Grommets/Eylets

I have to note the plastic eyelets are a failure at one point; where the downhaul tensions the luff of the sail, two eyelets up from the tack.

I'm going to put a brass coated metal eyelet back in here. I wasn't happy with the last lot I purchased as they were labeled 'brass' but after seeing rust forming on them, they were obviously only brass coated. All brands seem to be like that.

I don't have much choice but to use a metal eyelet as there is so much downward tension at that part of the sail the press-together plastic version just pulls apart. I could try gluing the plastic one together in some way but nothing really sticks to plastic all that well.

I've had two experiences of being stuck in the middle of the lake with a sail failure (well, one was due to a snapped mast) and I don't want to have another one. Mind you, I'm getting good at recovering from sea-borne tragedies.

Anyway, a brass coated one is going in. I'm going to press it together as gently as I can in the hope of not damaging the brass coating too much. I think I'll give it a coat of Kill-Rust or something as well, just to be on the safe side.

UPDATE: Whitworths Marine Hardware have a stainless steel version, so I'll get a packet of those.

Two Good Lessons and Sail to Failure

Bit of a pattern emerging here. I seem to be sailing Rosa J till for some reason, she won't sail no more.

Had a friend who could sail take me out after I repaired the mast and put the patches on the sail and he gave me two great hints.

1. Always turn into the wind... it makes the turns a lot less dramatic and the boom swings across in a nice, sedate manner.
2. If things start to go wrong, drop the sheet. The boat slows down, there's no need to hike and you get as much time as you need to gather your thoughts.

He also got me to tie a figure-8 knot in the end of the sheet to stop it slipping out the back of the block and after sailing Rosa J by himself told me I had 'a real little boat there' and not to muck about getting over to the other side on the turns.

Anyhoooo, after sailing for about 50 minutes we were running down the length of the lake, really flying along when 'BANG, flap, flap, flap'; the only possible point of failure in the sail that I didn't patch let go. The tie between the sheet and the boom (aka, the clew).

We managed to get to the side, make a bit of a running repair, then headed back home. Not as dramatic as a snapped mast but still pretty messy. Guess that's the final sign to make my poly tarp a spare sail and spend the money on making a good primary sail. Time to get out the sewing machine again.

She Lives!

Mast is finished and looks wonderful. Now if it would only stop raining I could take her for a sail.

My regrets at buying the cheapest version of polytarp for the sail is continuing to build. I was determined to stay with the philosophy of 'thriftyness' for the PDR but I should have bought the $60 polytarp rather than the $20. The stresses on the eyelettes used at the top of the sail and on the downhaul are showing already, with the poly tearing after only one and a half outings (half an outing due to broken mast). The tears were happening with the plastic eyelettes and the metal ones, so I don't think eyelette material has had anything to do with it. I've gone fully plastic now.

To compensate I've put in a couple of tough canvas patches on those two parts of the sail. Hopefully it will solve that problem.

If you're wondering what the white bits are along the stitching, I used masking tape instead of pins to keep the seams in place for sewing. I figured after the first time in the water they'd get wet and fall off. Surprisingly, they are proving a little more tenacious. Probably outlast the polytarp.

New Mast and Sail Grommets

I've nearly finished my new mast, this time using Australian Hoop Pine. This is from various sources, though mostly Boatcraft Pacific:

An Australian native pine. Native to the drier parts of rainforests of Queensland and Northern NSW in places that have rocky soil with lower fertility. Most of the timber that is used commercially now comes from plantations. The trees grow to 60 metres tall and can live for 450 years. The trees grow slowly and usually very straight. The first major use for the plantations was to provide replacement masts for the sailing ships, indeed a small portion of a plantation established for that purpose survives in the Brisbane suburb of Sherwood. From an ethical, sustainable point of view, Hoop Pine is streets ahead of most of its plantation-grown exotic softwood counterparts. The best is #1 Clear Grade Dressed All Round Hoop Pine (I used this). This is the finest, most defect free grade available. This specification states that knots, tight or otherwise are not permitted, sloping grain is not to exceed 1 in 5, no pith can be present, no resin pockets, or bark pockets, and it is not to have any checks. According to Bootle, "WOOD IN AUSTRALIA, Types, properties and uses", Keith R Bootle, First Published 1983, McGraw Hill; It has an Air Dry Density of about 530 kg per cubic metre and its mechanical properties are very similar to Douglas Fir (Oregon, Pseudotuga menziesii). It is very suitable for boatbuilding, is easy to work and it does glue well. It is suceptable to rot, so normal precautions need to be taken. Its only limitation is that it is not suitable for steam bending.

You can see in the picture where, as I haven't got enough clamps, I've used the clamp and tape method. Put on your clamps, tape everything up, move the clamps along, tape again, and so on...

I'm also up for some sail repairs. The top of the sail seems to have been under some pressure and I think I'll add a canvas reinforcing patch just to keep it all together. I also found some plastic grommets. There was only one packet of them left at Bunnings so I bought it and the recommended brass ones. I put the plastic ones towards the bottom of the sail and the brass ones at the top (you need more than 10 for a sail).

I bought one of those punch-and-die kits for putting in the 'brass' eyelets/grommets and found that even though they had less contact with the water being at the top, they still rusted. Obviously just a thin brass coating that the salt water can get through pretty easy. The plastic ones are less than $2.00 a pack of 10, you don't need special tools to put in place and they have already outlasted the brass ones.

Anyway, just matter of varnishing the mast, patching the sail and I'm back in the water.

Position of Off-Centreboard

The clearing of the centre of the boat by moving the centreboard into the port airbox is great, though I have noticed something else.

If you want to sit on the port side deck and be in a position that doesn't get the transom dragging in the water or get the bow digging in when turning, then the centreboard is probably in about the spot you want to sit.

As with everything else in life, it's a compromise. Now I have a clear deck well but have lost the optimum spot for sitting.

Snapping Mast

Ohhh, the horror,
I've taken Rosa-J out a couple of times now but each time there were two people in the boat, both grown adults.
Today, for the first time, I went out by myself. The breeze was 'stiff'', no idea of the actual speed. Wow, Rosa-j was fast and very responsive... almost 'twitchy' in how quickly she responded to rudder movements. Actually, it was a bit scary. The first turn I did the sheet pulled hard, she tipped hard sideways and I was nearly in the water. So different to having the weight to two adults in the boat.
Well, I thought I was getting the hang of it when I tried another turn. The sheet went very tight, she started to tip and suddenly SNAP!!!! Suddenly I had two bits of mast instead of one. I was in the middle of the lake, hoping the wind would push me to shore otherwise I was going to have a long swim.
So, finger jointed pine is NOT the material to make your mast out of.
Back to the drawing board and time to contemplate what makes a good mast and what doesn't.

Rosa-J Sails Into the Sunset

We had our launch this afternoon and all went very well. There was a very light breeze and as it was late in the afternoon, we almost ran out of breeze completely on the way back. We also ran out of light, which was an issue as we had no running lights! Didn't expect that to happen but when the breeze went, it went completely.

It was the Sargasso Sea, the Doldrums, the surface was glassy smooth... and it was dark. Still, we made it back in one piece and I'd have preferred not enough wind to too much, particularly for our first time out.

Gave the oars a bit of a turn but they were very unsuccessful, with all the sailing stuff on the boat; rudder, rudder box, off-centreboard, mast and sail. You either have the boat set for rowing, or sailing. You really can't do both. So the idea the oars were going to get me out of trouble didn't work. Too much movement through the water to effectively row, even with the little bit of breeze there was.

L did a fantastic little speech and we named the boat with a proper little ceremony. Champagne, toasts, the full bit. This is a transcript of how it went:

'We now call on the 1st Mate to Christen the new vessel... oh hang on a bit, that's me.'
'I name this vessel Rosa-J, may God bless her and all who sail with her, may God keep all who sail her safe. Amen'.
'A toast to the Skipper'... I was choking up by this time, the emotion welling inside me.
'Cheers!!!'.
'A toast to the first mate'... M was choking up now, it was such a beautiful moment.
'Cheers!!!'
'A toast to Rosa-J' ... the boat just sat there. I think she just wanted to get wet.
'Cheers!!!'

'We now request the skipper to install a coin at the mast step of Rosa-J as a good luck charm and as a symbol of generosity to his vessel, to show her that they shall care for her and attend to her need'. L actually handed me a $2 coin and I put it on the mast step. I'll glue it in properly tomorrow.

I then gave a toast to everyone present (all three of us, and a passing walker and his little baby daughter).
'Cheers!!!'.

'Fairwinds to all!'.
'Cheers!!!'.

'May she and all that sail with her be blessed with fair-weather.'

We then poured the little champagne we had left over the bow and placed a branch of green leaves on the deck to ensure safe returns.

After all that, we hit the water and sailed off into the sunset... literally. We were sitting a bit too far back, so the transom was dragging a bit but she clipped through the water pretty well. All in all, a very pleasant first run.