VG23 New Build

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mhd
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Re: VG23 New Build

Post by mhd »

OlivierP wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 2:50 pm Just a question looking at the pictures, isn't the opening to the front cabin a little narrow ?
Your observation is correct! Bulkhead C in the plans is opened out a lot more with a much wider opening to the forecabin. I've two reasons for leaving it smaller (at least for now):

(a) I can't decide how wide to make it until the forecabin is actually completed. If it is really inconvenient to get in/out of, I'll make it wider.

(b) We won't use that cabin to sleep in - it might fit one adult, or two children. But would be a mighty tight squeeze for two average-sized adults. So I will leave the opening narrow initially. It will provide added stiffness and strength to the mast-step and deck above, in lieu of a compression post. Plus, if we ever need any spare wood in emergencies we can always cut it out of that piece :-) I did also have it in the back of my mind to be able to seal off that cabin in case there was a major leak in the front portion of the boat, but I think that if such a thing happened, it would be a pretty muich unrecoverable situation.

Anyway, a month to think over lots of boat stuff, when I'm not building.

First though, a flight to a little closer to your boat in a couple of days. Arrive in Paris on Wednesday - a week there, then a week in the south, with some other European cities afterwards. Really looking forward to it all. I was 11 years old last time in Paris...and a lot of time has passed since then!

Cheers,

Mick
FB11 (Designer Evan Gatehouse)
VG23 (Designer Jacques Mertens)

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, con a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Robert A. Heinlein.

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OlivierP
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Re: VG23 New Build

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Excellent plan, enjoy ! Unfortunately I live in the west so can't welcome you in Paris.
Built C17 app.php/gallery/album/262, GF14 app.php/gallery/album/263, Devlin Bella 16. Sails a 30ft Biloup 89 sailboat.

mhd
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Re: VG23 New Build

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OlivierP wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 2:40 am Excellent plan, enjoy ! Unfortunately I live in the west so can't welcome you in Paris.
Had an absolutely great time in Paris. Couldn't be more happy. Stayed on the Left Bank by the Sorbonne for five nights. Food and drink all wonderful. An absolutely beautiful city, as I remember from my last visit as a child, and this time the entire visit has also been great. Fantastic parks, people, and everything else (including the wine of course!). We'll be back again, I'm sure.

TGV south tomorrow.

Mick
FB11 (Designer Evan Gatehouse)
VG23 (Designer Jacques Mertens)

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, con a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Robert A. Heinlein.

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OlivierP
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Re: VG23 New Build

Post by OlivierP »

Great ! Next time you'll sail the VG23 across the Atlantic to France !
Built C17 app.php/gallery/album/262, GF14 app.php/gallery/album/263, Devlin Bella 16. Sails a 30ft Biloup 89 sailboat.

mhd
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Re: VG23 New Build

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OlivierP wrote: Mon Sep 02, 2024 8:10 am Great ! Next time you'll sail the VG23 across the Atlantic to France !
Well, something like that is the long-term aim of building - so time will tell if we make it. There are certainly plenty of nice marinas down here to moor in, that's for sure!

Today is sur la plage all day long :-) Life is good!
FB11 (Designer Evan Gatehouse)
VG23 (Designer Jacques Mertens)

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, con a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Robert A. Heinlein.

mhd
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Re: VG23 New Build

Post by mhd »

Right, back home again. Flew back yesterday, arrived at the house this morning, via picking up some more wood to build the sliding hatch, along with some white spirit.

Had to re-arrange part of the trip due to flooding in central Europe, but still an excellent long hard reset. Bit more of a spring in my step now.

Just had a look over the boat and was (firstly) happy with everything done up to now, and (secondly) daunted by all that remains :-) Still, one foot in front of the other. A few days to get over the jetlag, and hopefully I'll have some photos of progress to show.

Thanks to everyone following along for their interest and comments.

Mick
FB11 (Designer Evan Gatehouse)
VG23 (Designer Jacques Mertens)

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, con a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Robert A. Heinlein.

mhd
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Re: VG23 New Build

Post by mhd »

Some nautical photos from our travels.

Leeboard barges on the Seine in the centre of Paris (I have a soft-spot for leeboards!).

Plaque on acceptence of Morse SOS as a distress signal in central Berlin.

Bougainville's former house in Paris. First Frenchman to circumnavigate, fought in the War of American Independence, etc.

Cheers,

Mick

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FB11 (Designer Evan Gatehouse)
VG23 (Designer Jacques Mertens)

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, con a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Robert A. Heinlein.

mhd
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Re: VG23 New Build

Post by mhd »

Epoxied in the metal that will be used as a tow-point (externally) and to secure the anchor (internally). As an aside it can also be used as an attachment point for a bobstay, should we ever rig a bowsprit.

Anyway, I'd read a method to epoxy metal somewhere (Gougeon brothers?) and it seemed sensible (claim was secure bond > 10 years I think?). Anyway, time will tell on that. I pasted neat epoxy on the part of the metal that would be glued. I then vigourously sanded the wet metal with 120 grit on all sides before setting it in place. This exposes fresh metal which doesn't have a chance to oxidise since it is in contact with neat epoxy, rather than air.

Anyway, set that in place and filled up the hole with a mix of silica and epoxy that was very epoxy rich. There is a slight gap between wood and metal so I can squeeze in a washer in between. It's set in place now, and I can get on with something else. Looks a little rough, but that is where I drilled up drain holes (that aren't really obvious in the pic!).

I finished an epic two-day bout of sanding yesterday and although there will be plenty more, I am happy to say that most of the really rough stuff is done now. So I'm back to fairing the cabin in preparation for painting.

After a month away, I realise how I've lost all my boat-building fitness. I ache all over.

Mick

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FB11 (Designer Evan Gatehouse)
VG23 (Designer Jacques Mertens)

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, con a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Robert A. Heinlein.

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OlivierP
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Re: VG23 New Build

Post by OlivierP »

Good to see that you're back on the job and that you enjoyed your trip.

Are you sure that your metal bar is sufficient for towing ? From the picture the front hole seems small for a tow hook ?
Built C17 app.php/gallery/album/262, GF14 app.php/gallery/album/263, Devlin Bella 16. Sails a 30ft Biloup 89 sailboat.

mhd
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Re: VG23 New Build

Post by mhd »

Hi, yep, good to be back on it.

I've not done any calculations - and just went with what I had to hand. Metal is 1/4" thick, 316L stainless, which is double than that specified on Jacques' plans for the chainplates...

I'll attach a shackle through the hole for towing to allow for changing direction of the tow-line. Assuming boat weight is ~5000 lbs. Load will be dynamic though, especially in a big sea, so would need to be >>5000 lbs working load limit.

You are right though, I will do the calcs and get back to you. Better safe than sorry!

On the actual plans, a U-bolt is shown fitted through the bottom locker, not the top, but no size is specified. It is only shown on on e

I'm hopeful that I'm never in a situation where I need towing !!! :-)
FB11 (Designer Evan Gatehouse)
VG23 (Designer Jacques Mertens)

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, con a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Robert A. Heinlein.

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