Recent content by William_H

Much depends on the construction of the gunwhale of the dinghy. (and of course just how diligent you are. If the GRP comes up to just a straight edge then it will need wood front to back preferably on both sides to give support to the hull at gunwhale. (Caraway's beautiful dinghy is of this...

If my experience is anything to go by your stanchions were bent when arriving at a jetty. Hence the more they extend outwards the more susceptible to damage again. In fact I gave up on stanchions for this reason on 21fter. ol'will

As said it will be hard work drilling SS with a hand held drill. The best way is a drill press where you can get great drill pressure at low speed. One of the problems drilling SS is that the material work hardens so the more you persevere the harder it gets. Use a sharp drill with lots of...

I have 2 x Barient 10P sheet winches on my 21fter. Now they get a lot of use/ abuse. (25 races per season about 25 tacks per race and possibly 30 years old) (the original Barlow winches were replaced worn out sideway wobble and not latching. The symptoms were in one winch not engaging the pauls...

I completely disagree with this aasertion. The bolt rope can never be made to take downward load on the sail body. ie the force of the main sheet when hard in. Always whether bolt rope or not the load must be taken by the clew eyelet. Both out haul and down ward force. As said no different to a...

Generaly a main sail is fine if fitted loose footed. I don't think that when a bolt rope is ina track it is intended to take any load. Some main sails are/were made with a kind of skirt of lighter cloth between the straight line tack to clew which goes to a bolt rope. The idea being to close the...

As must be obvious form above comments. Don't start major changes. I am sure any boat will take your time and effort just to keep it tidy. You probably already know it is difficult to get to those jobs.Surely the boat is usable as is without major surgery. Just appreciate family and remember a...

A huge amount of variables when talking trailer sailer. I think sailing performance varies a lot from 17ft to 22 ft as does room inside. However space to store at home might be problem. Ease of rigging can be a problem for larger TS. if it is too difficult and time consuming one might tend to...

The crack if it is in the slot near the top of the mast will not be under a lot of stress and could be ignored or patched over. It is the area of mast in between stay support that gets the most stress. (possible sideways buckling) The mast cap may have to be removed. Should not be a major...

As said that requirement is conceivable in todays possible electronics. But IMHO LED can be so bright in excess of minimum requirements that any degradation over time is not to be considered. Aren't LEDs usually quoted as 10000 plus hours. Probably limit of test time. Anyway if I were OP I...

Every comment seems certain the trailer is beyond hope. I would concentrate on the trailer in situ with boat on to determine if it is structurally sound or good enough, then go to wheel bearings tires etc. A huge advantage to have the boat on a road worthy trailer. OP should look for sails...

Yes tape over inside of through holes. Fill with thickened epoxy. Sand flat and paint. A caution for white colour. I did this with my little boat and now sun glasses are mandatory due to glare. Most new boats have a beige colour. Second problem is that the deck may have a non skid surface. If...

Probably fine on a solar (small) panel. The presumably lithium batteries will have a charge controller built in battery compartment. The suppplied mains battey charger will show voltage and current rating. (hopefully it does not have the charge controller built in to wall unit) Don't worry...

A DC clamp meter used on alternator output lead will show alternator charge. Move it to the load wires of all or specific loads to get that current. Move to solar charge wire to get solar charge current. This may satisfy your curiosity. Or if you want add hall effect current meters to all 3 for...

I think the electrics should be set up just like any single engined boat with alternator to engine start battery then diode or VSR to charge domestic batteries. Then add the second alternator in parallel with first. Thhis means tha ton start up the first alternator will be charging the start...