Yachting Monthly Senior - Progress

[Keith McIlwain]

Just a quick update to say that I am making steady progress with the Senior. Following, probably, too much fiddle faddling about with plank unions (nothing wrong with Paul Fishers drawings just me being me!) I have epoxied all in place. Next filling, fairing and sheathing before fitting the keel.

[Alan]

Indoor workspace; lockdown on the way; you'll be ready to launch by mid March....

[Keith McIlwain]

Hi Alan
Yes I saw the article in Watercraft thanks. It is very useful and I have asked Mat some specific questions about his rig.
As for completion by March Unfortunately not. I faff around far too much for that to ever be feasible!
All the best
Keith

[Keith McIlwain]

Its nice to have the keel attached. Still some work to be done around the stem and the keel union but hopefully not too far away from sheathing with glass cloth.

[Paul H (admin)]

Is the leading edge of the keel bolted in place?

Paul

[Chris Adeney]

From this picture it looks as if you have another nice boat in your workshop.
Chris A.

[Keith McIlwain]

Hi Chris

She is a 13', early 1900's, Groves and Gutteridge (probably), Mahogany, Coventry Victor powered, ebay purchased and subsequently restored tender to something much bigger and grander. The davit points are the give away.
Because she is trad carvel I have to spray her with salt water frequently to stop her seams from opening up again. She's not been in the water much this year!



Keith

[inwe]

Very nice.
Richard

[Keith McIlwain]

Hi Paul
Not as yet. I was thinking that once I had finished shaping it I would fix with large bronze coach screws. I know the original plans say bolt it. But that was 'pre Epoxy'. What do you think?
Keith

[Paul H (admin)]

Keith,

My attempts to epoxy Oak have had mixed results. Some joints were very good.

But the front keel runner sheared off - a combination off poor epoxy absorption and hitting the bottom of Chichester harbour too often!

Before that shear I did notice a slight crack in the Oak-hull joint one side of the CB case. Eventually that popped open also. We got caught in the late August storms this year, sheltering on the Cobnor hard.
A certain combination of tide height and nasty wind driven waves produced dramatic rolls when anchored on the beach and tied to a tree - that sheared off the Oak sideways. There is a lot of energy in a ~250kg rolling hull!

I had carefully avoided any external screws, for the common reasons.


However Paul Fisher recommends screwing internally from the hog at regular intervals, for his Lynx14 (midships my hull looks identical to the YMS).

Now I am replacing the entire keel with Iroko 40mm to 55mm wide, screwed internally with coach bolts and washers. Getting the bolt length just right is fiddly, I needed the hull on her side.
A bench grinder trimmed overlong bolts - without epoxy it felt strong and solid.

I used plated steel 6mm coach bolts initially and will replace with stainless coach bolts.

Chris Waite recommends screwing stainless strip over the Iroko for more protection. I will follow his advice.

So, I think a lot depends where you sail and how lumpy and hard the sea bottom is!

Paul

[Chris Adeney]

Looks like a lovely boat.
Chris A.

[Keith McIlwain]

Many thanks Paul for your thoughts on the oak keel. I will think on that. Whilst I doubt that the Senior will be exposed to some of the situations you have experienced I do like to err on the side of caution.

And thank you Richard and Chris re your comments re Ellan the motor launch.

It is my experiences with Ellan that have led me to build the Senior. I have really enjoyed the ability to launch quickly and easily for a day on the water. I intend to set the Senior up in such a way that I can do the same with her.

[Keith McIlwain]

Following receipt of Pauls thoughts on keel bolts I have indeed through bolted the keel at bow and transom with stainless steel (M8) bolts. I have almost completed filling and fairing the hull and once I have plugged a few more holes will fully sheath it.

[Keith McIlwain]

7 coats of Coppercoat applied. Brilliant antifioul. But in this context also a super tough epoxy / copper finish for a beachable trailer sailer.