All the associated lines, fittings and hardware, have been the most complex and detailed part of this build, to date.
(Everything else was just basically, carpentry or electronics.)
Started on the main sheet tackle, utilizing some hardware that came with the mast and boom.
Tufnol blocks seem to be highly prized by SCAMP cognoscenti, so I've been accumulating them over the past two years, at various Marine Flea Markets and Marine salvage stores.
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Got that end done! :D
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Hey, Spot!! ;)
How do you like this "simple" SCAMP sail rigging, so far?!? ???
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That's only 2 feet, off of a nearly 12-foot boom! :P
Next up, is lazy jack fender hooks.
I wasn't wild about the idea >:( that once you rig the lazy jack lines, that's basically how they are, forever. (A continuous loop, held captive by pad eyes on the boom.) So I came up with this.
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There's also a third one near the end of the boom, so that I can switch the lazy jack line from the one location, to one further back to lift the boom up a little, for things like tents or fishing.
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I'm going with single-line reefing, so that means I have lines running clear down the length of the boom on one side, to almost the entire length of the boom, on the other side.
I will need a lot of fair leads, to keep all those reefing lines from hanging me, every time I gybe!! :o
Or at the very least, knocking off hats and eye-glasses, by the score! :P
Some of the SCAMP pics I see on-line, are down right SCARY!! :o
To that end, I used a vise to modify some pad eyes from their normal shape at left, to the distorted one, at right.
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This is why they look like that:
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I also used this scrap of boom, to make sure I had the pad eye oriented correctly, on the boom, before screwing it down! 8)
All holes on the boom are drilled and tapped, and fastened with ¾-inch 10-24 truss-head Philips machine screws.
Why so long?!? ??? Two reasons:
1) I happened to have a box of them, lying around.
2) If they ever loosen up on me, I'll have plenty of warning that they are coming un-done.
Hopefully, this will work at 20+ inch intervals; if not, I can always add more fair leads. I just need to find a good balance between line sag and line friction, on the reefing lines.
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Lashed on the forward main sheet block, the one that's located near the veranda.
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And since I had TWO WHOLE FEET!!! :P Of blank boom left, that's where I elected to install the reefing jam cleats.
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Also note at the top of the pic, where I added bungee cords and nylon hooks, for securing and stowing the sail.
All the reefing lines and all the reefing cleats, finally installed. Lengths to be adjusted, after I get more familiarity with how they're handled.
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What does that cleat at far right, do?
It's used to cleat off the "bleater"; a device originally developed for Goat Island Sharpies, that holds the boom close against the mast for starboard tacks.
It's also used for race tuning, moving the boom forward and aft a little, on down wind and up wind legs.
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Me, I'd be satisfied, if it just holds the boom against the mast. :-X
Man!! :o That is one BUSY boom!! 8)
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And that was BEFORE I rigged the main sheet!! :P
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About the only major rigging left now, is the lazy jacks.
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Figured it would be easier to reach the top and the bottom at the same time, if the rig was horizontal
Used a bungee cord to simulate halyard tension.
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Moved the sail rig over to the boat and: My Goodness!! :o What a MESS!! :P
18th Century British Naval Officers, derided poorly coiled, or stowed lines, or lines with their ends hanging loose, with the semi-derogatory term: "An Irish Pennant"
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If ever a boat lived up to her name . . . . . . ::)
But eventually, we wrestled Order from Chaos and got the lines secured and the sail neatly furled and lashed, with the built-in bungee cords plus one Velcro strap, for the (rather bulky!) main sheet.
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Almost looks . . . . . . organized. ::)
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While I had the boat completely empty, it seemed like a good time to go splash it somewhere, for a Leak Test.
Closest place I could think of, is Watermelon Pond, a few minutes from the house.
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Forgot about Alachua County's on-going drought!! ???
DOHHHH!!! :P
Was originally figuring on tying off to that big bush on the left like I usually do, with my kayak and Short Ribs.
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No launching TODAY, guys!! >:(
Mulling over whether to go to Newnan's Lake, or Cedar Key, tomorrow.
Checked with a Bass fisherman I know and discovered Newnan's Lake was almost as bad, so Cedar Key, it is.
Last night, I made my first-ever double-braid eye-splice!! ;D
Somehow, got the core on the outside and the cover on the inside; still haven't quite worked out how I managed that one, ??? but it feels pretty strong! :P
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Boat launched entirely without issues, since there really wasn't anybody, watching. ::)
Sitting awfully high on the waterline, but the boat is empty. so I fully expected that.
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Did NOT expect to see it listing to starboard!! :'(
Majorly Freaking out!! :o Did I build it wrong?!? ??? Too much epoxy on the one side?!? ??? What?!? ???
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Calmed down a little, when I realized the 40 pound centerboard was on the starboard side and nothing was on the port side. :)
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Watched the ballast tank partially fill, when I removed the plug.
Before I did this, I checked that both the centerboard pivot pipe caps were bone-dry and there were no leaks anywhere, in any of the lockers.
Everybody loves a dry boat! ;D
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Finished filling it up with a small sump pump from Harbor Fright, so I could make sure the ballast tank wasn't leaking into adjacent compartments.
Especially, the compartments holding the batteries!! :o
Also gave me a chance to test it for stability. It felt just like stepping aboard Urchin; a most stable little boat. 8)
Received the Official Cedar Key, Pelican Blessing! :-[
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Did find some issues; the center board cover was made a little too thick and prevents the board from lowering properly, when it pivots. :(
(Couldn't lower it at all on the dolly, when it was in the carport, so I didn't know that could happen.) ???
And the centerboard itself, binds on the way down and won't lower properly. :P
Looks like the centerboard bushings weren't quite as close to 90º as I had supposed, back when I was building it.
Still, I'd rather find this out now, rather than when I'm trying to sail it.
Two years ago, that kind of fabrication problem would have completely freaked me out; today, it's just another ho-hum item, on the Punch List. ::)
Best of all: Now that I know I got a dry boat, I can start loading up all the stuff that's been all over my computer room!! ;D
Charles Brennan
Wow! I feel like some kind of congratulations is in order: so CONGRATS on getting the boat wet. Had to feel good seeing her in the water.
And that is about the busiest mast I have ever seen.
A definite congratulations! Had to be very exciting to see her afloat!
Jim, It was indeed; but even MORE exciting, was to see:
THAT IT DIDN'T LEAK, :o ANYWHERE!!! ;D
Thanks,
Charles Brennan
Yay! FLOATING!!!!
That's a VERY cute boat!
Congrats!
Why you have missed the joy of being a leak detective. You have forgone the thrill of the hunt for a sneaky leak, or as in my case eventual great satisfaction of finding several diabolically hidden leaks. You can imagine my delight as I hauled the Scamp out at the ramp after a day of sailing on a choppy windy lake when a fire hose of water came pouring out a hole at the bow. The only thing I noticed with the handling was that the boat heeled more on starboard tack and didn't heel much on port tack. It was reassuring to realize the boat could be holed and keep on keeping on.
I'm willing to bet the sailing bug is gnawing on you big time to get her out on the water. It won't be near as long as it has been. It's looking Great!
Just showed my wife the pics of your boat in the water. She was astounded and loved the color scheme!
Dale, Over the weekend when the boat was at the dock, women walking past it toward fishing charters would always make a favorable comment about the boat's colors. The men would only ask if I had built it, myself.
My original paint scheme was far more monochromatic: Sea Foam for the sides, Hatteras Cream for the cockpit and cabin sides, and Grand Banks Beige cabin roof and hull bottom. Plus copper paint for the port rings.
That was it.
My wife suggested Sea Foam for the port rings, and my daughter suggested Sea Foam for the eye brows and hand rails.
Over 50 years, I've learned to heed their opinions.
I earnestly believe, that women can see colors all through the visible light spectrum and all the way down into the Police Band. :P For example, my wife thinks beige, ecru and taupe are three different colors, no matter how many times I tell her, they are all just light brown. :P
No one can convince me, differently. ;D
Here was my original concept:
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And here's what the women in my family, convinced me to do:
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No major difference, to my eye, but it seems to have hit some kind of Female optical nerve, for your wife, Noemi and completely random women passing by it, to all comment on the colors.
Same ones, I originally picked, just distributed differently.
Just one more thing about women, I observe, but don't understand! :P
Charles Brennan