Finisterra Update

In the last couple of months weve been sailing the boat quite a bit. The stackpack system works well. Its different from typical systems in that when were sailing it can be rolled up and secured along the boom instead of staying deployed. Its a bit more work to roll it up but I much prefer the sail unfettered by the bag and lazy jacks.

Slick stackpack contains the full battened mainsail

Awhile back I mentioned that the autopilot was not working properly. After searching the Internet for ideas on how to fix it, I removed the linear drive and rebuilt it, then reinstalled it, confident that Id solved the problem. But I was wrong. So Ive ordered a new drive which should arrive next week.

The boat came with funky pleated cloth curtains on all the portlights. I suppose theyre stylish in a 1990s sort of way, but they are eight years old and at the end of their useful life. We really liked the OceanAir shades we had on the Honcho so we ordered a set from Defender and installed them last week. These shades block out 100% of the sunlight and are good looking.

One thing Ive wanted to change since we got the boat was to upgrade the ground tackle system. The original equipment included a 40 LB Bruce anchor, 40 feet of 3/8" BBB chain and 150 feet of nylon rode. The new system includes a 55 LB Rocna anchor, 200 feet of 5/16" G40 chain and 150 feet of nylon rode. This requires changing the chain gypsy on the windlass. To do that, I had to remove the windlass. This is a simple matter of four bolts. When I got it out of the boat I discovered a lot of corrosion around the base of the unit. Ive noticed that the shelf in the anchor locker where the windlass is mounted is often wet, either with seawater or fresh, so its no wonder the aluminum housing of the windlass is corroded. When I re-install the unit Ill make a mounting plate out of 1/2" StarBoard to raise it up so that it never sits in water.

My winter project is to go through the exterior canvas on the boat. Ill lower the dodger by an inch or two, make some changes to the bimini and have side curtains made for it. Ill also set it up to mount solar panels to it. 

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Calendar Islands Yawl Update

The CIY is becoming Reality

A father son team builds CIY #1 in Duluth, MN.

The last update had me quarter scale modeling the CIY hull. That work has completed and Ive even put some paint on the model so it looks presentable. The model is also a great opportunity to use up left over paint and to test colors. I consider the color scheme -- and lack of varnish I might add -- to be an important part of the overall feel of my boats. I am not settled on the scheme, but still looking for the right brown for gunwales. I like the sand interior. The dark blue is the only boat I have ever used it and it works OK, but I am not in love with it.

My little guy helped me paint the interior of the CIY model. He said the interior color "looks really good, Daddy". So Ill go with that!

CNC Cutting in Maine

The parts for the kit were cut at Hewes & Co in Blue Hill, Maine. They also cut the Vivier boats now and all the Oughtred kits and I am so glad to be doing business with them. Here is their work:

The CNC cut Advantech chipboard supports for bulkheads with some patterns, too.

The CIY planks being CNC cut with the NC Scarf.

While the cutting was going on in Maine, the builders in Duluth were starting the birdsmouth masts and spars. They are great, hard working guys and have built several boats.

CIY Builders fabricating hollow-birdsmouth mast.

The kit arrives in snowy Minnesota. You can see the Advantech strongback components here.

The parts making begins. Here they glue up the NC stem.

My way of giving

In the meantime, in my studio overlooking the Saco River I work on more CAD files for people who want to build my boats. It is the highest honor and I will work hard to make it happen for them. They always give back and make the design better than I could have made it alone. The revised KDI kit is about to be cut again on the West coast, the new Drake 19 is shaping up for a few interested rowers, and the Deblois Street Dory is getting a revision based on the Compass Project build and plans and kits will be sent out this spring. I have views like this to keep me going.

I live in the North Dam Mill there on the left bank if the Saco River. The ice is almost out on the river!

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Finisterra Update 11 15 13

Over the last couple of months Ive been busy with mostly non-sailing issues but have found time for a few projects aboard Finisterra. In early October I made the decision to rewire the 12 volt system from the batteries to the main DC panel.  The system worked OK as it was, but over the years the previous owner had added various extras to the boat and instead of routing them through the main DC panel or installing an auxiliary DC panel, he simply ran the leads directly to the batteries and used in-line fuses on an ad hoc basis. The result was battery terminals with multiple wires leading to individual components. To further complicate matters, the house bank had been connected to the starting battery in such a way that they could not be isolated from each other. In other words, we really only had one great big bank of batteries that included six 6V deep cycle AGM batteries and a single 12V AGM starting battery. Our solution was to bring in Peter Dugan of Pacific Marine Electric to sort it all out. Together we created a new wiring system from the batteries to the main switches and installed a new auxiliary DC panel. The result is a much cleaner wiring arrangement that enables us to isolate the starting battery and provides an auxiliary panel for all the extra equipment the previous owner and I have installed. In the process we got rid of about 50 pounds of heavy gauge battery cable and have a clean and understandable system, which makes me happy.  Once the wiring was complete I fabricated a cover for the batteries so I could access the raw water pump without sitting directly on top of the battery terminals.

Battery cover is elevated to clear the battery terminals. Its a good place to sit while changing the impeller on the raw water pump. Finisterra is equipped with six 6V deep cycle battery and a single 12V starting battery.

I also finished the installation of the solar panels. They are mounted on a stainless steel tube on the aft end of the bimini and secured in place with Magma barbecue mounting brackets. This way I can adjust them through a range of about 120 degrees to align them with the sun as needed. The Magma brackets make it easy to remove the panels if necessary.

Three 50 watt solar panels. Having the ability to adjust them to face the sun  as needed vastly improves their efficiency. Since all of our lighting is LED, the primary consumer of electricity is the refrigeration system.
To augment the solar array we also carry a Honda genset.  Notice the GAM single sideband antenna on the port backstay.

Juice from the solar panels is routed through a GoPower charge controller mounted on the aft bulkhead in the quarter cabin.

One of the key elements of a good passage is having a snug, warm and secure place to sleep when youre off watch. Unfortunately Finisterra was not built with any good sea berths so I improvised with a lee board in the quarter berth. Its made of African Mahogany and slips into anodized aluminum brackets. It converts the king size quarter berth into a nice, snug sea berth.

Nothing beats a good place to sleep when youre underway.

Security is always an issue here in the States as well as abroad. To help keep ourselves and our gear safe, I installed a security system that incorporates sensors, called Pulsors, bonded to the underside of the deck and hatches in strategic locations. The Pulsors can detect slight fluctuations in the deck, such as from the weight of a person stepping aboard, and trigger the alarm. Im not sure how well itll work against the bad guys but Ive scared myself a couple of times by not disarming it before climbing aboard.

Pulsors are about 3 inches long and can be mounted almost anywhere.

Another project was to build a seat for the companionway. This is a nice place to be when youre on the midnight watch, or when you have a cockpit full of guests. On the night watches it is the warmest part of the cockpit and provides excellent protection from the elements,  a good view forward and easy access to the sailing instruments. The autopilot remote and I-Pad are also within easy reach. Or we can turn around and face the cockpit, using a drop board for a back rest. Its made of teak and is secured in place with a couple of rigging pins.

The companionway sill on the B423 is high enough that its easy to bark your shins when going below. This little seat makes that a thing of the past. 

I set the height of it so that a standard square boat cushion works perfectly for it.

I pondered whether to install an AIS system on Finisterra for a long time. After all, Ive made many a long passage without it in the past, so do we really need it now? Well, yes we do. In some ways it beats radar for sorting out what other vessels are out there. It takes less power than a radar and we can display it wirelessly on our laptops, I-Pads, GPS and smart phones. I chose a Vesper XB8000, which includes a VHF receiver and transponder and dedicated GPS receiver. Installation was quick and easy, all I needed was to install the VHF and GPS antennas and provide 12V power to the unit. Because it works through its own WIFI network I was spared the expense and aggravation of wiring all our displays to it. I could have connected it to the masthead VHF antenna by installing an antenna splitter, but I like my systems to be stand-alone and autonomous from each other, so I mounted a separate antenna on the bimini.

Vesper XB8000 wifi enabled AIS. receiver/transponder. Very cool!

The latest addition to the fleet is our new Hobie Mirage i9S inflatable kayak. I love this thing! Weve tried several different types of kayaks in the past, both inflatable and rotomolded, and none really met our needs until we found the i9S. The average inflatable kayaks are slow, track poorly and are just no fun to paddle. The rotomolded unit we had for a while paddled fairly well and was certainly rugged enough, but it was a big, bulky thing. I really couldnt accept having such a thing strapped down on the foredeck or hanging from our lifelines, so I was thinking of not having a kayak at all, which wasnt a very good solution either. Then we found this little Hobie. Right from the start I liked the propulsion system better than a double bladed paddle. It uses leg power to drive a pair of fins so it sort of swims along, leaving your hands free to do more constructive things, such as fish, or sip a cocktail, or wave to admirers as you glide past them.

Pedal powered and quite civilized, the little Hobie has earned a place aboard Finisterra

The boat comes with a paddle for emergencies, or if you want to go really fast you can pedal and paddle at the same time. But I found it to be perfect for relaxing jaunts around Alamitos Bay and I look forward to cruising it in far off places as well. The propulsion system is easy to install and comes with its own storage bag. The hull weighs about 45 pounds and fits neatly in the starboard cockpit locker when its deflated.

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Update on Projects

It has been awhile so this is a quick overall update on projects:

* Goat Island Skiff kits can be cut anytime. Marketing for kits will begin by late Winter time and CNC cutting will be part of the plan. Meetings with CNC companies will happen early winter. I am taking coursework in Rhino/CAD to enable me to create files, modify files, and give them to CNC cutters.

* The Deblois Street Dory lines and offsets are finished an available. Hull #1 is being built by a customer here in Portland. Construction and sail plans are being produced now and plans will be available this winter. Kits for the D St. D will eventually be produced for the kit catalog.

*Frolic, the Flying Fifteen is as it was upon delivery. The keel comes off in the next week. As this is a personal side project, progress on it depends on how much customer work is going on at the time. Clearly, we have been busy with customers, so Frolic sits awaiting her complete restoration.

*Carbon fiber blade-Spruce oars are underway and will be part of a line of custom and semi-custom oar and paddle offerings that will become part of our specialty line of products. An online shop will be part of this endeavor, but probably wont be set up until early Spring in time for the Boat Shows. The blades are epoxy, vacuum-infused carbon fiber for total lightweight blades and balanced oars.

* Another specialty is Birdsmouth mast and spar construction for craft up to 22. In the shop, staves are being cut for a Shellback Dinghy and Goat Island Skiffs. We use beautiful White Spruce and Sitka Spruce. Well be combining the two species to make beautiful masts. Clint will have a line of mast types to choose from revolving around Birdsmouth construction, with different wood species to choose from for the spars.

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Update on DS15 Bateleur

Jim Foot launched his Didi Sport 15 (DS15) a few months ago. After initial photos and reports Jim went quiet. I suspect that he busied himself with regular sailing to learn the characteristics of his new boat, to understand how she likes to be handled in a range of conditions.

Today Jim has sent another report, detailing his sailing this past weekend. He sailed on Algoa Bay, off Port Elizabeth, sailing in sportboat mode with the lead bulb on the keel. Starting with light breezes, it rapidly changed to 35-40 knots, as happens pretty regularly in this part of the world. Unperturbed by the gale force conditions, Jim and his crew Thomas Ochabski put in a reef, left the big asymmetrical stowed in its bag and carried on sailing. Jim says that there was a keelboat in attendance in case of mishap, which gave him the bravado to carry on sailing.

DS15 "Bateleur" about to get wet for the first time.

 Here are extracts from Jims own words about his experience with "Bateleur" in these conditions.

Beat back to harbour (from about 2 nm offshore) and then had a blast reaching around for about an hour or more.   Great fun.   Naah, understatement, awesome, awesome fun!

For the first time really felt that things were a step up on the speed stakes.   When I was building the boat I imagined a mini Volvo 60 with associated responsiveness and upwind speed. And this is what I felt the boat was achieving.

He promises some GoPro video by the end of the week.

And what about light wind speed? More words from Jim.

The other thing, the boat is incredibly fast in very light winds with weight forward. Everyone who has sailed her in light conditions (<6 kts) has remarked about this characteristic.  Thanks Dudley for a great design.

To see more of this and our other designs, visit our main website or  mobile website

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Calendar Islands Yawl 16 Update

Specs

LOA 15 6"

Beam 5 2"

Anticipated Hull weight 150-200 lbs

Displacement ~520 lbs

Here are some screen shots of the CIY model with lapstrake planking. The garboard is actually stitch-and-glued to the bottom, glassed, then the rest of the planks are plywood lapstrake with no fiberglass required. The bottom exterior is definitely oriented towards a lot of beaching as this is a sail-and-oar dinghy with an emphasis on sailing.

The waterline shows quite a bearing aft which should allow for a good planing when the wind is up and the crew is sitting aft and hiking out.

Now that the hull is complete, I can begin thinking about how to layout the interior structure with CNC cutting and kit building in mind but also so that the boat can be scratch built from just the plans or full size patterns.

Ill also sketch the rig but I bet folks know what the rig will be since its implied in the name. The CIY is named for the over 365 islands that dot Casco Bay. These islands and the sailing around them are the intended waters for this exciting boat.

The plan is to find a willing boat builder out there to build the first hull. I will sell the kit at my cost. Its a great way for someone to get into the boat they want for significantly less than what will be the retail cost.

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Update on the Deblois Street Dory

A couple months ago I was entering the final stages of modeling the Deblois St Dory. I am excited to report that the work is complete and a plans package, full size patterns, and CNC cut kits are now ready to deliver!

This boat has been designed unlike any traditional, Swampscott Dory I know of. It has been a few years of hand drawing -- before I entered the world of CAD -- then building a 1/4 scale model, drafting final plans, and the building of hull #1. Then some time passed, sea trials were completed, and my training in CAD went up a few levels! So, then the DSD started getting input into the computer. The latest version of the CAD system Rhino came out -- Rhino 5 -- and I was able to efficiently finish the DSD in this advanced piece of software:

One of the great advantages of modeling a boat to such an extent is the ability to work of how everything fits together. All parts of the hull are fit together in 3-D space then the model is taken apart piece by piece and made 2D. These 2D drawings become full size patterns and the kits that are available for my boats. Even for something simple like the tholepins, having them modeled helps see how the sizing of the gunwales and the installation of the tholepins will work out in advance.

I have modeled 8 different sail rigs for the DSD. All parts can be CNC cut or supplied as full size patterns with a package of plans that includes 13 sheets of drawings, a manual, hardware and lumber lists, and direct support from me build the boat. So far two DSD plans sets and patterns have been shipped off.

I love this boat. In an article in Maine Island Trail, I said 

"If I could only own one boat – and I hope that never happens -- I would choose a dory for its simplicity and purity of form and function. And when I am daysailing to MITA islands or cruising the trail, the last thing I want is to dread having to row when the wind dies. I want a boat that is as pleasurable to move by oars as it is by sail or motor. And I want it to be a beautiful boat that can be built by a total amateur and used to explore the coast of Maine."

If you want to be at the helm of your own Deblois Street Dory, please contact me. Visit my webpage to learn more and see pricing. Cheers! ---Clint

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Finisterra Update 1 13 13

We had been planning to spend the first few days of the new year at Catalina Island but the recent cold temperatures (highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s) made that plan unappealing. So instead I worked on a couple of winter projects. First I removed the old dodger and cut the frame down a bit. The old dodger was taller than it needed to be and was not the best design. The photo below is a before shot, and Ill post some pictures of the revised dodger in a couple of weeks.

Finisterras dodger is taller than it needs to be

This dodger is about eight years old and is showing its age. The new one will be about four inches longer along the roof-line and two inches lower, and it will have Strataglass instead of plain vinyl window material. I think Strataglass is vastly superior to other materials because it is doesnt wrinkle and distort your view, yet it is flexible enough to roll up when you want to. I never fold the dodger down so there is no value in the extra flexibility of regular vinyl. Well replace the bimini along with the dodger. It is also showing its age and I want to tweak the design of it a bit as well. 

Another project that got underway this week was the new cockpit table. The first step was to remove the old one. I have a good deal of respect for the designers at Beneteau. They generally do a pretty good job with styling and ergonomics in their boats, but in my opinion they simply missed the mark with this table. I have tried to like it, and even encouraged others to do so, but unfortunately we could never quite get there. Its clunky looking, its too big and it gets in the way of sailing the boat. It also makes the cockpit cramped for anything besides sitting and eating or drinking. So I took it out...Man, what a difference! Weve got room to move now. 

The cockpit is almost four feet wide between the seats. 

With about 3-6" of width between the seats, the cockpit now feels spacious. With this much room it will need some foot-braces which Ill install using the existing holes in the sole. Ill build a smaller table module and mount it just forward of the binnacle. It will include a dropleaf table, storage compartment, grab-rails on the sides and a housing for a GPS that will swivel so we can see it from anywhere in the cockpit.

I love the new-found space here!

Beneteau installs a clear plastic cover on hinges over the instruments at the helm. Nearly every Beneteau weve looked at, ours included, showed signs of the hinges coming adrift. Naturally they were installed with self tapping #6 screws which usually lose no time in working loose, so its not long before those itty-bitty threads are stripped.  I took the plastic cover off permanently, and will do something creative with the leftover holes.

Here are a couple of views of the cockpit table. Its not pretty but with the drop-leaves attached, it makes into a large dining table in the cockpit. On our boat the leaves are beautifully varnished teak. 

The table is stoutly made with a nice welded stainless steel frame that includes a foot-rest.
The table comes with a plastic lid that fits loosely on top. 

The drop-leaves are attached to the table with slip-pin hinges, and the blue tape covers the forward one because it had an uncanny ability to grab clothing as you go past it. Beneteau used a RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) process to make this molded fiberglass part. This is a cost effective and environmentally responsible process that results in a strong, lightweight part with a smooth finish on both sides. Im a big fan of RTM.

Here are a couple of photos of the finished ground tackle system. It includes a chain stop mounted on a teak block and bolted through the deck, which was reinforced with a large backing plate. The chain is 200 of 5/16" type G40 spliced to 150 of 9/16" nylon 3-strand rode.

The chain stop is mounted on the block to align it with the chain between the windlass and bow roller. Notice the shiny underside of the hatch. It was also made using an RTM process.  The waterproof plastic box holds the handheld windlass controller. 

Anchor installed. 

There has been considerable controversy in the last few years regarding anchors, with all sorts of accusations flying in all directions. For many years I used Danforths on my racing boats. They are relatively compact and fairly reliable anchors, and are a good solution for boats that dont get into challenging anchoring situations. When I began outfitting our last boat for cruising I chose a Manson Supreme. It is what I call a spade type, as opposed to a fluke type of anchor such as a Danforth or Fortress, and while there may be disagreements about which brand anchor is better, I think the spade type of anchor is superior to the fluke types. The Manson 35 we had on the Honcho is one of the few items I kept when we sold her. When it came time to buy an anchor for the Finisterra, I felt there was little difference between the Manson and Rocna units and chose a Rocna 25 (55 LB) mainly because it was a little lighter and less expensive than the comparable Manson.

In Mexico the holding ground is varied, and we anchored in sand, mud and rock bottoms. In the lagoon at Barra De Navidad, the bottom is more like a black slurry than proper mud. In Bahia Santa Maria we spent five days anchored over a sandy bottom while 25 to 40 knot northerly winds combined with a strong southerly swell rolling into the bay, making it quite a lively anchorage. All the while the Manson did its job perfectly and I expect that the Rocna will do the same.

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Update on Low powered planing hull Fleet

Since my last posting about Fleet, the planing version of my row/sail boat, Flint the owner/builder has been burning the midnight oil to get her finished. Here are a few photos to show progress, with a performance report to come in about three days time. The painting is proceeding rapidly, being done in an aircraft component spray booth!

Hull sanded, chines rounded-over, and 200gsm/6oz glass cloth being draped

Glass/epoxy sheathing. Given the work that was done on the bottom panel (see previous post) the cloth has been doubled in the forward sections of the bottom of the hull.

Glassing completed, and hull surface sanded. 12mm/1/2" gunwales have been added.

Spaced inwales being dry-fitted

The spaced inwales are of quite generous section on this particular boat, as the owner/builder will be using her in surf and unprotected waters on the Australian east coast for serious fishing. There are a number of other ways the topsides could be terminated, including side decks or simple laminated gunwales on the external surface only.

Being moved from the building location to the paint booth. The first opportunity to see her from a distance.

View of the interior showing some of the generous emergency buoyancy compartments. The large rectangular hatchs are non-standard, and are being used by this owner (who is a very experienced oceanic fisherman) for fishing equipment

First view of her profile

Coaming/breakwater and toe-rails added

In the paint shop - will be completed in about another 24 hours.

As I mention previously, I believe that there is a genuine need for small powerboats which have been optimised for operation under the urge of very small outboards. I nervously await the performance report from the first outing, which will be within the next three days. This example with be pushed by a 5hp Mercury, and has been built a little heavier than initially planned due to the rugged duties expected of her. A very light version, built in a manner similar to Flint, should go well with 2-1/2 to 4hp.

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