Showing posts with label Technical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technical. Show all posts
The soft shackle
Love'em or hate'em the soft shackle is here to stay, but what exactly is a soft shackle. Isn't the whole point of a shackle that it's well 'ard like Cockney Mallard after 8 pints of Special Brew? Well, yes and no. What we want is not so much a hard shackle as a strong shackle, the well known expression, a strong shackle is a good shackle didn't come from nowhere! But we digress, in essence a soft shackle is a shackle made of rope. Rob P spotted an article in Yachting Monthly and decided that we needed to make one and so we did. Combining brains, brawn and style captain and crew of the good ship worked tirelessly to make not one but three soft shackle. Two have already been deployed at either end of the kick strap where metal on metal wear has proved to be an historic problem .. we are fairly sure at this rate there won't be a metal shackle left on the GSB.
Check out this Link
Check out this Link
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| Rob and Tom proudly showing the newly made shackle |
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| The tools of the trade |
Yacht Self Steering Gear (Monitor)
After two or three weeks at the helm it's always nice to pop down below, stick the kettle on, have a bite to eat and a quick wee. But if you still haven't made it to your destination this raises a big question .. who will steer?
Many singlehanded long distance yachtsmen have put their great minds to resolving this conundrum and have landed on some great solutions; the most popular is the servo-pendulum self steering gear.
It's super-great but how does it work? Let me see if I can explain with some words, a picture and a video of the good ship B's self steering in action:
The Words
The Video
The only downside of this gear is that it does need the boat to be moving and you do need wind otherwise the vane won't tip over. So, if the faithful donkey is being used (and you don't have the bladder of an Ox) then you might also consider a mechanical tiller pilot for calm days.
It's super-great but how does it work? Let me see if I can explain with some words, a picture and a video of the good ship B's self steering in action:
The Words
The servo rudder hangs off the back of the boat in the water and is able to rotate in a vertical plane (1) but can also swing sideways like a clock pendulum (2).
When the boat drifts of course this rudder rotates on its vertical axis (1). Water flow will then force the rudder to swing (like a pendulum) to one side or the other (2).
Ropes are connected from to the servo pendulum rudder to the wheel or tiller and so as soon as the boat goes a little off course the tiller moves to adjust (3).
The vertical rotation of the servo rudder is determined by a windvane (4). Clever gearing transfers the side to side movement of the windvane to spin the servo rudder on it vertical axis (5)
The windvane is set up so that when the boat is on course it is upright and therefore the servo rudder is in a neutral position. When the boat drifts off course the wind vane leans to one-side, this rotates the servo rudder on its vertical axis, water flow pushes it to one side, the yacht direction changes, the wind vane returns to a neutral position, the servo rudder returns to a neutral position and the ships helm returns to a neutral position. Easy.
The Picture
When the boat drifts of course this rudder rotates on its vertical axis (1). Water flow will then force the rudder to swing (like a pendulum) to one side or the other (2).
Ropes are connected from to the servo pendulum rudder to the wheel or tiller and so as soon as the boat goes a little off course the tiller moves to adjust (3).
The vertical rotation of the servo rudder is determined by a windvane (4). Clever gearing transfers the side to side movement of the windvane to spin the servo rudder on it vertical axis (5)
The windvane is set up so that when the boat is on course it is upright and therefore the servo rudder is in a neutral position. When the boat drifts off course the wind vane leans to one-side, this rotates the servo rudder on its vertical axis, water flow pushes it to one side, the yacht direction changes, the wind vane returns to a neutral position, the servo rudder returns to a neutral position and the ships helm returns to a neutral position. Easy.
The Picture
The Video
The only downside of this gear is that it does need the boat to be moving and you do need wind otherwise the vane won't tip over. So, if the faithful donkey is being used (and you don't have the bladder of an Ox) then you might also consider a mechanical tiller pilot for calm days.
I suppose the other point to mention is that this gear does not steer a specified course, it steers in a direction relative to the apparent wind. So if the apparent wind direction changes then the course changes. If you don't notice this then your journey will be slightly extended. Hey ho, we're not in a rush.
There are lots of different self steering manufacturers. Most people are passionate advocates about their own! So on that basis it's probably no surprise that I believe the best is the Monitor. This sailed us pretty much the whole way across the Atlantic .. twice, up into the Arctic and is great even on all day sails along the coast.
Monitor are made by Scanmar which is an American company based out of Richmond, California. These guys deliver just the best customer service. Each Monitor is handmade for each boat and whilst they have developed standard designs for different types of boat it really feels like you're having your own bespoke bit of kit made for you ... it's like having a handmade suit ... well I imagine that's what its like because I've never actually had a handmade suit ... but I have had a handmade self steering gear ... and I'd rather have a handmade self steering gear than a handmade suit .. so that's alright .. anyway we digress .. the point is they look after you. When you're Monitor arrives it even comes with an electronic egg timer to remind you to keep a look out every hour or so; this is also handy for cooking.
Most yachtsman name their self steering systems, so in our case she's called Minnie (there is a rather good song called Minnie the Mermaid that I can commend which is where our Minnies name has come from - click here to enjoy Minnie the Mermaid). Inevitably most Aries Self Steering systems are rather crudely named Pubes ... yes, I'm afraid so!
There are lots of different self steering manufacturers. Most people are passionate advocates about their own! So on that basis it's probably no surprise that I believe the best is the Monitor. This sailed us pretty much the whole way across the Atlantic .. twice, up into the Arctic and is great even on all day sails along the coast.
Monitor are made by Scanmar which is an American company based out of Richmond, California. These guys deliver just the best customer service. Each Monitor is handmade for each boat and whilst they have developed standard designs for different types of boat it really feels like you're having your own bespoke bit of kit made for you ... it's like having a handmade suit ... well I imagine that's what its like because I've never actually had a handmade suit ... but I have had a handmade self steering gear ... and I'd rather have a handmade self steering gear than a handmade suit .. so that's alright .. anyway we digress .. the point is they look after you. When you're Monitor arrives it even comes with an electronic egg timer to remind you to keep a look out every hour or so; this is also handy for cooking.
Most yachtsman name their self steering systems, so in our case she's called Minnie (there is a rather good song called Minnie the Mermaid that I can commend which is where our Minnies name has come from - click here to enjoy Minnie the Mermaid). Inevitably most Aries Self Steering systems are rather crudely named Pubes ... yes, I'm afraid so!
No more paper charts ... time to move to electronics
There is something incredibly satisfying about a paper chart. Pawing over them on the long winter evenings as we plan our next summer holidays and dream of the warm winds and sunshine that are absolutely guaranteed. Half erased pencil marks, tea stains, blobs of sea spray and the odd spec of vomit all describe adventures from previous years that are all the better remembered from the comfort of a nice warm living room.
So, we love paper charts but my goodness they're expensive. So last year we went chartless, well almost chartless .. we couldn't quite go all the way .. it's quite frightening .. but this year we plan to finish the journey.
Here's where we have got to on the good ship B. Down below at the no-longer-a-chart-table table we have a Standard Horizon Chart Plotter and then as a second system I use my Ipad Mini mounted in a waterproof, drop-proof Lifeproof Cover . I have set up two brackets, one to house the Ipad out in the cockpit when we're sailing and the other at the back of the not-a-chart-table table. The Ipad sits in both in its waterproof cover so no need to fiddle around taking it out. In fact mine lives in the cover all the time whether on the boat or at home.
Just below is a little video of the good ship approaching Kristiansund. Half way through the clip you can see the set up with the Ipad. WARNING: there is a rude word at the beginning!
Does my iPad have a proper GPS?
One of the big questions I had when I started to move to iPad was around the GPS in Ipads. It's all a bit confusing but I get it now.
Every iPad has both WiFi and Bluetooth. Cellular Ipads (ie those that can take a Sim Card) also have a built-in GPS receiver; Apple calls it “assisted GPS”. So, at this point we all start panicking because assisted GPS doesn't sound very good .. we want ... no we need, full blown, all singing and dancing GPS and definitely not a GPS that needs help! But the words are misleading so don't worry!
When Apple say 'assisted GPS they don't mean the GPS requires assistance it means it is a
stand-alone GPS that is itself further assisted to enhance its speed. The GPS receiver in the iPad uses nearby mobile telephone masts to provide a faster position lock. So, instead of starting up cold and searching for satellites, the iPad can get a GPS fix much quicker because it knows roughly where it is .. hence assisted. From a boat perspective this is not massively relevant but you can understand why it would matter if you were mooching round London trying to get quick directions to the nearest Costalotta.
So, you don't need a cellular connection for the GPS to work or indeed a SIM card. I sailed from Norway to Shetland Islands and had a fix the whole way .. there were no radio masts in sight. So “assisted GPS” is just the ticket.
When Apple say 'assisted GPS they don't mean the GPS requires assistance it means it is a
stand-alone GPS that is itself further assisted to enhance its speed. The GPS receiver in the iPad uses nearby mobile telephone masts to provide a faster position lock. So, instead of starting up cold and searching for satellites, the iPad can get a GPS fix much quicker because it knows roughly where it is .. hence assisted. From a boat perspective this is not massively relevant but you can understand why it would matter if you were mooching round London trying to get quick directions to the nearest Costalotta.
So, you don't need a cellular connection for the GPS to work or indeed a SIM card. I sailed from Norway to Shetland Islands and had a fix the whole way .. there were no radio masts in sight. So “assisted GPS” is just the ticket.
Which App and electronic Charts?
So, you then need an App and some charts. Yachting Monthly have done a really good review on Navigation Apps. There's plenty to choose from. I use Navionics which is their recommendation but I'm sure some of the others are great as well.
In terms of charts, you purchase a region such as 'UK and Holland'. You then download areas as you require; it's quick, easy and intuitive. The purchase price includes free updates for a year. You can then either keep the charts, but they won't be updated, or alternatively pay at half price and continue to get, real time' upgrades. Prices vary but the whole of the UK and Holland is a tad over £40 compared to thousands for charts! A bargain.
Waterproof and ruggedness
Obviously having your Ipad outside in the wet is not ideal so I use a Lifeproof Nuud protective case and a screen cover. Which means the iPad is waterproof to 2m and drop proof from 4ft. The mounting bracket I use holds the iPad in its case so no need to fiddle around taking it in and out, it just slots in to the bracket. So my iPad lives in its waterproof case all the time on the boat and at home. I have a spare bracket below for it so when it's not in use it has a home out if the way at the back of the not-a-chart-table.
Total Cost
The whole thing does get quite pricey if you have to buy an iPad specially. But if you use an iPad anyway it's great value because most of the stuff you buy you would buy anyway .. Even the charts.
Who this arrangement might suit?
If you have a small boat, you're an iPad owner and you do a fair bit if sailing then I think it's perfect. But there are variations on a theme to suit android and iPhone owners.
The advantage is you have your weather, navigation, tidal, information all available in the cockpit as well as next to you at home when you have that sudden urge to passage plan.
If you have a small boat, you're an iPad owner and you do a fair bit if sailing then I think it's perfect. But there are variations on a theme to suit android and iPhone owners.
The advantage is you have your weather, navigation, tidal, information all available in the cockpit as well as next to you at home when you have that sudden urge to passage plan.
Power consumption
On the basis that an iPad should be good for well over 10 hours with no charge and in any case you could always top up charge down below for a bit I don't think this is a big issue. If you need to charge out on deck you can do but you have to open the waterproof port.
On the basis that an iPad should be good for well over 10 hours with no charge and in any case you could always top up charge down below for a bit I don't think this is a big issue. If you need to charge out on deck you can do but you have to open the waterproof port.
Arthur Beale - the best shop in London
Nestling in the heart of Shaftesbury Avenue and smack bang in the middle of London is our favourite shop in the world, Arthur Beale, Yacht Chandlers.
Time Out described Beale as "the best chandler in the whole of the UK let alone London" and the Financial Times as " .. one of the most fashionable destinations in town".
Now, fashion does sit high on our priority list but to be honest we go there because they have a great range of quality gear, the staff know what they're talking about and they really do care about what they sell you. Whatever you want in the boating world they will either have it or get it. Even more important they will most probably have used it and tested it.
So, a great place to visit but there is a down-side. Whilst the team at Beale do worry about the products they sell you they they don't worry whether you can afford them, so you must be light on your feet. Avoid staring at any single item for more than a few seconds, keep moving all the time and never ask 'what does that do? because by the time you find out what 'it' does you will also realise that you desperately need 'it'. When I pay a visit, which is more often than I can afford, I realise that I don't want many of the things on sale .. I NEED them.
If you do get the opportunity to visit, ask for Alasdair who sails Sumara of Weymouth a beautiful wooden Vertue who is Brimbles best friend. Alasdair is an adventurer, an expert yachtsmen and a font of knowledge on sailing and classic boats. He has also been known to give a discount.
Here's a link to a short video that Alasdair made of an Arctic expedition to sail to and then climb the most northern volcano in the world on an island called Jan Mayen. When you've watched it you will know why he knows what he's talking about.
One of Alasdairs Expeditions
With the long nights upon us, the boat show over and summer still feeling a long way away it's lovely to see the heart of yachting beating away in central London at Arthur Beale.
So, a great place to visit but there is a down-side. Whilst the team at Beale do worry about the products they sell you they they don't worry whether you can afford them, so you must be light on your feet. Avoid staring at any single item for more than a few seconds, keep moving all the time and never ask 'what does that do? because by the time you find out what 'it' does you will also realise that you desperately need 'it'. When I pay a visit, which is more often than I can afford, I realise that I don't want many of the things on sale .. I NEED them.
If you do get the opportunity to visit, ask for Alasdair who sails Sumara of Weymouth a beautiful wooden Vertue who is Brimbles best friend. Alasdair is an adventurer, an expert yachtsmen and a font of knowledge on sailing and classic boats. He has also been known to give a discount.
Here's a link to a short video that Alasdair made of an Arctic expedition to sail to and then climb the most northern volcano in the world on an island called Jan Mayen. When you've watched it you will know why he knows what he's talking about.
One of Alasdairs Expeditions
With the long nights upon us, the boat show over and summer still feeling a long way away it's lovely to see the heart of yachting beating away in central London at Arthur Beale.
Dr Jeckell and Mr Hyde Sails - A Mainsail Horror Story
This is an update of an article I wrote three years ago. I'm still waiting for Chris Jeckell to call
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| Dr Jeckell and Mr Hyde before they became sailmakers - the man on the right sold me the sail ... and the man on the left made the sail and then dealt with customer service |
So, the story of Dr Jeckell and Mr Hyde ..
When you've convinced the budget holder that a new sail is essential for health and safety reasons because its the engine of the boat .. and you have responded to the obvious challenge that isn't the engine the engine of the boat .. and you have explained that this is true, but the sail is also like an engine on a boat .. in fact more important than the engine .. and no that doesn't mean you don't have to spend money on the engine as well and look after it .. but, it does mean the only reason you want a new sail is to protect the family from harm by giving them two good engines .. and it's not for you its for them. Once you have presented and won this compelling argument you are ready to buy a sail. But working out the best sail maker is difficult because of the dynamics of material, useage, fabric, affordability and so on. So, I waited for the Excel Boatshow when I could talk to them all in one go.
In the end we were impressed by Jeckells who said that for the quoted price they would also visit the boat and measure up to make sure it was just perfect - this was a real sell for us because we have bought sails in the past which didn't fit and we didn't want a repeat. Their price was about the same as Kemps for a similar sail cloth. So, Jeckells it was.
Brimble was inside at the time with mast and boom on the deck. The Jeckells Rep, Mr Hyde (not really) visited the boat, measured up and the sail was made. How excited we were.
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| Eyelets not aligned with reefing eyes on leech |
On our first weekend of the season, a Friday night, on a swinging mooring in Chichester Harbour we excitedly went to fit the sail. We were soon puzzled because there were no holes on the foot of the sail for the reefing pennants. Of course you wonder whether you're being a bit stupid and missing some obvious new sailing technique - we couldn't think of anything so we put the old sail back on and waited to Monday so I could find out what I was missing.
Monday came and I phoned Jeckells who said they had forgotten to put them in .. it happens. Unfortunately there was not much they could do for a week or so because they were all in Norfolk; they helpfully suggested that I could loose fit the foot for the moment until they had someone in the area! I suggested a courier but they said they couldn't. I asked to speak to Chris Jeckells but he was busy in back to back meetings but his team assured me he would call.
In the end it was couriered and the sail was modified and the reefing holes inserted, but look how they did it. The canvas around one of the eyelets was glued! But there's more; they put them in the wrong place. I phoned Jeckells the following week and emailed a photograph. No comments were made on the quality but they might have been slightly out with the location of the eyelets. They said .. send the sail back and we will have another go. I asked to speak to Chris Jeckells but he was busy in back to back meetings but his team assured me he would call.
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| Jeckells Mainsail showing new wrongly placed reefing eyelets - note the stick on strengthening |
The problem I have with articles like this apart from the obvious negativity is that I always assume that they're written by some demented, moaning idiot who probably deserved what he got through unclear instructions or trying to get a cheap deal. I cant be sure I'm not one of those but have a look at the photos and judge for yourself.
The Amazing Cobb BBQ
This is an amazing bit of kit. You don't need loads of charcoal; there is no heat from around it because its insulated; it's portable and stows away in a small bag and fires up really quickly. Couldn't be better. On the good ship Brimble we have bbq's all the time .. even on board in the cockpit. In the photo below .. you could pick the whole bbq up at the base whilst its lit without gloves - I'm not suggesting you should , but you could!
The elements that make up Cobb
- Dome: made with stainless steel and it has a heat-resistant handle. The holes in the Dome ensure even ventilation throughout the cooking process creating an oven effect.
- Grill Grid: with an easy to clean Teflon® non-stick coating. Excess fat drains away through the holes and into the moat.
- Fire Basket: A secured area for the Cobble Stone or loose briquettes.
- Stainless steel moat: catches all excess fat. The moat can also be used for cooking vegetables.
- Base: with anti-slip rubber feet, the base remains stable and cool to touch during use.
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| The Cobb used to cook for 8 on the pontoon in Henningsvaer |
Giant Hypalon Fender
Giant Inflatable Hypalon Fender (uber-fender)
This fender is one of the best buys I have ever made - we call it the 'uber-fender'. Not because its German but because it 's enormous.
When you're rafted alongside a big, fat, ugly boat, with shroud crushing top sides; a wet, slimy, seaweed strewn harbour wall; a rock hard Norwegian rock face or just a choppy marina berth (Cowes) with masts rocking dangerously close to each other you need an uber fender.
Your expression will change from concerned frown to knowing smile as you dive into your small boat cockpit and inflate the biggest fender in town which is also an instant comfort blanket. It is absolutely brilliant. Yes, they cost a lot of money (about the same as your dinghy) but gosh they are worth every penny. Check out Hypalon Fenders.
I use mine four or five times a year and every time I pump it up I have a big smile on my face. The photos above are of the good ship tied up to a sheer rock face in Norway. Normal fenders may have coped but 'uber' provided that extra bit of comfort.
This fender is one of the best buys I have ever made - we call it the 'uber-fender'. Not because its German but because it 's enormous.
When you're rafted alongside a big, fat, ugly boat, with shroud crushing top sides; a wet, slimy, seaweed strewn harbour wall; a rock hard Norwegian rock face or just a choppy marina berth (Cowes) with masts rocking dangerously close to each other you need an uber fender.
Your expression will change from concerned frown to knowing smile as you dive into your small boat cockpit and inflate the biggest fender in town which is also an instant comfort blanket. It is absolutely brilliant. Yes, they cost a lot of money (about the same as your dinghy) but gosh they are worth every penny. Check out Hypalon Fenders.
Gimballed Anti-spill Pan (GASP)
The GASP
Coffee and tea spillage on any yacht is an occupational hazard. Most of us gave up trying to make a cup of anything without major spillage a long time ago. When we arrive in port after even a few days at sea it looks like captain and crew have dedicated a large part of the passage to throwing tea and coffee across the galley and cockpit. The journey of these products can be easily tracked by the crazy dribble marks left by various hot drinks as they explore different crevices of the boat.
But STOP, those days are OVER with the inspirational GASP or Gimballed anti-spill pan. As with any inspired ideas it's simple but brilliant. The GASP is a carefully chosen, retired, Victorian sponge baking tin. It fits four mugs inside and sits snugly between the gimballed cooker clamps and is therefore, by definition, itself gimballed. The combination of the high sided pan and the gimballing effect of the cooker gives you low budget functionality. In the event you have an oven you have the additional benefit of being able to bake a cake at sea to go with your afternoon tea. No boat should be without a GASP.
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| The GASP |
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