A very big jump forward! About the complete repair of my Swedish Koster

[udo]

Hello everybody!


A very big jump forward! About the complete repair of my Swedish Koster

Am I just a fool? Is it courage? or maybe both?
Or maybe I am more a builder than a sailor?

Used the boat, after I bought it in August 2010, only 3 day's for sailing!

It started with the engine, which had to be taken apart completely last year!

Yes, I worked with my hands before, but not on boats, therefore, my eyes were (last year) not trained enough to spot potential problems. I should have hired an expert to check out the boat for me? Yes right. I did on a previous occasion, but was far from impressed with that person.

Anyway, I did bite the bullet in spite of the lack of knowledge and training, but I guess, when knowing this, it will be a matter trying to find the right people who can help and advice, which I think, I did.

Phil (Dr Spoke) from the wooden boat forum was a great help and a boat builder from my own country the Netherlands was also great in supporting me through this hole journey which is still not finished, but at least we moved on a lot.

I documented everything with lots of images, too many to post directly here on the forum, therefore, you can find it all in this gallery via this link:

and I hope you all enjoy following the process of this repair.

Here is the link to the image gallery, you find the text describing what we do at the bottom of each page, below the images.

http://dev.colourcertainty.co.uk/01I...Koster-repair/



and just here the intro image:







Udo

(Sweden)

[dopeydriver]

Udo , you have every reason to be VERY proud !.
I went to the site , and saw a massive amount of work to the boat , but not the engine.
What sort of engine do you have ?.
Regards Rob J.

[udo]

Udo , you have every reason to be VERY proud !.
I went to the site , and so a massive amount of work to the boat , but not the engine.
What sort of engine do you have ?.
Regards Rob J.

Hello Rob,


It was (the engine) the very first thing to go down last year when I bought the boat. Actually during the 2nd day of sailing. Therefore took it to the expert here in Sweden, who took it completely apart and totally refurbished it. Unfortunately not a Diesel, but still a very reliable petrol: Vire 7HP, build in Danmark. Its's simple and also therefore (but not only) reliable. For € 1000 I had it actually completely rebuild including the housing sandblasted and re-painted. For this money, I had basically a new engine, for which I never could get a 2nd hand Diesel here in Sweden.

Here is the link with images from the repair of the engine:

Engine

Cheers,

Udo

[dopeydriver]

Again , a job well done !.
I saw a Vire here , a year or so ago , going quite cheaply.
I alerted an engine collector , who was going to restore it.
But if I recall , it had the generator built in to the flywheel , would that be right ?.
It looks a light little motor , and it belongs in your boat.
If it does the job for you , what more can you ask ?.
Regards Rob J.

[udo]

Again , a job well done !.
I saw a Vire here , a year or so ago , going quite cheaply.
I alerted an engine collector , who was going to restore it.
But if I recall , it had the generator built in to the flywheel , would that be right ?.
It looks a light little motor , and it belongs in your boat.
If it does the job for you , what more can you ask ?.
Regards Rob J.

Yep indeed, my neighbour who is an engine specialist working for Scania trucks here in Sweden told me that for the money spend I could never get a Diesel and definitely not refurbished. Just need a slightly bigger propellor, 3 blade instead of a 2 blade, since right now it did not have much umpf, whilst the engine was having enough power left over to push the boat.

Udo

[dopeydriver]

Udo , if you are going to be mainly sailing , wouldn't a 2 blade prop be better ?.
Perhaps you could get more push by having the prop pitch changed.
The only thing that worries me with petrol engines in a boat is that you are dealing with a volatile fuel , do you have a vapour alarm ?.
Regards Rob j.

[udo]

Udo , if you are going to be mainly sailing , wouldn't a 2 blade prop be better ?.
Perhaps you could get more push by having the prop pitch changed.
The only thing that worries me with petrol engines in a boat is that you are dealing with a volatile fuel , do you have a vapour alarm ?.
Regards Rob j.

Hello Rob,

First of all, I need more engine power in case I need it with strong winds in the harbour or getting in and out of harbours.

2nd: Your worry is correct. Fuel vapour in the bilge could be a disaster, indeed! Must make sure that nothing is ever going there!

The fuel tank is in the bunk outside, well mounted and the air intake is also on the ouside of the hull in the freeboard above the waterline. But indeed a vapour alarm could not harm. Need to investigate what would be the best for my boat.

3 blade folding propellor would be the best, but are horribly expensive,

have to do some more investigation here as well.

Udo

[dopeydriver]

Udo , I am in the CG here , and I can tell you of some big explosions and fires brought about by vapour leaks , in boats.
In regard to the prop , if you have a 2 blade now , I'd just look at the pitch , you should be able to get to something that would work for you , without the drag of a 3 blade prop.
Perhaps you could try to get a lend of another prop , just to see how it goes.
The next day there is strong winds forecast try and go out , and motor in to it.
There will be a big difference sneaking around the smooth waters in a harbour , and trying to punch through serious wind.
Regards Rob J.

[m2c1Iw]

Congratulations Udo on both the work and the photographs.

What a beautiful boat and your work will make her sound for many more years to come well done.

[udo]

Congratulations Udo on both the work and the photographs.

What a beautiful boat and your work will make her sound for many more years to come well done.

Thanks!

Udo

[udo]

Udo , I am in the CG here , and I can tell you of some big explosions and fires brought about by vapour leaks , in boats.
In regard to the prop , if you have a 2 blade now , I'd just look at the pitch , you should be able to get to something that would work for you , without the drag of a 3 blade prop.
Perhaps you could try to get a lend of another prop , just to see how it goes.
The next day there is strong winds forecast try and go out , and motor in to it.
There will be a big difference sneaking around the smooth waters in a harbour , and trying to punch through serious wind.
Regards Rob J.

Thanks for the warning about vapours, will definitely find out what would be the best protection for me.

I also will check with the Vire Engine expert here on the West Coast and see what he can tell me. Only problem I have is: the propelor shaft is only 20mm, whilst most are 25mm, so probably I am having less choice?

But indeed, I need to be able to motor against strong winds also outside the harbour. I am sailing most of the time with people less experienced then me, like my wife and son, therefore like to have enough power when really needed.

Right now, I now from last years sailing, the propellor does not have much effect and takes a while before the boat is getting it's speed. I do not need to go faster, just to have enough power.

Udo

[dopeydriver]

The thing is though Udo , you aren't dealing with a very powerful motor.
I'd take it out in windier weather , motoring , and see how it goes .
See how the wind affects the boat too , and you can discuss it with your "crew".
And then the Vire engine expert.
You might find that straight in to the wind she will be ok , but get her nose out a bit , and you might have more of a fight.
But there is only one way to find out , and thats to go out and give it a try.
There is no substitute for experience.
Regards Rob J.

[udo]

The thing is though Udo , you aren't dealing with a very powerful motor.
I'd take it out in windier weather , motoring , and see how it goes .
See how the wind affects the boat too , and you can discuss it with your "crew".
And then the Vire engine expert.
You might find that straight in to the wind she will be ok , but get her nose out a bit , and you might have more of a fight.
But there is only one way to find out , and thats to go out and give it a try.
There is no substitute for experience.
Regards Rob J.

Rob you are right. The engine is not very powerful, however, the Vire expert told me last year that the prop I have is way too small for a boat this size and weight ( 3.5 ton!) and the engine could easily cope with a bigger prop than the one I have right now,

So we keep on investigating,

Cheers,

Udo

[dopeydriver]

I'll be interested to know how it all finishes up Udo.
Regards Rob J.

[udo]

I'll be interested to know how it all finishes up Udo.
Regards Rob J.

Yep, will keep this forum informed for sure!

Udo