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Post by paultp on Sept 10, 2010 10:59:20 GMT
Had a look at the repair today and it seems to have done the trick. It is pretty solid and there is much less flexing in the area of the hull.
So I sanded it down (by hand as no power in garage) and applied a layer of fairly liquid microballoon/epoxy filler across the whole area. It should sit a bit proud so I can sand it to a smooth finish before painting.
Happily it is quite warm at the moment so it should be set by tomorrow.
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Post by paultp on Sept 11, 2010 12:04:57 GMT
Repair feels really solid now, with very little flexing. Sanded down the top layer of filler today to a nice smooth finish, wiped clean and finished with a tack cloth, then gave it a coat of UCP primer. Here's what it looks like now (you can still see those areas of hard epoxy from the previous repair): Attachments:
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Post by paultp on Oct 21, 2010 10:50:55 GMT
As is the way with these things, as soon as you think you've fixed everything something else crops up!
I finished the hull repair off and turned the boat right way up and noticed another area in the cockpit needed attention. So another week of epoxy, filler, tape, prime and varnish and that was sorted too.
I've hunted round the rest of the boat and couldn't find any other things that would stop me sailing it so decided to take it out yesterday in our club's informal Wednesday afternoon racing.
I should also mention that Roger's North Technora sail is a new addition to 784 and as the new sail numbers turned up yesterday morning, I bunged them on and sailed 784 with said new sail.
Really pleased to report that it went brilliantly! No nasty cracking noises whilst sailing it and much quicker with the new sail, points better too.
A season of regular sailing in my streaker has really improved my sailing and I am much more confident in the (more tippy) moth. Wind yesterday was about 13/14 mph gusting into the low 20's and I found that by actually hiking out and getting the boat flat it goes much better and doesn't ship water over the side decks by the shrouds! On the last beat to the finish I overtook a streaker who was 4 boat lengths ahead of me at the penultimate mark. Didn't beat them all but its early days.
I'm probably going to sail 784 in the club frostbite series through November just to make sure that if there is any more work to do I have the winter to do it.
So (fingers crossed) a rejuvenated 784 is now back on the water!
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Post by paultp on Nov 1, 2010 14:33:22 GMT
The club had its "Champion of Champions" trophy races at the weekend, sadly I didn't qualify for it so raced in "The Others" race. I decided that three races in light winds would be a decent check of 784.
Came 3rd, 5th and 4th in a field of 13 which gave me equal 4th overall with 7 points. Beaten by a Merlin Rocket and 2 Enterprises, tying with another Enterprise.
Frustratingly the Enterprises that raced were really inconsistent but managed one good result in 3 races. 2nd place had results of 5, 4, 1 whilst 3rd had 1, 8, 5. The Ent I tied with had 4, 9, 3.
Still I beat the solos and streakers and even beat the unbeatable mirror! (Mirror single handed PY is 1372)
Much commenting on North Technora sail that went really well.
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Post by Meat Pie ... on Nov 1, 2010 17:09:39 GMT
Glad your "NEW Sail did the business Paul.... RW
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Post by paultp on Nov 14, 2010 17:30:20 GMT
Just an update; 784 is going really well now; 6 races of the frostbite series gone and I have 5 1st places! (Didn't sail the other race)
2 Sundays of light winds and a lot of complaining about amount of sail area on moth from Solo sailers.
;D Arf! Arf!
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Post by paultp on Nov 29, 2010 9:27:38 GMT
After sailing 3 races last week with a hangover, coming 4th, 3rd and 2nd (hangover wore off through the day!), I still led the series with 5 wins and a 2nd. Unfortunately my nearest rival (in a streaker) won all three races and so had 4 wins and two 2nds leaving him only one point behind.
Yesterday in bitter cold and light winds I won the final 2 races of the series. My first club series win ever!
This series has shown that in my moth I can beat the streakers and solos in light winds but as soon as the wind gets up they both beat me. Maybe it is my technique but I usually beat most of the solos in my streaker when it blows.
In the final race yesterday, the wind increased as a snow storm moved towards us and the streaker almost immediately started to catch me. It was only by covering him up the beat that I held on to win by a boat length or so. I must have been 20 boat lengths ahead at one point and didn't feel I had made any mistakes.
I do feel that if Ripon are putting in returns I'm not going to help our PY by only sailing the moth in the light wind evening series next season, but I just cannot be competitive in a breeze on the current PY.
Any advice?
(I might start this as a topic in another part of the forum)
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Post by Meat Pie ... on Nov 29, 2010 11:20:17 GMT
Well done Paul on your first Club Series Win and in a Snow Storm too....!!!
How to be competitive in a breeze ? Big question... No 1 ...assuming your equipment is the bestyou can get is to work very hard in a blow. No substitute for it I am afraid and perhaps accept that with such a short water-line length that a B.M. IS less competitive in a blow. Guess you have a problem being the only Moth in your Club but number 2 recommendation is to sail against other Moths and if possible team-up with a Tuning Buddy and prefereably someone who is already quicker than you !...Difficult I know where you are. No 3 ...also difficult I know as you are a long way North...But how about joining us at some Opens next year and joining us at Frampton on our Moth Day.Believe there is also talk of having a Tuning session etc at the Nationals next year.Sailing against others will soon reap rewards and indicate just how fast[or not !] you are.
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Post by paultp on Nov 29, 2010 16:20:42 GMT
I'd really like to sail against other moths again, even though my poor ancient moth is hardly going to be competitive against all these brand spanking new ones I keep reading about!
Trouble is, as you say, every open is a long way from me and would probably need an overnight stay either side. I'm afraid that I hate camping!
I sailed at two Nationals in the late 90's and stayed in local pubs for the week (I can recommend the White Horse at Empingham if sailing at Rutland). I'm aiming to get to the nationals in 2011 and am in the process of selling my record collection to raise the money for a camper van.
So if all that goes to plan I should be towing my boat behind a converted VW transporter next year. It would be worth it for the tuning session.
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Post by Meat Pie ... on Nov 29, 2010 17:21:51 GMT
Paul Just had come back to you on the boat age thing..... Provided the boat and its fittings/foils/spars are all sound and as light as possible,the hull is well finished and sound,well rigged and set-up with good foils and sail there is no reason that your boat should not be competitive against the newer boats. There are many cases of older Moths doing outstandingly well and even winning the Championships and certainly still doing well at Opens at Club level. We have too old boats ...700 and 790 and both are very fast I can assure you.700 is a special boat indeed and is very solidly built[and overweight]but is still very fast especially upwind. Glad to hear that you hope to become one of the Travellers next season. However if you do want to make a weekend of it we can recommend good accomodation at Frampton within staggering distance.
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Post by paultp on Nov 30, 2010 15:02:33 GMT
Paul Just had come back to you on the boat age thing..... Provided the boat and its fittings/foils/spars are all sound and as light as possible,the hull is well finished and sound,well rigged and set-up with good foils and sail there is no reason that your boat should not be competitive against the newer boats.There are many cases of older Moths doing outstandingly well and even winning the Championships and certainly still doing well at Opens at Club level. We have too old boats ...700 and 790 and both are very fast I can assure you.700 is a special boat indeed and is very solidly built[and overweight]but is still very fast especially upwind. Glad to hear that you hope to become one of the Travellers next season. However if you do want to make a weekend of it we can recommend good accomodation at Frampton within staggering distance. I know there are some good old boats about, whoever bought Painted Lady got a boat that has always been fast and is 752 still sailing? Moneybox was quick too for a boat that was restored from scratch. I'm working on mine but getting everything you mention in top shape is time consuming and costly. My main aim these last two seasons has been to get 784 into a state where she can be sailed after abandoning her for years. I love sailing her but have no idea if she is a fast boat in comparison with other moths or whether my sailing has improved enough to find out. Despite the fact that my streaker cost about 7 times what 784 is worth, 784 gets much more attention. I have a few things to do to the Streaker before next season too; gel coat knocks generally but they will be last minute things. Whereas 784 has just had a council garage rented for her for the winter period and I hope to have another look at the hull in the new year. The poor streaker is staying in the boat park! I'm thinking of having the hull paint job finished by the chaps in Huddersfield, they can spray and heat up their workshop and so can do a better job than me. Might even get them to do the centre board too. All depends on cost. I was also still umming and aahhing about the c/b you had for sale when it sold. Also wondered about the mast and boom but I seem to have spent so much on 784 over 2 seasons that I drew the line at where she is. When the new calendar comes out I might see if I can make a couple of the weekends where there are 2 opens. Gloucester is a fair old trek from York though! At the moment I'm just pleased I've got her back on the water and performing well. Winning the frostbite was an unexpected bonus! Now I'm looking forward to banditting the Wednesday night series at Ripon in her next season!
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Post by paultp on Mar 30, 2011 13:15:43 GMT
This saga will continue indefinitely on my blog: Just Another Dinghy Sailing BlogIf anyone would like to do a bit of reciprocal linking please drop me a pm, alternatively you can contact me (soon) through the blog when I get around to the contact me page.
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