Bestevaer 49

[Norman_E]

I see that boat has a tiller, but is the thing with the blue cover on it in the cockpit a wheel pedestal? I also wonder if there is provision to steer from inside the deckhouse in bad weather?

 

[Neeves]

Once again it is a little too early for these details to be finalised, but our preference is to avoid G7 chain if possible. The chain locker is well back from the bow, so there is less impact from the heavy chain on sailing performance.

G7 is difficult to replace in remote locations and needs watching carefully as a small loss of material translates to a significant loss of strength. Anchoring about 300 days a year we are tough on anchoring gear and our G7 chain only lasted 4 years and really needed replacing around the three year mark.

The weight savings are significant so I think G7 can still be a good option for many boats especially for lightweight catamarans like yours. There is not much loss of anchor performance going for lighter chain although most of this loss is in difficult substrates where the anchor is strugglng to set which is perhaps where the loss can be least afforded, but this is uncommon if a good quality anchor is used.

Thanks for the reply,

I think Vyv remarked that his galvanising life for G4 chain, also from Maggi, was not too different to yours - this might have simply been, in both cases, a bad batches (as 2 comments are hardly statistical - though have some significance). There is an alternative and that would be Peerless - who galvanise in house, Maggi subcontract (as do many other chain makers). Hopefully Maggi have lifted their game.

In both cases, Vyv and yourself, I think Vyv's gal lasted 4 years - this would be a significant life for most weekend owners - as 300 night at anchor over, your, 3 years is almost 1000 nights which for a 2 night weekend is 10 years of life - and many would be happy with that! Reading about people who re-gal many seem to gal quite frequently - like 3 to 4 times - so short gal life is not unusual.

There are no manufacturer published specifications for gal thickness - and you could have a similar low life, or lower, with G40 from any supplier and in isolated paces there are few galvanisers.

Peerless also have a decent distribution and would merit consideration for G7

For 100m of chain the savings in down sizing from 10mm to 8mm is 100kg, not much for a heavier yacht - but its still the weight of a man standing on the bow as you beat to windward.

Lighter chain can help in some difficult substates - because its smaller - if the anchor is setting correctly, a modern anchor shackle and toe together, then smaller chain is an asset. Obviously if the shackle does not bury than you do not enjoy this benefit . If you read back through PS archives you will find that smaller chain, with a modern anchor, say changing from 10mm to 8mm, offers a 7% increase in depth of set which corresponds to about a 14% increase in hold - not to be sniffed at (though this benefit might be less in a harder substrate). Lighter chain, because it is lifted off the seabed earlier will actually have longer life than a heavier chain - assuming you have decent snubbers. Lighter chain also takes up less room, needs a smaller windlass (if you desire) and uses less power.

Consequently the idea that lighter chain only offers a weight advantage in the bow might need a re-think.

Interestingly Dashew, whose boats are built for owners looking to venture to far flung places, does seem to think that G70 is still the better option.

But you appear to discount re-galvanising - surely it is an option if the chips are down.

edit - there are also other methods of galvanising which allow you to specify gal thickness of a coating that it more abrasion resistant than normal HDG. Additionally as you can galvanise G100 then even if you lose the gal you still have a chain around 20% stronger than G70 - which would allow greater leeway if you lose chain diameter. - there are still lots of options close edit


Jonathan

 

[noelex]

I see that boat has a tiller, but is the thing with the blue cover on it in the cockpit a wheel pedestal? I also wonder if there is provision to steer from inside the deckhouse in bad weather?

You have a keen eye for detail to spot the pedestal in the cockpit. It is a combined foot/hand brace with a place to mount the compass and it also functions as a breathing point for the engine intake.

The yacht is tiller steered, as our yacht will be. Inside steering will be provided with a remote control to the autopilot.

 

[noelex]

This photo of the exterior of our boat was taken recently. KM do a wonderful job of shaping the flat aluminium sheets into a beautiful hull shape.

 

[SailSouth]

Very, very, very nice boat.

Close to a dream cruising boat for me (buys lottery ticket).

p.s. very nice

 

[jac]

She really is a thing of great beauty. Love the go anywhere capabilities she seems to have.

 

[[167227]]

Oh man, that is stunning. i real adventure boat

 

[Sybarite]

The Aerorig was a good idea, but I think it was a bit of a commercial failure and I am not sure it is available any longer. Unconventional solutions can be difficult to repair in out of the way places.
.

There was one incident which created a real problem. A fault was found in the mast and, instead of scrapping it and starting again, they added additional layers of carbon, thus ending up with a mast which was was twice the specified weight. This led IIRC to legal action and lots of bad publicity - and ultimately to the demise of the company.

As far as sailing performance is concerned it was tested against a conventional rig on two identical boats and came out on top on all points of sailing. The additional cost was to some extent offset by savings on rigging, winches and other gear.

I believe that this type of rig exists in other makes but you have obviously done your homework.

Lovely boat - I hope she gives you much pleasure.

 

[Frogmogman]

The quality of KM's workmanship is clearly first rate.

 

[Neeves]

In terms of anchor choice this might be sobering reading. It is refreshing when an anchor maker openly admits that their anchor might have limitations (all anchors are a compromise and none are perfect).

This is the reason we carry a Fortress, Spade and Excel.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...stion-(-don-t-shoot-me)&p=6128874#post6128874

Jonathan

 

[noelex]

The interior is a mixture of white ceilings and walls together with with Bubinga, a beautiful and a very hard South African timber for the furniture, doors and floors. This has been combined with stainless steel for the kitchen work surfaces. As always, these finishes are personal taste, but the overall result is coming together just as we hoped.

We have tried to avoid veneer and so all the Bubinga is solid. Here are some of the cupboard doors awaiting their final sanding, but this shows the solid timber used in the construction:

 

[Neeves]

Nice cabinet work. I always open drawers and look to see if they dovetailed the joints - if they did I know the quality will be good throughout. We went for a more modern look and chose a very pale wood also from South Africa, Koto African Ash. It has certainly stood the test of time. We did not get all of our choices right when we built and it was only when we were into our 4th saloon table we were happy. Some of our other choices were not quite perfect - but we have learnt to live with them.

Jonathan

 

[noelex]

This is the largest of three stainless steel bench tops in the galley. Each one has a waterproof lip on all 4 sides. This will act as a small fiddle, but primarily means any minor spills are contained. Liquid on the floor quickly finds its way into the bilge and can be a mess to clean up. The integrated lip also avoids the need for sealant (this unavoidably deteriorates with age and apart from looking unsightly it can leak).

The central galley bench top can be seen in the background:

 

[noelex]

Put this all together and this is how the interior is shaping up. You can also see several of the inspection hatches for the fuel tanks:

 

[Norman_E]

Once finished that wood will look lovely, with either an oiled finish or a semi matt varnish. Have you decided what finish to use? Whilst most people use varnish, for the wood floor I laid in my lounge at home I decided on a semi matt oil finish and found it much easier to get a finish without brush marks. I think repairs and refinishing will be much easier than re-varnishing. I wonder if something like this http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com...TIU5krGpkNTEueJlMMfA1yc6SiIl2LzXTUaAvyL8P8HAQ would be suitable in a yacht. It certainly makes a hard, smooth and scuff resistant finish, and I think its water resistant to anything short of immersion.

 

[Dave100456]

Hi Noelex

Thanks for sharing the build process - looks a great boat.

I'd be interested to know your thought processes that ruled out other aluminium variants e.g. Boreal 47/52 or Garcia 45/52

Cheers

 

[noelex]

Thanks for the link, Norman. The timber will be oiled. We have found that oil works well on a liveaboard boat. Some of the timber has already been oiled with Livos Kunos, but I will take a look at the product you recommended as an alternative.

 

[Norman_E]

Good choice to use an oiled finish. I think it looks nicer as well as being easier to "top up". By the way, I like the way the galley is designed so that you can wedge yourself in there if preparing food in rough conditions.

 

[Neeves]

The yacht looks absolutely gorgeous, exceptionally well built and planned with considerable thought but for lesser mortals there were some questions of your experience with G70 which might be directly useful to them, see post 22. You are one of the few who has used G70 for a considerable period of time, there are people here who have considered G70 and postponed or abandoned the idea and some who are using it.

You recommended for some years the use of G70 and a large anchor - so at one point you thought it was advantageous - your decision not to use it now is that it has short life and the weight saving is less necessary when centrally stored. Many would think 1,000 nights at anchor a fair life - and might even be encouraged to use it.

So how about some directly applicable experience.

Jonathan

 

[noelex]

As you point out, for those that are anchoring less frequently the shorter life is less of an issue, but we intend to use the new boat in the same way as we sailed for the last 10 years, which is anchoring around 300 days a year. The chain was "end for ended" halfway through its life. Replacing 100m of chain every 3 years is expensive and G7 is difficult to obtain complicating the logistics.

I am not sure it is poor galvanising to blame. If you downsize the chain by one size and look underwater it moves around on the seabed and abrades significantly more. This extra movement also creates more wear in the area where the chain to chain contact occurs. In addition, the circumference of the thinner chain is less, meaning the same force is concentrated on a smaller contact area. This is the area the chain fails first.

Anyway that is my theory regarding the short life of G7, but I think it is an area that needs more research.

However, the anchoring gear will be one of the last details to be finalised and there are a myriad of descisions that go into making up the yacht that I think may be of interest. So back to the interior.