.  I was actually more sore and less productive without the exercise.  After a week off for paddle boarding and hiking I'm having a far more productive week of boat-building.