I was struck a recent greenpeace post,
http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/20/more-plastic-than-fish-in-ocean/
on the subject of plastics trash in the ocean.
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I couldn't help thinking that at time when charter prices for bulk carriers are at an all time low and many of them are just swinging on their anchor rodes, could they not just...
Thursday 21 January 2016
Sunday 10 January 2016
New venture in to making purpose made GRP parts for Annabella
The weather is seasonably bitter and the days short, so there's little daylight to do much aboard Annabella. Even if I did, it's so cold that things break easily and screwdrivers fly off the screw heads and into adjacent bits of boat or boater. So I've stayed at home and concentrated on finishing a project which started last year:
At the start of last season we moved the engine control panel away from its position below the binnacle - where it was vulnerable to the seaboots of clumsy helmsmen / women - to the port side cockpit pocket. This all worked brilliantly and had the advantage one the rev counter was actually in view, but left a hole in its old position, which was temporarily covered by 4mm tufnol sheet cut to size - looking okay but just a bit ramschackle.
So for the last few months I've been working on replacing this , and some other parts, with GRP (fiberglass) parts made to fit, and the Christmas break gave me the time needed to build the moulds.
The cover plate for the engine panel was a good choice for the test piece, because it was fairly quick to make and if it all went wrong it would be easy and quick to try again. To cut a long story short, it was my first attempt at making - rather than repairing - a GRP part and I quite satisfied with the result, Now much more confident to go onto more complex parts!
Just to also add, there's lots of advice on the web or in books on the lamination process, but the best advice is always from those that have done it themselves. Many thanks and you know who you are...
Watch out this space for more parts coming soon!
 |
| The engine control panel is on the port side of the wheel |
At the start of last season we moved the engine control panel away from its position below the binnacle - where it was vulnerable to the seaboots of clumsy helmsmen / women - to the port side cockpit pocket. This all worked brilliantly and had the advantage one the rev counter was actually in view, but left a hole in its old position, which was temporarily covered by 4mm tufnol sheet cut to size - looking okay but just a bit ramschackle.
So for the last few months I've been working on replacing this , and some other parts, with GRP (fiberglass) parts made to fit, and the Christmas break gave me the time needed to build the moulds.
 |
| Mould on the left & part - with blue PVA film - on the right |
The cover plate for the engine panel was a good choice for the test piece, because it was fairly quick to make and if it all went wrong it would be easy and quick to try again. To cut a long story short, it was my first attempt at making - rather than repairing - a GRP part and I quite satisfied with the result, Now much more confident to go onto more complex parts!
 |
| The finished part - after being cleaned up |
Just to also add, there's lots of advice on the web or in books on the lamination process, but the best advice is always from those that have done it themselves. Many thanks and you know who you are...
Watch out this space for more parts coming soon!
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