Heron number 2104

[Paul H (admin)]

Unfortunately I do not have time, space or health to continue with this project.

So the incomplete hull, trailer and original rig, rudder, centreboard are freely available for any interested builder.

Send me a message or ask questions here.

Cheers
Paul

[LASER41420]

Hi Paul,
How far have you got with the hull assembly?
Steve

[Paul H (admin)]

Steve,

The difficult stuff has been done. Panels and transom stitched.
 
The main girder in Paul Fisher's design has been epoxied in place - it runs from the bow to the main bulkhead at end of foredeck, where it butts up to the centreboard case.

The original red mahogany side deck supports have been sanded and epoxied to 6mm ply seating frames, for every bulkhead. They are loosely in place at the moment.

You will need to level the hull and epoxy each bulkhead,  then chines and transom.

Paul Fisher has a better centreboard case, much lighter in 9mm ply.

I have the original seating in mahogany, but Paul's seating and buoyancy compartments are better and lighter. Ditto floorboards which are ridiculously heavy.

I'll take some pictures when I get home, but I'd like to think the difficult hull stage has been done - stitching and epoxy of the bow curve to the main girder.

Cheers
Paul

[LASER41420]

Hi Paul,
Yes I remember all those heavy bits from the one I had a go at restoring. Sounds tempting and I do have all that Heron kit in my garage. Do you have the plans for the other plywood panels i.e. foredeck etc?
Steve

[Paul H (admin)]

Steve,

Yes Paul Fisher's plans are complete, more or less. I also have the original plans from the Heron user group.

I have the original foredeck beams in mahogany. But again you can save weight by copying them in plywood. The end beam is visible, so for historical value you might want to reuse the mahogany version.

I cut the main bulkhead whole, but not the cutouts that Paul Fisher designed. My plan was to fit watertight access hatches with a view to sea sailing.

 -Paul

[LASER41420]

Hi Paul,
Good stuff and if it has at least one piece of the original hull structure visible then it is a restoration not a new build Is that all marine ply?
Steve

[Paul H (admin)]

Steve,

It is Buildbase exterior ply, FSC certified. It has 3 ply layers and a thin veneer each side. MilliBee is built of Buildbase ply, but the stuff they sold over 10 years ago. She hasn't sank yet

Here are some pictures, taken with phone camera this morning:

The bow. Stitching was tricky but its all glued in place. A slight bulge I could not remove because there is a lot of curvature at that point. But easily sanded smooth of course.




From inside, the 9mm ply girder with shaped softwood wedges glued to make the bow strong.



Frame 1 slots into the girder making a very strong assembly for the bow with minimal weight. See how the plank is pulled onto curved blocks by screws - the original Heron planks where curved at that point.
Frame 1 is not glued in place yet, but the ply has been curved for many months and should retain most of the curve.



Towards the back of the girder. Again curved across the plank, the main frame is curved also as per original design.



There are plenty of original mahogany pieces for authenticity, but they all add weight.

I'll take some more photos tomorrow with a better camera; I'm using an old S4 mini at the moment. My Samsung S7 with high res photos is in Davy Jones locker, just south of Easthead in Chichester Harbour. About 6m down.

-Paul

[LASER41420]

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the offer but you have more faith in that exterior ply than I do, best of luck in finding your project a new home.
Steve