Micro Navigator lead keel fin
Well, my remaining 'to do' list
for Micro Navigator just got
shorter by one BIG task today.
I jacked up the hull, and dragged
the 400 lbs lead ballast and mounted
it under the hull. That is the
last thing to do that I wasn't sure
that I could figure out how to do.
After a couple false starts, I
built a lever arm that allowed me
to tip the lead to a vertical position.
Then I built two shallow 'carts' of
3/4" plywood, that I rolled around using
some 3/4" steel rods as wheels.
There are a dozen or so little tasks
remaining. But the only big tasks are the
cutting of the sails, and the transportaion
to water.
for Micro Navigator just got
shorter by one BIG task today.
I jacked up the hull, and dragged
the 400 lbs lead ballast and mounted
it under the hull. That is the
last thing to do that I wasn't sure
that I could figure out how to do.
After a couple false starts, I
built a lever arm that allowed me
to tip the lead to a vertical position.
Then I built two shallow 'carts' of
3/4" plywood, that I rolled around using
some 3/4" steel rods as wheels.
There are a dozen or so little tasks
remaining. But the only big tasks are the
cutting of the sails, and the transportaion
to water.
Went sailing with my engineer yesterday. We went to Cabilou island
and had a nice meal there at the Cabilau Beach Club. Expensive!!
The weighted rudder, weighted centerboard and new steering system
worked very well. She hauls ass on a reach is good running but
sucks going to windward. I didn't take the outboard and that was a
mistake. Winds were light. We used the GPS and got up to 9
kilometers per hour on a reach. Two times the ferry came close. I
simply let it pass then took the wake head on. Absolutely no
problems. Wouldn't want to have the wakes or any big waves hit her
broadside. If I built her again I would use 1/2 inch ply on the
bottom. The bottom "oil-cans" a bit. The new flotation/storage
chambers work well. I have two take-apart paddles that I got from
the neighbor for 100 pesos. They are adequate but I wouldn't want
to have to paddle the boat far. Dandan enjoyed himself and so did I
but the crawling around made the knee sore again. (I injured it
last Monday when I tripped over a chicken. Another story) Edna
sent a pump boat out to find us. She got worried as it was getting
close to dark and we let him tow us in since it was getting late.
Rudder up the boat fishtailed a lot but we dropped the rudder and
she followed like a puppy on a leash. All in all a great little
boat. More than two aboard will be crowded. Using the new rope
steering system it will sail it'self and lets me load and light the
pipe, get a drink of water or just have a look around. Brailing
system works well in real life condidions and is fast. At Cabilou
we saied her right up on the beach with no problems. Lots of the
local Filipinos were interested in the wierd boat that the Kano
sails.
I'll post some construction pix on the website when I get a
chance. Don't have any sailing pictures from the last outing. Had
to use the batteries from the camera in the GPS.
Life is good.
Smoothe sailiing to all.
Steve.
and had a nice meal there at the Cabilau Beach Club. Expensive!!
The weighted rudder, weighted centerboard and new steering system
worked very well. She hauls ass on a reach is good running but
sucks going to windward. I didn't take the outboard and that was a
mistake. Winds were light. We used the GPS and got up to 9
kilometers per hour on a reach. Two times the ferry came close. I
simply let it pass then took the wake head on. Absolutely no
problems. Wouldn't want to have the wakes or any big waves hit her
broadside. If I built her again I would use 1/2 inch ply on the
bottom. The bottom "oil-cans" a bit. The new flotation/storage
chambers work well. I have two take-apart paddles that I got from
the neighbor for 100 pesos. They are adequate but I wouldn't want
to have to paddle the boat far. Dandan enjoyed himself and so did I
but the crawling around made the knee sore again. (I injured it
last Monday when I tripped over a chicken. Another story) Edna
sent a pump boat out to find us. She got worried as it was getting
close to dark and we let him tow us in since it was getting late.
Rudder up the boat fishtailed a lot but we dropped the rudder and
she followed like a puppy on a leash. All in all a great little
boat. More than two aboard will be crowded. Using the new rope
steering system it will sail it'self and lets me load and light the
pipe, get a drink of water or just have a look around. Brailing
system works well in real life condidions and is fast. At Cabilou
we saied her right up on the beach with no problems. Lots of the
local Filipinos were interested in the wierd boat that the Kano
sails.
I'll post some construction pix on the website when I get a
chance. Don't have any sailing pictures from the last outing. Had
to use the batteries from the camera in the GPS.
Life is good.
Smoothe sailiing to all.
Steve.