Thread: New Queensland PDRacer Build

Thanks Duncan,

I've been doing some fiddling with them - I might head off in another direction though with a Laser-ish wooden boat. Bit bigger for club sailing - or mucking around - which was one of the things the Laser did very well originally before everyone got too serious about them.

MIK

Bit of progress today - I've started shaping the back side of the rudder foil and have cut the centreboard to shape. I've also glued up my tiller lamination and rudder case framing.

Here's a pic of me planing down my rudder blade. Who needs to pay to go to a gym when you can just shape a few boards by hand

It is nice process too.

At the end of going to the gym, you take a shower and almost all evidence that something happened has gone.

But looks at that rudderblade!

MIK

Progress today was to finish shaping the rudder foil. I'm adding caps to either end so that the end grain is not exposed. Not sure if this will result in an actual structural benefit, but I think it will look nicer.

I also shaped and glued the cockpit coaming piece which was the last timber detail to add to the hull, so now all that's left is sanding and painting (an ordeal in itself going by AlexN's experience! )

Back to work tomorrow.. boo

Hi Folks,

Well, its nearly christmas time again, which means I've been working on the boat

The hull is now painted and in the process of being fitted out. I've also just glued up the mast ladder, so the sides should go on tomorrow.

Getting closer.... attached are a couple of pics of the paint job.

Looks very nice - great paint scheme.

So I've now got something that resembles the picture on the front of the plans

Mum made me a sail prototyped out of calico but unfortunately the material is a bit stretchy - you can see in the downhaul and snotter photos that I've run out of adjustment and there's still plenty of 'spring' left in the fabric, and the mast is still dead straight. The polytarp sail is cut out awaiting stitching which I'll get onto tomorrow. I think this sail will still kinda work, although will not have much power.

I'm going to have to do some more reading on how to lock off the downhaul - at the moment I've used a couple of half hitches, but I'm having trouble holding the tension in the system before I get the knot locked off - is there a different type of knot I should try? Also keen to see AlexN's blocked downhaul system...

Currently looking at getting wet around the 28th or 29th up at Lake Cootharaba

Nice!

Originally Posted by duncang

...is there a different type of knot I should try?

There's probably not enough room for it, but closely related to "Two Half Hitches" is a Taut Line Hitch. Versus two half hitches, it takes only one additional wrap of the first hitch before throwing in the second hitch. It works for longer lines on tents and tarps which are also not nearly as stressed as your downhaul should be. But it might work if you have the space.

Originally Posted by duncang

...Also keen to see AlexN's blocked downhaul system...

From his lug sail? Will it translate? How about a simple turning block on the deck beneath the tack and cam or clam cleat abaft of it? Might not be enough purchase though...

Good luck!

Of course I'd forgotten that AlexN was using a lug rig so has a different downhaul. In any case, I think I've got my system worked out now that I have my tarp sail and some larger cord which is easier to work with. See attached photos.

The next problem I've had is that the poor quality of my tarp ('Best Buy' brand at Supercheap for $18) and cheap eyelets.. the result is evident in the last photo. I added a second eyelet to the clew to compensate (first photo) - I don't expect this sail to last very long, but hopefully long enough to get wet this week

I've just re-read this thread on GIS sail materials which reminded me of the new Bunnings sail material, so I might check this out next time I'm there. Can anyone report on how this stuff is holding up for PDR sails?

Things are getting real.. have the hull number on there now.

The other photo is my next project.. a CLC 16 kayak.. about to start gluing up.

By the way, I found this stuff at Bunnings today called 'Polyshade'. It does not look quite the same as the other bunnings 'sailcloth' mentioned here (which they didn't seem to have).

There is a website and product sheet. It seemed fairly stiff and is about 300gsm in weight so perhaps a bit heavy?

I wonder what type of sail it would make?

The big day was yesterday - we launched the little boat at Currimundi Lake at Caloundra. It was a beaut day, although the winds were a little flukey on the lake.

I'm a complete novice sailor, but with a few tips from PhilW (builder of the Eureka canoe seen in the pics) I was soon underway. I did a couple of capsize drills and the boat came up with ease. My cheap tarp sail held up OK, although I will need to add some extra reinforcement in the corners with some nice new eyelets.

So hows that SOG going MIK???

Looking really good .

Btw, the blocks in the lugs'l downhaul system wasn't my idea - I pinched it from m2c1Iw and his famous sexy black pdracer, see second photo from the left.

Cheers,
Alex.