We're back on our mooring as of 26 April !
Friday 27 April 2018
Back in the water !
Thankyou to everyine who worked so hard - and those that continue to do so:
We're back on our mooring as of 26 April !
We're back on our mooring as of 26 April !
Tuesday 24 April 2018
Monday 16 April 2018
Fancy sailing on Annabella ?
Following on from the success of our passage from Holyhead to the Scillies in 2017, this year were planning another cruise between 25 June and 06 July this year.
This will be a slightly different format, as we hope to do it in 3 x day passages, the first of which will be from Holyhead to the Isle of Man, the second around Man, and the third will take us up to the south of the Solway firth, where we will rendezvous with some entertaining friends. (Then obviously coming back)
We are planning around one week to suit the weather and tides, and can overnight, crack on or linger at any point. There is the option of diverting to Ireland or around North Wales if we have spare time and the inclination.
We are looking for two experienced sailors to make up our crew to four,
Food on board, fuel, mooring dues etc are all included - although it would be ungracious to spurn any unsolicited contributions. If required, we can collect from Manchester airport , or you could fly to Dublin and get the ferry to Holyhead !
***
We're sailing for good company, good food, a bit of adventure and some fun. You would be expected to supply a sense of humour in working order, acquiescence to modern jazz and a basic knowledge of the theory of gas kettles. Message us here.
This will be a slightly different format, as we hope to do it in 3 x day passages, the first of which will be from Holyhead to the Isle of Man, the second around Man, and the third will take us up to the south of the Solway firth, where we will rendezvous with some entertaining friends. (Then obviously coming back)
We are looking for two experienced sailors to make up our crew to four,
Food on board, fuel, mooring dues etc are all included - although it would be ungracious to spurn any unsolicited contributions. If required, we can collect from Manchester airport , or you could fly to Dublin and get the ferry to Holyhead !
***
We're sailing for good company, good food, a bit of adventure and some fun. You would be expected to supply a sense of humour in working order, acquiescence to modern jazz and a basic knowledge of the theory of gas kettles. Message us here.
Sunday 15 April 2018
Our new teak and holly cabin sole - tragedy and comedy in 8 Acts
A few months ago, at the end of last season, I gave up a sailable day to visit my friend's new acquisition. I will admit that I was a little cheesed off, as good weather was scarce at that end of the season, but I had gone in exactly the wrong direction and found myself sitting on a boat which was slightly larger than Annabella, slightly newer, perhaps slightly posher. Unfortunately in all other respects, it failed inspire myself at least - in much the same way that the Austin Allegro would not have been a classic car if had been the only car ever built. If there was only one way in which she outshone 'Bella, it was heshiney stripey teak and holly floor. As I drove home, through the glens and the fens, through the high mountain passes, jungles and the arid wastelands, I though one thing, "...gonna get me some of that stripey flooring"
*
Well, it turns out there is only one source of supply in the UK (and also France - i did check) and that stripey flooring is breathtakingly expensive. The eye watering cost is also my fault in some small part, having got my head round making a major investment, I decided to go for the real thing rather than the laminate, and for a reasonable thickness - in this case 13mm - a decision which would pay off in spades rather later in the process . It was also readily apparent that measuring it right would take on the kind of importance only dimly hinted at by the words "fucking crucial".
*
So started a period of literally 2 months of measuring, templating, fitting and measuring again. Happily this also coincided with the input and support from the guys at ChopShop - who specialise in CNC machining and, now also councilling.
*
( Act 1 ) The first template was made using Proplex, which is a double skin board product, rather like corrugated cardboard, available from builders merchants and often used in construction for protecting floor finishes etc. It has the advantages of being cheap and dimensionally stable in cold and moist atmospheres. It can also be cut easily with scissors, possibly rather in the same way one can trim wall paper into an awkward corner. Happily, no photographs of this remain. Although the surface of the material is black it can be marked up in pencil and a comprehensive set of measurements were taken.
*
( Act 2 ) Back at base the problem was how to transfer to something meaningful. Luckily, I have access to computer aided design (CAD) software and a large format printer. The methodology was to start a CAD drawing with a large area of 10 x 10 mm grid. the measurements of the Proplex template were carefully measured off and those hand annotations incorporated.
What are the chances of that coming out perfect first time - well greater than that for a start. It kind of nearly worked so with a bit of pulling pushing we had a paper template. Actually we had two, because the width of the cabin sole exceeded the width of the printer, but no problem. We stuck them down, cut them up, marked them up and had us a new template.
(Act 3 ) Back again to base with what I hoped were better measurements, and to adjust our drawing. At least one thing had became obvious - it would be better to lift the table bases and fix them through the new cabin sole. After updating the drawing I was able to email it to ChopShop who used it to produced the first of our "proper" templates from 5 mm mdf , using a computer controlled flat bed router / cutter big enough to take a 8 x 4' sheet. The mdf sheet was cheap and easy to modify, but would be dimensionally stable in the humidity on board and resist mechanical stretching.
I admit to hoping that this would be a good fit first time, but the mark up shows the problems, principally from the distortion of the paper template by moisture and stretching both on board and in the printing process. Once again good sense from Chop Shop prevailed, as they insisted on another template rather than go for the final cut .
*
(Act 4) So I had to alter the drawing and sit on my hands - the guys were pushed out with work so I missed out one weekend and so had to wait two weeks for the next version of the template to be produced.
When I did, it was very nearly perfect.
*
(Act 5 ) In fact I made one very minor change and we were set for the final cut, and we ordered up the real material, which was couriered diagonally across the country surprisingly quickly. Careful to the last, the guys called me up just to check - "stripey side up ?"
*
(Act 6) Back now in my possession, feeling pretty confident and looking pretty good. This really is pretty good material (hence the price) but once it goes down I'm not expecting it up again.
Hence at least two coats of marine varnish to all sides and especially edges
For each coat, this took up most of the kitchen for most of the day, but fortunately it was over quickly - and the memory has faded.
*
(Act 7 ) Now we were ready to go:
.
At this stage it became clear what a good decision it was to spend extra on thicker material. I'm sure that thiner material would not have survived the long trip to boat yard as well or being manhandled the last 10 feet.
Mercifully, it dropped into place exactly an first time. Its held down by the table bases and is stiff enough - because of that thickness - to have not moved at all. The gap at the edge, which accommodated the fillet radius of the GRP part, is filled with silicone sealant. This isn't as strong or as sticky as Sikaflex - but I was very wary of creating a hard spot in the moulding and at least at first
wanted to follow any differential movement, not that it turned out that there was any.
*
(Act 8) Finished !
It's great under foot - especially bare feet - and has really lifted the look of the saloon.
Having the digital resources to make accurate templates was key to achieving a good looking result. Much credit also goes to the guys at Chop Shop ( http://chopshopcnc.com/ ) for there insight,input, skill, coming in early and working on a Saturday. You should definitely talk to them if you are doing a project like this.
*
Well, it turns out there is only one source of supply in the UK (and also France - i did check) and that stripey flooring is breathtakingly expensive. The eye watering cost is also my fault in some small part, having got my head round making a major investment, I decided to go for the real thing rather than the laminate, and for a reasonable thickness - in this case 13mm - a decision which would pay off in spades rather later in the process . It was also readily apparent that measuring it right would take on the kind of importance only dimly hinted at by the words "fucking crucial".
*
So started a period of literally 2 months of measuring, templating, fitting and measuring again. Happily this also coincided with the input and support from the guys at ChopShop - who specialise in CNC machining and, now also councilling.
*
( Act 1 ) The first template was made using Proplex, which is a double skin board product, rather like corrugated cardboard, available from builders merchants and often used in construction for protecting floor finishes etc. It has the advantages of being cheap and dimensionally stable in cold and moist atmospheres. It can also be cut easily with scissors, possibly rather in the same way one can trim wall paper into an awkward corner. Happily, no photographs of this remain. Although the surface of the material is black it can be marked up in pencil and a comprehensive set of measurements were taken.
*
( Act 2 ) Back at base the problem was how to transfer to something meaningful. Luckily, I have access to computer aided design (CAD) software and a large format printer. The methodology was to start a CAD drawing with a large area of 10 x 10 mm grid. the measurements of the Proplex template were carefully measured off and those hand annotations incorporated.
What are the chances of that coming out perfect first time - well greater than that for a start. It kind of nearly worked so with a bit of pulling pushing we had a paper template. Actually we had two, because the width of the cabin sole exceeded the width of the printer, but no problem. We stuck them down, cut them up, marked them up and had us a new template.
 |
| The paper template is measured off around the table base. - human feet shown for scale |
(Act 3 ) Back again to base with what I hoped were better measurements, and to adjust our drawing. At least one thing had became obvious - it would be better to lift the table bases and fix them through the new cabin sole. After updating the drawing I was able to email it to ChopShop who used it to produced the first of our "proper" templates from 5 mm mdf , using a computer controlled flat bed router / cutter big enough to take a 8 x 4' sheet. The mdf sheet was cheap and easy to modify, but would be dimensionally stable in the humidity on board and resist mechanical stretching.
 |
| mdf template version 1 - in place |
 |
| ...and marked up |
I admit to hoping that this would be a good fit first time, but the mark up shows the problems, principally from the distortion of the paper template by moisture and stretching both on board and in the printing process. Once again good sense from Chop Shop prevailed, as they insisted on another template rather than go for the final cut .
*
(Act 4) So I had to alter the drawing and sit on my hands - the guys were pushed out with work so I missed out one weekend and so had to wait two weeks for the next version of the template to be produced.
 |
| mdf template - version 2 |
When I did, it was very nearly perfect.
*
(Act 5 ) In fact I made one very minor change and we were set for the final cut, and we ordered up the real material, which was couriered diagonally across the country surprisingly quickly. Careful to the last, the guys called me up just to check - "stripey side up ?"
*
(Act 6) Back now in my possession, feeling pretty confident and looking pretty good. This really is pretty good material (hence the price) but once it goes down I'm not expecting it up again.
Hence at least two coats of marine varnish to all sides and especially edges
 |
| It takes up the kitchen |
For each coat, this took up most of the kitchen for most of the day, but fortunately it was over quickly - and the memory has faded.
*
(Act 7 ) Now we were ready to go:
.
At this stage it became clear what a good decision it was to spend extra on thicker material. I'm sure that thiner material would not have survived the long trip to boat yard as well or being manhandled the last 10 feet.
Mercifully, it dropped into place exactly an first time. Its held down by the table bases and is stiff enough - because of that thickness - to have not moved at all. The gap at the edge, which accommodated the fillet radius of the GRP part, is filled with silicone sealant. This isn't as strong or as sticky as Sikaflex - but I was very wary of creating a hard spot in the moulding and at least at first
wanted to follow any differential movement, not that it turned out that there was any.
*
(Act 8) Finished !
It's great under foot - especially bare feet - and has really lifted the look of the saloon.
Having the digital resources to make accurate templates was key to achieving a good looking result. Much credit also goes to the guys at Chop Shop ( http://chopshopcnc.com/ ) for there insight,input, skill, coming in early and working on a Saturday. You should definitely talk to them if you are doing a project like this.
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