Annie wrote:

David wrote:

Unaccustomed as I am to public blogging, there was a need to gather into one place the descriptions and photos of building the model that are scattered throughout this forum topic, for the guidance of the future builder(s) of the full size boat, and so I've started a blog at:

https://siblim7m.wordpress.com/

Comments and suggestions for improvement welcome.

Hey, good for you, David.  I hope the link gets put on our Useful Links in the Junk Information pages.

Might I suggest you put a link in your blog to mine?  I know the 7m is built quite differently to how I have built mine, but people can get a general impression, and also look at a larger version if they feel 7m might be a little too small for them.  I shall be a Follower as soon as I work out how to!  I'm excited that this might come to fruition.

It's there already, in the very first post on 31st December, but I'll try to work out how to put it on a page in the main menu.

Unaccustomed as I am to public blogging, there was a need to gather into one place the descriptions and photos of building the model that are scattered throughout this forum topic, for the guidance of the future builder(s) of the full size boat, and so I've started a blog at:

https://siblim7m.wordpress.com/

Comments and suggestions for improvement welcome.

This project is beginning to stir, and wake up from a long, Rip Van Winkle-like sleep. Watch this space.

David wrote:

Annie wrote: Well, I'm not sure how prudent I am - my form over the past couple of decades would appear to indicate the opposite if anything - but if the 7m variation can sail around the world, then taking my 8m to Fiji (as I have tentative plans to do) seems less than foolhardy.

Hey, you might as well dream while you build.

I wouldn't for a moment want to claim that the SibLim 7 can sail around the world. Only that it should be able to tackle the easier "milk run" trade wind passages across the Atlantic and South Pacific. Size does matter, bigger is better, more is more (BibMim), when the height of breaking waves is more than the beam of the boat is when knockdowns become more likely. As the GGR entrants are demonstrating, 32 - 36ft is a bit marginal for going nonstop south of the Great Capes. 40 - 50ft boats have a rather better track record, eg Hawk, sailed by Evans Starzinger and Beth Leonard, 47ft LOA.

I would say: dream on, but happiness is adjusting your dreams to realities and practicalities. Yes, SibLim 8 can go to Fiji, as could SibLim 7, but I would hesitate to take either down to Stewart Island. Can SibLim 7 sail from Japan to NZ? According to World Cruising Routes, it could be somewhat of a windward slog to get out to Guam or the Marshall Islands, so the rig had better be pretty good, but then it should be easier on the SE trades past Vanuatu.

Well, I might have to rethink that.

The OCC 2018 Awards have just been announced, and the Jester Award has gone to 

Szymon Kuczynski, Atlantic Puffin

For his 270-day non-stop singlehanded circumnavigation via the three Great Capes, in a boat of only 6.36m (just under 21ft) LOA and with no outside assistance, a new world record. Click here for more information.

His boat is a Maxus 22, which is very similar to my Hunter Sonata/Duette and is only rated CE Category C.

Heavily modified, of course, and his photo gallery shows some interesting ideas, particularly the companionway.

Jeremy Walker wrote:

At 2M beam, 1/2 beam distance is reachable(with my average length arm as a distance quage), and when one or other of the halves is theoretically flipped to face inside upwards.

Joining the halves on the centreline, should make the flat workshop floor a convenient flat building bed, on which to  lay the bulkheads and frames-- with the CL horizontal and the waterline vertical.

I think this is one of those ideas that would need to be modeled. The normal thought (from planking days) has been to put panels on both sides at the same time (or one on one side then one on the other) rather than doing one whole side and then working on the other. The reason given is to keep the stresses balanced on both sides and the craft straight. Doing the build in halves, I would see the hull panels trying to fan the halve bulkheads out as the hull panels try to remain remain flat. Now from origami or stitch&glue building, it can be seen that joining panels already gives shape. I think that where the centre line is put on the floor there would have to be a strong back affixed to the bulkheads to keep it straight until ready to be joined with the other half. I had first thought of anchoring the half to the floor but doing so would take away the ability to turn things over for inside work. The centre hull panel would have to go on last as part of the joining process and would need to have access from the inside for glassing. I think some doubling of structural components may be needed too. Yes, there would have to be a centre hull panel I think even if it was only 200mm wide. If one really wanted a pointy front end, I think a wedge would be mounted over that.

If it was a usable system, I don't think 2 metres would be a limit. Though it needs to be remembered that the half would still be 2 metres in one dimension.