The metamorphosis of 784

[paultp]

After asking a number of dumb questions on here and recently visiting the Nationals to meet people, get advice and view some boat layouts I'm going to make some changes to 784 and thought I'd start a thread on here so you can follow my progress (or lack of it).

I have attached a pic of said moth with a fat bloke in it for your entertainment. I haven't sailed it regularly for about 10 years so this season I've concentrated on getting it sound and sailable.

I have had it re-varnished (not professionally), replaced the centreboard gasket, filled and taped round the centreboard case, sorted out the halyard arrangement so that my sail isn't in danger of slipping down the mast (why has this taken me 15 years to get round to?), sorted out my control lines and also replaced the kicker (with just the odd tweak still needed).

I've listed what I'm going to do next in the probable order I'm going to do it further down the page. I would welcome any advice and help on the various stages as I go.

1. Change from transom to centre main.
Any recomendations as to which ratchet block to go for?
Completed

2. Move the toe straps to a better position so that a) they don't get in the way and b) I don't feel I am falling out of the boat even when I use them.
Will probably do this at the same time as 1.
Completed

3. Replace the rudder and stock - I am now the proud owner of a new, unfinished "Goffo" tilting rudder and stock.
Any suggestions regarding where best to run the control lines to lift/drop the rudder?

4. Check and adjust the mast rake.
Trail and error to see what works best

5. Reduce the size of the centreboard.
Very nervous about taking a saw to my centreboard

6. Fit lowers
Not entirely sure this is necessary [edit] Yes they are!
Completed (shrouds and forestay replaced as well)

7. Lose 2 more stone by April next year - ongoing project.
Sell any brewery shares you hold.

Hopefully I can add pictures, results and costs as I go.

Cheers
Paul

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[paultp]

1. Change from transom to centre main.

I think I've got all the bits to do this so after a week away I'm going to have a bash at changing tomorrow.

The only thing that I'm still not sure about is how to fit the front strop.

I have an open cockpit (i.e. the centreboard handle is in the cockpit, not the foredeck) and hence an open centreboard case. Very similar to 783.

I am going to fit the ratchet block on a strop fitted to the centreboard case a la 783 (see pic).

I'm not sure where to fit the front strop to get the front block high enough up.

783 has two pieces of ply epoxied to the side decks but I would like to avoid this. I have no access to the side tanks so I'm not sure if there is anything strong enough to fit the strop to either side.

Colin's hoop looks a good solution but a) I don't have one and don't know how to get/make one and b) wouldn't know how to fit it.

Any suggestions please?

Cheers
Paul

[paultp]

783 cockpit

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[paultp]

Centre main as now rigged.

Plusses - I can see where I'm going, main doesn't trail in water when on a run, gybing seems easier, more control of sail.

Minusses - haven't got used to facing forwards when tacking and tend to get either hands in a mess or tangled up in the main sheet (or both!).

Comparing my picture with that of 783, I seem to have my strop and ratchet slightly further back in the cockpit.

784 was once set up for centre main, I inherited the bits when I bought the boat (and made use of one of the blocks here). So I used the existing holes to fit the front strop and then fitted the ratchet block strop in the centre of the site of where a cover had been on the centreboard case where the old jammer had been fitted.

Could any of you kind people please measure from mast to ratchet and strop and give me the measurements just so I can check that I am not miles out and adjust if necessary. Thanks.

I am going to race it today in hopefully not too much wind and see how I fare.

Cheers
Paul

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[paultp]

After comparing various pics, moved the ratchet block forward 5 inches.

Too much wind today really to practice tacking (20 mph gusting to 32mph). Took it out, attempted to tack up to the far end of the lake, appalling! Not holding the tiller correctly I think. Came back in.

Found gybing much easier; reached and ran back to the jetty, easy to plane and control with centre main so sticking with it.

Messed around with the toe straps.

Will sail again wednesday in hopefully a bit less wind.

Now ordering bits for rudder - how expensive are pintles etc!!! Good grief!!

[paultp]

Sailed twice this week, tacking much better but not perfect.

Moved all blocks forward again as 1) keep getting head caught in main when tacking and 2) got in touch with Goffo and he gave me the measurement he uses for the front strop from the transom.

Changed toestraps again (lowered front) and can now hike without my feet sticking up in the air like a dead ant! Feels much safer.

Hopefully racing on Sunday so will be able to guage how I'm going against the streakers.

[paultp]

Raced on Sunday and boat seemed to go well despite my sailing. Streakers are back in the fast handicap so couldn't compare as I am in the slow against the almost impossible to beat on handicap single handed mirrors (about 8 and 1/2 minutes) and the toppers etc.

Tacking much better after midweek practises, gybing seems so much easier too and a decent wind allowed me to test the toestraps - the new position is a massive improvement.

So centre main and toestraps are now complete.

I was going to do the rudder next but noticed a strand of wire on one of the shrouds has gone so next is replacement shrouds and forestay, mast rake and spreader set up and lowers.

All bits ordered so hopefully I can fit them at the weekend.

I have already extended the spreaders though didn't notice any difference. Mind you I did say the boat was going well (IMHO) so maybe there is a difference.

I'll bung some photos up next weekend. Thanks to everyone that has passed on encouragement and advice (particularly Roger W).

Cheers
Paul

[paultp]

Forgot to add costs:

Changing to centre main: £87.00 - Ratchet block, a couple of offset shackles and 2 surprisingly expensive boom slides (1 of which I didn't need doh!).

Toestraps: £3.40 - 2 x webbing plates.

[paultp]

Lowers fitted.

Cost around £75 - those blocks are expensive!

Unfortunately made a mess of measuring for the new shrouds etc - different size needed as changing shroud levers for adjusters - so had to re-fit old ones and need to re-order. Doh!

Extended spreaders another hole which tightened rig. Also found that the mast heel was loose so put 2 self tappers through the mast and heel to stop it twisting whilst sailing.

Sailed today and seemed to be pointing better.

Will sort the shrouds when back off holiday.

Cheers
Paul

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[paultp]

Back after my hols, new shrouds & forestay (correct length this time!) arrived on Wednesday so I went up to fit them today.

Took the shroud levers off the shrouds and replaced them with holt stay adjusters, put one of the shroud levers on the forestay.

So I can now mess around with mast rake, spreader length and angle and adjust forestay or shrouds as necessary.

Cost: £95 (would have been £65 if I could calculate and measure).

Unfortunately, when I turned the boat upside down to see if I had done any damage when I grounded it the other week, I noticed some cracking and found a couple of soft bits. These look like they are the underside of where I had to fill and tape in the cockpit earlier in the season. So I scraped off the paint removed the soft wood and filled them.

So no sailing for me for a week or so until I can get these bits sanded down and painted. Haven't got time until a week monday.

Hey ho!

Cheers
Paul

[paultp]

I think the damage to the hull is more serious than I thought. The ply has split in one place (just 1 layer) and it is underneath where I had to repair the cockpit.

The other bit of damage is where water has got in under the paint and so was a bit soggy, this needs cutting out and filling/replacing.

I think I'm going to strip the hull back and then apply the same matting as pegasus has done to 708. Bit drastic but I fear the hull needs strengthening

The gunwhale at the front feels soft too so needs replacing. Can someone advise what I replace it with? i.e. what wood the strip is?

So winter is going to be taken up sorting out the hull and various other bits on the boat before refitting all the new shiny bits I spent the summer fitting.

Hey Ho!

Cheers
Paul

[paultp]

Put the first coat of toplac on the hull today (after UCP & 2 coats of undercoat) so I thought I'd add to this thread I started last year.

Found 2 soft areas and 1 bit of split ply underneath so repaired each one as best I could.

Hope to fit the slot gasket on Saturday then turn the boat the right way up on sunday and sort out the area round the centre board bolt hole which I did a quick repair on last season. Going to strengthen both sides with ply.

Next week is sort out the new rudder and stock, refurbish the outhaul system in the boom and fix the rubbing strip at the front.

Then hopefully put everything back together and get it back on the water at Easter.

I'll do some pics later in the week, not too close up though as my repairs are solid but not necessarily pretty!

[paultp]

Just to bring this up to date;

I have now repaired 3 areas on the hull and given it 2 coats of undercoat and 2 coats of toplac.

I've removed the rudder transom fittings, filled the holes and varnished the transom and rear part of the deck.

I've repaired 2 small bits on the front deck which had become a bit soft and also taken out and replaced a soft bit of rubbing strip at the front.

I glued 2 bits of ply (with suitable hole in each) one each side of the c/b slot to strengthen it as the hole one side looked enlarged and iffy. The rest of the slot seems sound though. I'd done a bodge repair on one side last season and still had water leaking in.

I've fitted a new mylar slot gasket and if it is stuck down OK will sand and paint round it tomorrow.

Then it is just the front deck left to varnish; 2 coats should do it. (Or just varnish the repaired bits then lightly sand down the lot and give it one coat). I'll probably slop some varnish around in the cockpit too, on the ply round the c/b slot and inside the slot too (I sanded and epoxied inside the slot when I was repairing the hull).

I've replaced the outhaul system on the boom and fitted some calibration stickers. They look good but I'll have to experiment with settings this season.

So just the rudder to finish varnishing, put the fittings on it then attach it to the transom.

I'm hoping to get it back to Ripon SC on Wednesday, put everything back on it (hopefully nobody has nicked the mast!) and sail it in the first evening pursuit of the season.

Fingers crossed that everything holds up OK. If not I'm going to burn it and sell all the new fittings off!

[paultp]

Sailed last night in the first wednesday night pursuit and in a light wind came about 6th out of about 15, beat both streakers!

I would have done better but was over the line at the start and also capsized the boat with a poorly executed roll tack, luckily just managed to not fall out, scrambled on to the side and righted it before it turned turtle.

New rudder seemed to perform much better than the old one but I think my tiller extension is now too short.

Slot gasket was fine.

Unfortunately,halfway through the race heard a nasty cracking sound and afterwards found a split in the hull roughly where my repair is, so no more racing for me for a while. Going to get it professionally repaired this time rather than trying to bodge it myself as I think it is serious.

Either that or burn it.

[paultp]

Progonosis is that a good lump of one side of the hull under the cockpit needs replacing.

Local chap cannot start for 3 weeks but has lent me a plastic Q'ba thingy to sail in whilst waiting for the repair.

Looks like the bonfire has been postponed!