Stavanger, Thursday

Gary,

If you are to melt lead for ballast, just remember that the mold must be bone dry. Also the lead bits that you are to throw into the melting pot must be perfectly dry. If not you will experience really impressive explosions with hot lead flying all over the place. Keep kids away and wear overalls and goggles.

Good luck!

Arne

PS: Guess how I learned this...

Ballast mold cemented in the ground today and first coat of varnish on the Yard and Boom. Upholstery fabric arrived yesterday as well. Looks like the keel will go on next month.
The Aussies on the Woodenboat forum are talking about a pointy sail rally up in The Great Sandy Straits of Fraser Island next year. I think I might be up for it by then.

Annie Hill wrote:

Gary Pick wrote:Has anyone any experience with either ultrasuede fabrics?

I have a friend who has ultrasuede on her boat.  It looks great and although a plain blue colour, never seems to mark.

I've heard it's nice Annie but I haven't been able as yet to find a supplier. I've more or less decided to go with Surlast, it has a waterproof coating on one side, is hard wearing and is the right price. I should have a sample to look at this week before I really settle for it. Once I'm afloat I can always make removable covers of something nicer if the Surlast turns out to be too horrible.

Worked on my Yard today and apart from the ends it's trimmed to the right shape...PJR style. I have a roll of 100mm fibreglass tape so I'm covering it with that. The mid section dimension is 86mm x 55mm. The weight pre FG was 8 kgs. I figure a finished weight of 10 kgs.
The Boom is 55mm x 45mm and I'm not sure if the 45mm face should be stiffened a bit more, still thinking about that.
Caught the rat that had taken up residence in my sail bag, no damage luckily.

Cut the timber for my Yard and Boom today. I got a good full length for the Boom and I'm laminating two 55mm x 45mm lengths together to get my mid length depth of 86mm..