What's really happening down at Port-Na-Storm

[dschin]

how's about experiences of katie's loading capacity at longer trails??

regards hannes(vienna/austria)

[Port-Na-Storm]

Hi Hannes,
You'll have to be patient.

Katie isn't quite finished yet and at the current rate of progress its likely to be a long winter in the workshop.   She is designed specifically to carry me and my camping gear as comfortably as possible with the minimum of effort, for a week. If the wind is in the right direction we'll get a push but if not we'll have to paddle. Katie has a very fine entry, with a flat run aft as they say, which is designed to make her easy to paddle and still be stable and able to carry a decent load. It does mean though that the weight needs to be aft of midships to keep her trimmed.
The design load is approx 200kg including crew and equipment but I'm not saying what the ratio is.

Cheers Graham

[Port-Na-Storm]

OK OK I can hear you all sniggering at the back and thinking I must have been woofing down the deep fried Mars Bars to put on that much weight.

So that should read 100kg / 220lbs.

Although I imagine she'll take a lot more weight than that if asked.

G

[Port-Na-Storm]

Back to Katie Beardie.

Katie now has a fine set of decks with three big holes.



 The holes at either end will be covered by hatches and the one in the middle will be filed by me.

I started making the hatches the other day.



I made a former the same curvature as the deck and then laminated two layers of 4mm ply. The inner layer is the cut-out for the hatch so it fits inside and the outer layer is about 1"1/4 oversized.

 

I started making the coaming a while back. As usual first attempts proved stubborn and awkward. The cheap ply didn't want to bend even with some persuasion from a bit of steam. I suspect there were knots in the inner core which were causing a problem. The aft end worked OK but the forward section ended up with wrinkles splits and chips and so it has been chucked.

This is the aft end, nothing is glued in position yet but it gives an idea of where i'm trying to get to.



More on the forward section soon...............................

[Anders]

Sweet. I like the color of the inside hull. (classical bathroom and kitchen)

[Port-Na-Storm]

Its "Aqua Fizz" actually. Beloved of municipal baths and public toilets throughout the land. I felt that it went well with the gloss black paintwork and the British Leyland fake wood dashboard.

Sort of a late sixties corporate failure retro thing going on here.
I've not quite decided where the toilet roll holder is going yet.

[Jeremy]

Port-Na-Storm wrote

Sort of a late sixties corporate failure retro thing going on here.
I've not quite decided where the toilet roll holder is going yet.

Even the colour of the foam blocks is reminiscent of the flecked paint finish so beloved as a wall finish on public toilets............

(looking good though, all the same)

Jeremy

[alopenboat]

On 16 Feb 2012 at 9:56, Port-Na-Storm [via UK HBBR Forum] wrote:
>
> Sort of a late sixties corporate failure retro thing going on here.
> I've not quite decided where the toilet roll holder is going yet.
>

As many who have spent time in Little Jim can testify a kitchen roll
is much more versatile than a toilet roll.

--
Hoping for calm nights

Alastair Law,      
Yeovil, England.
<http://www.little.jim.freeuk.com>          

[Paul H (admin)]

Port-Na-Storm wrote

Its "Aqua Fizz" actually. Beloved of municipal baths and public toilets throughout the land. I felt that it went well with the gloss black paintwork and the British Leyland fake wood dashboard.

Sort of a late sixties corporate failure retro thing going on here.
I've not quite decided where the toilet roll holder is going yet.

For the authentic 60s feel line the bottom of the lockers with offcuts of Thunderbirds or Fireball XL5 wallpaper. A pebble dash finish on the floor will add to the charm.

-Paul

[Paul H (admin)]

Just as I remember it:

http://www.thunderbirdsvintagetoys.co.uk/OtherThunderbirdsWallpaper.htm

Amazing!

[Port-Na-Storm]

Fireball XL5, I used to love that programme.

Two questions that even as a wee boy needed answering.

How did they get the launch trolley back and how did they land the thing?

Questions they had answered by the time they made thunderbirds.

TV heaven.

 

[Port-Na-Storm]

I need some bicycle brake type cables made up, but extra long, about 3.5m.

I've got loads of the outer cable but need the inners with a barrel on one end.
does anyone have the where-with-all or know of a source.

I know Bicycle Repairman could do it but he's never around when you need him.

[Jeremy]

Do you have a decent bike shop nearby (a real one, not like Hafrauds)?  If so, then they should have reels of inner and a variety of solder-on nipples, as pretty much all decent bikes have to have cables made to measure.  

If push comes to shove I could almost certainly make an inner up for you, as I'm reasonably sure I've got a fair bit of Bowden cable tucked away somewhere.  All I'd need to know would be the exact length you need and the size of barrel nipple .

Jeremy

[Anders]

"pretty much all decent bikes have to have cables made to measure"

¿Que y como?
Now I´m curious. I worked professionally a couple of years repairing and building bikes, but maybe I´ve never seen a decent one? 
So what kind of (decent) bicycles needs a cable made to measure? Certainly not racing bikes, mountain bikes or bikes fitted with interior shimano gears. I cant remember the Sturmey Archers though.

On the other hand, I´m sure cables could be made and if it only needs to have a fix point in one end and a scew adjustment in the other, it should be a small deal.

[Jeremy]

I can only go on the fact that two of my bikes have always needed gear cables (and on one brake cables) made-to-measure, Anders.  One was a recumbent, with odd cable lengths that were longer than standard and the other had through frame cables that were an odd size (about 1 mm diameter rather than 1.6 mm, IIRC).  Neither would take the off-the-shelf cables from the local bike shop (which is why I happen to have a couple of reels of Bowden cable tucked away!).

I believe that most bikes will accept off-the-shelf cables, albeit with these being cut to length as required, but my local bike shop does what I used to do and make up cables to the specific length required, with the cut end of the inner nicely soldered to stop it fraying (and keep it legal here - the regulations stipulate that the cut ends of the inner have to be protected from causing injury...............).

[Port-Na-Storm]

Cee Dubbs seems to be doing great with Polly Wee, really cracking on now.

I've managed to make some progress with Katie, her distant cousin, but as March leads into April I'm beginning to watch the calendar.

 

[Paul H (admin)]

She's looking great Graham.

I suggest you focus on getting the decks varnished/painted and generally making her water resistant.  Then you can fiddle with the internal fittings at your leisure - and I bet you'll think of another dozen improvements as you paddle in majestic style down the Thames.

Can I persuade you to helm the floating gin palace for a mile or two? I'd like to try Katie Beardie.

cheers
Paul

[Port-Na-Storm]

Most of the internal stuff has been done, its a case of doing what you can before the lid goes on, but as you say I'll have a list of things to change by the time I get to the first lock.

I'm happy to give you a go in Katie and pilot the floating beer tent for you, just don't expect there to be much left by the time we swap back.  

[Port-Na-Storm]

Spent what time I could today fitting the cables for the steering and working out what the foot pedal should look like. It turned out to be very simple which is more luck than judgement.

The boat doesn't look much different from the last time but she does have a bit more paint on her and some rubbing strips.



Things are beginning to come together, I'm hoping to pick up the spars from B&Q in a few days, (can you guess?) and the sail material arrived this week.



We'll get there.

[Port-Na-Storm]

Timmo asked how every one else is getting on so here is an update from port-na-storm.

A bit of prior warning might reduce the laughter when we meet up, maybe not.

Its been a few days of sticky tape and string and Katie now has her new suit of sails.



Still have  quite a few things on the snagging list, but I think we'll get there.

If Cee Dubs could re-post the photo of the clever way Rosie Mae's Halyard is rigged I'd be obliged.
I know its around here somewhere but I can't find it.