Headlining

Following some abuse about the quality of my pictures ( ;~P) I have uploaded a wee vid clip of the headlining and lamps.

Odd jobs

Although it is my birthday that is looming, Ciao Bella seems to be getting all of the pressies.  This weekend she has acquired a windex, Red Ensign, Flag staff holder, GPS, Charts covering Dorset and Devon and a smoke chimney for the oil lamp.

Base fitted to Ariel

The windex was going to be fitted as a stand alone unit but when I unpacked it, it had instructions for it to go over a glomex antenna.  My antenna is not a Glomex but with some thought, structural epoxy, sikaflex (God I love that stuff) and a bit of fettling I had it fitted.

All attached to mast top

Flag staff holder fitted, can't fit the flag staff as the house is in the way.

I also fitted the headlining and LED recessed lamps.  The headlining looks excellent, I will need to find a cunning solution to support the outside edges. I was screwed into wood strip that were held by the grab rail bolts, as these encouraged water leaks I have banned them.  The LED lamps are superb.  There is plenty of light to read and study charts by but it is a nice warm light, not stark clinical white light that you often get from LED's



Headlining, Floors and Lamps fitted



GPS60

Tense time in the Brook household... GPS60 package on eBay, a nervous finger on the bid button.  No worries, it's in the bag,  The price shot up from £44 to my winning bid of £97 in the last few seconds; I wish I had a car that could accelerate that quick. :~)

I had wired my old one up incorrectly on Jelly Bean and blown the NMEA output.  I was just going to buy another new one, however the GPS60 (like the one above) is no longer made and the cheapest rugged Garmin GPS is well over £200.  This one, although second hand comes with some nice accessories.
I'd better look out for a DSC VHF now... Has anyone got a spare one?

It's official

The new decals arrived from Dartfire the other day. So after peeling off the old name, removing the glue and giving the area a good scrub with rubbing compound; I applied the new graphics. They were an absolute doddle to fit and I hope you'll agree, they look great.  I know there are more important jobs to do but this gave me a lift... Besides, how can I call her Ciao Bella if she's got the wrong name on her bum :0))

This made me chuckle.

I received the following text from Ciao Bellas previous owner today.

'Been reading your blog. Bit about my drive embarrassed me to spend a lot of money!'

You don't want to do that Ed... I might come back and visit :0))   Ed also sent a piccie of his replacement for Ciao Bella, or should I say Comme Ci Comme Ca.   He's bought a Dart 16 catamaran which he can easily tow from the middle of the country to just about any beach, launch, sail, recover and drive home all in the same day if he wants.  I couldn't see that happening with the Hurley 20.

It's a fine looking boat which looks like it will encourage a lot of smiles, I look forward to see it blasting around Studland bay.

Drip drip drip... Dorset water torture

This morning I had a quick check on Ciao Bella to see how effective my repairs had been.  The drizzly weather was perfect for the task and highlighted that I still have some issues to sort out.

Sealed... I hope

Right, the grab rails are back on with a bed of sikaflex so hopefully the coach roof is now water proof, rain is forecast for tomorrow so we'll soon see.  The stanchions and pull pit rail still need attention but it's getting there. Next job, if it's sealed is to make and fit the headlining.

Grab rails reborn

The weather has been kind, even though it's pretty cold at least it hasn't rained... which is good when there are twelve holes in the coach roof. This evening I have been trying to get the flaky mouldy grab rails back into shape.

They were in pretty bad shape as can be seen from the picture above.  A couple of hours work with the detail sander, a pressie to myself from Bodge & Screwit  today, had them looking reasonably good again. I had tried, unsuccessfully, to sand these down by hand on Saturday, that's when I decided I needed a sander.

Below are the tools that I used for this, the detail sander as previously mentioned and and a drum sander, on the drill, for getting into the radius' on the under side.



Once a reasonable finish was achieved, I say reasonable as these are by no means perfect, I gave them a coat of varnish. All being well I hope to fit them tomorrow evening.  That should make the coach roof water tight, which means that I can then make and fit the new headlining. I picked up some beech faced 3.5mm ply especially for the job today. It feels like I am making progress but it also feels like time is slipping away.

Let's hope it doesn't rain

Lunch time and handrails, hatch runners and front windows are out.
In a fit of clumsiness I managed to snap one of the hand rails. Fortunately I was able to screw n glue it back together.
I'll just finish my fish fingers n chips and get bak out on it. I don't think I'll have time to do anything with the stanchions today.

Plan for today

Brrrr... It's a bit chilly this morning. I've just broken the ice in the bilges and bailed it out.
The plan for today is to try and stop rain water getting into the boat.
1. Remove grab rails, clean and refit / re-bed on sikaflex.
2. Remove front windows, clean and refit / re-bed on sikaflex.
3. Remove main hatch runners, repair GRP & refit on bed of sikaflex with machine screws instead of self tappers
4. Re-bed stanchions and rails.

I can't think of any where else it could be getting in. Right let's get on with it, well maybe just one more cuppa :9-)

Genoa back from repair

Well I eventually have my Genoa back from Concept sails. They have done a nice job on relaxing the sacrificial UV strip. That's another job complete :-)

Bargain Hurley 20 on eBay

I've just seen this boat on eBay and, without looking at it in the flesh, it looks like an absolute bargain.  Less than £1500 gets you a boat, engine and some nice nav equipment, all ready to sail, once cleaned and antifouled.... and if you're close to Plymouth you get hardstanding paid until March.
 



If you want to see more goto http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hurley-20-Sailing-Boat-Cruising-Yacht-GRP-Bilge-keels-/150728074172?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sailing_Boats_ET&hash=item231817e3bc

Go on, treat yourself to a NewYear pressie :D