Building the PDRacer in Slovenia

koala · #1 10th Dec 2008, 06:37 AM

The PDRacer is well known by now in these forums and beyond.

But just for your interest I thought I would share some photos of mine PDRacer with you all.

There are actually two racers being build. Koala's and Theodore's.

I hope Theodore will post some of his work too.

As said earlier in other posts, we started to build the boat at the end side of Michael's plans. That is, we started with the rudder box, foils, spars, then I moved on to frames and finnaly the 3D shape.

Reason for this is we wanted to save space as long as possible.

Here are some photos for starters. You can see the rest of them on my web album here: http://picasaweb.google.si/Koalcek/PDRacer#

keyhavenpotter · #2 11th Dec 2008, 10:35 AM

Great workmanship Koala. Those beautifully shaped foils, hidden away below your PDR, are going to give some people quite a surprise upwind. Well done.

Brian

Boatmik · #3 11th Dec 2008, 08:55 PM

Howdy Koala,

I agree with Brian ... the foils look very nice! Actually, everything looks pretty good.

Only thing I can complain about is the mast. You should not be able to see the sky through the middle of the mast like this. Two more bits of wood are needed!!!

MIK

koala · #4 11th Dec 2008, 09:29 PM

Hi Michael

I just thought to "improve" the mast a bit as it looks more futuristic this way

Well, as you can see the photo was taken when it was still sunny and warm outside. Now that the mast is finnished it is rainy and cold

and no place to make a good photos of this long thing.

About the cockpit bulkhead and front deck I wrote earlier, I moved the bulkhead 20mm forward as you suggested and now there is only 4mm gap for the deck. I will leave this gap on the top of the bulkhead where the side deck meets the front (see the photo below). The rest will be covered with the front framing. So no filling will be needed.
I wasn't sure if I could move the bulkead even more.

Boatmik · #5 11th Dec 2008, 10:17 PM

Can move that bit more, but just make sure the side decks will be long enough and cover everything OK.

Michael

koala · #6 30th Dec 2008, 08:15 AM

I was wondering if anyone installed cleats or something to tie down the PDR to the pier or a buoy.

I think I will need to leave my PDR overnight in the water while I'm staying in the holiday house.

So how would be best to secure the boat so it doesn't float away or spin on the spot?

Should I put cleats on the boat - where and what support (on the frame) would they need?

Thanks in advance,
Koala

p.s. This month I finnished mast partner, side decks and side tanks. I will update with some photos soon.

Boatmik · #7 3rd Jan 2009, 08:37 AM

Howdy Koala,

Have a look at the "News" Section on the www.pdracer.info website

There are two options - use the simpler one for general use. With the original boats we have just tied any ropes around the mast.

Michael

koala · #8 4th Jan 2009, 06:56 AM

Thank you Michael

I have seen that dicsussion and I have already included that in my plans.

This solves the bow side of things. But what about the stern? How would you secure the boat there? (I'm sorry I don't have the vocabulary for these things

, is it called "mooring the boat"????

One other thing. As I was trying to align the mast step and past partner it seems that the angle of spacers on the mast step doesn't align with the spacers on the partner (which are set on an angle). So I had to cut a small notch so the mast would slot in at the bottom. Are there any known problems arround the mast stept/partner?

I'm just glad that I made the mast first and tried it out BEFORE I glued the foredeck in

By the way, it works fine now. Good fit.
Peter

Boatmik · #9 4th Jan 2009, 08:50 AM

Howdy Peter,

No known issues. If anyone else can confirm or deny the problem then that would be useful. Lots of boats built now ... so either it doesn't usually cause a problem or no-one is mentioning it.

We didn't have any probs in that area with the Mk2s we built at Duckflat. But I didnt' supervise that part of the construction either.

Best wishes
Michael

m2c1Iw · #10 4th Jan 2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koala

This solves the bow side of things. But what about the stern? How would you secure the boat there? (I'm sorry I don't have the vocabulary for these things

, is it called "mooring the boat"????

Peter, don't know what you had in mind as far as securing the boat to but why not tie off to whatever using the traveller. No cleats needed for a duck I would think.

Quote:

One other thing. As I was trying to align the mast step and past partner it seems that the angle of spacers on the mast step doesn't align with the spacers on the partner (which are set on an angle). So I had to cut a small notch so the mast would slot in at the bottom. Are there any known problems arround the mast stept/partner?

I'm just glad that I made the mast first and tried it out BEFORE I glued the foredeck in

By the way, it works fine now. Good fit.
Peter

I didn't have any trouble with the step but I did forget, read add some spacers at the partner that I had to shape a little to get the mast to fit. The final mast fit seems as the designer intended.

Cheers
Mike

Boatmik · #11 5th Jan 2009, 07:57 AM

Howdy,

I think that any cleat you could put on the deck at the back of the boat would catch the mainsheet when tacking (or eeeeeek! gybing). This would result in a capsize in any but the lightest winds.

With simple light boats like this they often just get tied up using the base of the mast and then finding some convenient point at the back.

for example, as mike suggested, the mainsheet block. Also the limber holes in Frame#2 would work. Or if you want a specific cleat ... I would put a horn cleat (probably a 75mm one) on the plywood front face of Frame#2 underneath the side deck. It can probably be bolted through the cleating.

This would keep it out of the way of the mainsheet and sitting position but close to the side of the boat.

But my bet is that you will usually just use the one at the bow and put the boat of the correct side of the wharf so the wind keeps it away from the wharf itself.

Michael

koala · #12 9th Feb 2009, 05:53 AM

Hello down there and everywhere Big news around here. Another member of our family was born last week, a baby girl

Knowing this I did some work on my racer in January as now things will go slower, although major work is done. Looking at you guys down under (and wherever you have summer) I wish we had at least more sun.

Recently we had some snow which is not a good sign for any sailing opportunities in the near future.

In my next post I will show the work of the previous month.

Peter

koala · #13 9th Feb 2009, 06:14 AM

Winter time sure gives you enough time to slowly work on your boat. But in these parts of the worl where winter temp. dropped to -15 deg. cel. last month you need a constant heat source to keep the work shop at a reasonable temperature.

So, here are the pics from last month and a half:
1. from the left: interior 3 coats of epoxy, side buoyancy tanks covers glued on;
2. mast partner and mast step;
3. Side decks glued on;
4. Testing of the boat by my boat experts

5. All decks are on just before they are covered with epoxy (3x offcourse)
6-8 Underside of the boat is glassed due to heavy and rough shores arround here. The glass cloth was folded over the edges just over masking tape and when the epoxy was still a bit soft it was cut off - so I have a straight and clear line. The edges will be sanded a bit and the filleted with the light filler to give it a smooth transition

Now its sanding, sanding and more sanding

before paint and varnish

Good sailing everyone

nickpullen · #14 9th Feb 2009, 01:37 PM

Koala, looking at your previous pictures (2), I see the notch you cut in the front of the mast step. I Also had to tickle this section of the step to get the mast to seat in, as well as the back edge of the partner...

I think though it comes down to the acuracy of the actual mast partner and steps durning construction and their position relative to one another ( angel of bulkhead). Even just a few mills will cause these angle issues. But its a wood boat so its easy to modify and adjust to fit...

Mine works nicely now, I just have to learn to sail... ahaha

Boatmik · #15 9th Feb 2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koala

Hello down there and everywhere Big news around here. Another member of our family was born last week, a baby girl

Knowing this I did some work on my racer in January as now things will go slower, although major work is done. Looking at you guys down under (and wherever you have summer) I wish we had at least more sun.

Recently we had some snow which is not a good sign for any sailing opportunities in the near future.

In my next post I will show the work of the previous month.

Peter

Congratulations Peter!!!!!

For at least TWO reasons! Best wishes to your family too!

MIK