Thread: Grey Seal build

Best of luck Andrew.
Are you going to set her up as a cutter ?.
Regards Rob J.

Hi Rob, No, much as I love cutters and bowsprits etc I think I'll keep it as planned. I think a lot of the sailing I'll be doing will be single handed so the less to go wrong the better. Also I 'm not sure about the balance of the rig if changed, even though Iain could probably work somethikng out for me.
I am probabaly going to go with an outboard in a well, similar to Eun Mara design cos its way simpler and way cheaper, for the amount of use it would get. I sussed out the battery setup and electric motors but there are too many if's

Its a pity you didn't tell me you wanted to go to an outboard well , I could have taken you to see Bob Lewis's Eun Mara , with an outboard well.
Have you sailed with someone using an outboard well singlehanded ?.
I take your point about keeping things simple , when singlehanding , but in that case just don't use the jib.
I've just found it a handy option , particularly in light winds.
Regards Rob J.

I didnt really know which way I was going to go about an engine. I used to have an outboard on my TS16, very reliable and cheap to run for the amount I used it.
I think I 've seen Bob's boat on the web somewhere. I havnt given the rig a lot of thought yet, but another posibility would be to go with the traditional non-furling foresail which is changed according to windstrength. With that I could go with a larger light air jib or change to normal working jib as well a fall back storm jib of course.

Andrew , I'd be thinking "worst case scenario" both with the engine , and the way she is rigged , particularly if you are singlehanding.
Lord knows , we have been "very busy in the office" , even with all of Leckies experience , at times , and having the engine ready , at the turn of a key , and not having to (or very rarely) go forward is a big plus too.
I also know that changing headsails on the couta boats can be pretty risky too , doing it singlehanded , well , I guess you are more experienced than me , but there isn't very much to hang on to , forward.
You are welcome to come sailing again with HS , if you want , and give it some more thought.
Regards Rob J.

Any excuse for a sail Rob, I'd love to. Have to pick a weekend that suits of course. Work is a bit fitful at mo and one job I'm doing involves weekends so it may be squeeze but lets give it a try,

Andrew , I'll go out with you , but you can single hand , and act out different scenarios , if you want , like going forward to change sails in higher winds and waves, or whatever.
It will be your boat (the one you are building) , to suit you , but HS is about as close as you will get , for a trial boat , and there is usually plenty of wave action to be found around the headland too.
Once she is back in the water , which should be Friday , I should be available anytime , with forward advise.
Regards Rob J.

Thanks Rob I may be in touch in the next month or so. BTW how did things pan out with your mooring?

No worries Andrew.
Portland Shire has put in new moorings for the blow ins , so last I looked there was nobody on my mooring.
Port Fairy offered me a good mooring straight off , on the strength that it was HS , but on reflection , I'd be on my own all of the time , and thats not what I want.
Regards Rob J.

Andrew , try and bring your "better half" as well.
Perhaps we can go for a nice sail along the Nth Shore , like we did with you and Leckie .
Hopefully HS will put a smile on her dial , and then you will have an important ally , and sounding board.
And then we can send the women shopping , while we get down to some real sailing , and find the limitations of a Grey Seal.
You can stay with us , no problems.
Regards Rob J.

Another update People. I've switched over to the bottom of the boat in the sense that I'm collecting old wheel weights from tyre shops and melting them into ingots. When the time comes I'll make up a mould and do a big pour. All up the keel weighs about 500 kg. and is 8 ft long with a centreboard slot.
The lead melts surprisingly easily on the setup I have ( basically a big double ring burner ) especially when there is a pool of molten and you put new weights in it. Its a bit labour intensive this lead farming but what boat building isnt. First I have to do the rounds of tyre shops then sort the lead weights from zinc ones, and then I can melt them to rid the iron clips and other rubbish out.
I plan to attack this build on a few fronts because the hull will be built on a country property in a shed ( which I have to build first ) and when at home during the week I'll make other sub-assemblies, ( thats the plan - but after work who knows ! )
I've done more work on the moulds and when I've got them boat like stand by for the next installment