Pippin 20 Thread - For New and Experienced Owners :)

[mmcare00]

DANG! That will be it, of course! I was wondering why it was such hard work pushing the boat back up the hill to the house, which isn't that much of a gradient Now, looking back I can see I was fighting the trailer all the way! Sheesh! An expensive learning curve (one clutch and dual mass flywheel later :0))

I'll need to read up about how to disengage the braking mechanism for reversing...It is a mechanical system, so presumably it is simply a question of locking the brake off?

Steve, that looks like a good set up, especially if you are using the battery to power the trolling motor (?). I have a book on simple boat electrics winging its way to me, and will definitely make a record of any updates / modifications I make, Haynes style

 

[mmcare00]

Chore Time...

Looking at the antifouling / hull paint below the waterline in the past few weeks, I've noticed that it is patchy and flaky in parts. So, seeing as we aren't going into the water until spring, I decided it might be time to have a go taking it back to gel coat and repainting with good primer and new coloured antifoul paint.

It is a tough and laborious job, not helped by the low slung nature of the trailer and lifting keel. Spent an hour so far, with reasonable success..



The good news is that the gel coat is pretty good below the gunk. The bad news is I am using a 50mm scraper, which is probably going to take an age to do the job. I don't mind the effort, which is actually quite therapeutic, but the mess is horrendous - lucky for me, the Karcher wet and dry vac is ideal for sucking it all up, before it rains and the driveway turns a permanent blue colour

I've managed to complete the bow section both sides, ahead of the main roller. Took about an hour. It looks worse than it is, in the picture, but clearly there are several stages to go before I can contemplate making good.

Has anyone else done this job, and if so, what tools did you use / any tips?

It has started to rain now, so I'm going inside (the boat) to do some more work on the electrics. Looks like I'm going to put in a new 12v consumer unit, and replace the fuse panel with something a bit more up to date.

Martin

 

[mmcare00]

Hi all. Just figured out how to register here. I have a pippin on Rutland. At Whitwell. Bought earlier this year as a downsize from a coastal-moored boat. Lost a wheel off the trailer on the A1 collecting her from Morpeth. 1500 quid later I have one new axle. New bearings in the other axle and all new tyres. I’ve just modified the trailer with 60 small wheels on the bunks to make winch recovery easier. First try yesterday was successful. Boat is currently named ‘final fling’ but I’m not keen on that (sounds a bit ominous!) so I’m reverting to ‘Grace’ which was the name used when the boat appeared as a prop on ‘Vera’ the detective series. There’s one other pippin at Whitwell which I believe is for sale. ‘Kittiwake’.

Hello again Russ, did you ever get round to photographing your new 60 small wheel set up for launching and recovery? Not that I'm any nearer getting on the water, mind! Spent the last few weeks tarting up the woodwork, including repairing the fairly knackered rubbing strake, sanding down roof rails and revarnishing, sorting out some interior issues. I decided after all not to go too mad with the electrics, as the basic system appears to work just fine, and all I'd be doing would be putting lipstick and rouge on a tailor's dummy

I might have to move the boat soon, off the drive, as it is possible my van is about to come back from Yorkshire, still unfinished, after 18 months off the road, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel (cue ruddy train noises, no doubt!)

Has anyone got any pics or video of a Pippin 20 under sail? I'd be very interested to see some, for the vicarious pleasure of sailing by proxy

 

[AEMD]

I used to live about 300 yards from where the Pippin was originally manufactured in Ralph's Lane Wyberton. I went round and had a chat with them and I was very impressed with the overall quality of the boat and it's simplicity. About a mile away was Parkers who then made the 235. Pippin moved to a unit in Sutterton and then both Parkers and Pippin fell by the wayside. I was very sad as there was nothing wrong with the boats whatsoever.
I'm sure you will enjoy your Pippin. I certainly remember a few in the boat park at Rutland water.

We used to buy eggs from Keith Scott on Boston market, and used to go to his house on Spotfield Lane to pick up our Christmas turkey. I watched the development of the Pippin 20 - initially at the back of their house - with great interest, I would have loved to buy one, but sadly couldn't afford the price of a new boat. I sailed for 25 years at Rutland, at the sailing club at Edith Weston. A Club 16, then an Evolution 19, then a Newbridge Venturer. A Pippin might have been on the cards as a downsize from my current Leisure 23SL, but since Brexit it's too difficult to try to import into France where we live.

 

[Russ Fisher]

DANG! That will be it, of course! I was wondering why it was such hard work pushing the boat back up the hill to the house, which isn't that much of a gradient Now, looking back I can see I was fighting the trailer all the way! Sheesh! An expensive learning curve (one clutch and dual mass flywheel later :0))

I'll need to read up about how to disengage the braking mechanism for reversing...It is a mechanical system, so presumably it is simply a question of locking the brake off?

Steve, that looks like a good set up, especially if you are using the battery to power the trolling motor (?). I have a book on simple boat electrics winging its way to me, and will definitely make a record of any updates / modifications I make, Haynes style

Just reading your post about reversing. You should have auto reversing brakes. It would be a very old trailer if you had the old spring overrun coupling that needed locking before you reversed. It may be that the shoes or the linkages are partly seized. I would get it checked over before towing any distance. Mine only made it from Morpeth to Northallerton before letting go. A simple strip and greasing would have saved me most of the 1500 quid axle replacement!!

 

[stbdout]

We used to buy eggs from Keith Scott on Boston market, and used to go to his house on Spotfield Lane to pick up our Christmas turkey. I watched the development of the Pippin 20 - initially at the back of their house - with great interest, I would have loved to buy one, but sadly couldn't afford the price of a new boat. I sailed for 25 years at Rutland, at the sailing club at Edith Weston. A Club 16, then an Evolution 19, then a Newbridge Venturer. A Pippin might have been on the cards as a downsize from my current Leisure 23SL, but since Brexit it's too difficult to try to import into France where we live.

If you're ever back in blighty and fancy a sail in the pippin we'd be happy to take you out on Rutland water. It would be great to get a small flotilla of pippins on the water sometime. I know there are 3 at the club and at least 1 at Whitwell.
Steve

 

[AEMD]

Hi Steve, thanks for your very kind offer. If I find myself with a day free, I may well take you up on it.

 

[stbdout]

Does anyone have detail on the original sail plan for the pippin20. I had a chat with an instructor at the club today who suggested she might sail better with the fitted genoa half rolled away or swap it for a smaller jib. Got me thinking what the right sail dimension were if I wanted to order new sails.

 

[Tranona]

Try it with part rolled sail. The shape may be not very good but it might give you a guide. Masthead rigs like that usually have an overlapping genoa and often work better with less overlap. Suggest you talk direct to a sailmaker as most will have details of the original sailplan and will advise on the best size/type to suit your sailing conditions.

 

[mmcare00]

Am just wondering what others have used for painting below the waterline? I've got most of the old 'antifoul' (it might just be paint...) off tthe hull below the waterline now, but am not sure what to replace it with, so thought I'd ask on here for advice.

I'd like her to have a nice new blue bottom, with a yellow strip between waterline and below. Any thoughts anyone?

M

 

[Russ Fisher]

Am just wondering what others have used for painting below the waterline? I've got most of the old 'antifoul' (it might just be paint...) off tthe hull below the waterline now, but am not sure what to replace it with, so thought I'd ask on here for advice.

I'd like her to have a nice new blue bottom, with a yellow strip between waterline and below. Any thoughts anyone?

M

Are you leaving her afloat? If she’s to be stored on a trailer ashore then you don’t need antifoul, just a coat of paint will do for appearance. If you need to antifoul I used Hempel Classic when I had a boat on a tidal mooring. And it was available in blue.

 

[mmcare00]

Hello Russ, and thanks for the reply. She won't be in the water much, perhaps a couple of times only this summer, so it would be overkill to apply antifoul I suppose. Can you recommend a good paint that would be suitable as an alternative? There are so many brands / choices available, I'm a bit confused about what to do.

Many thanks

Martin

 

[Russ Fisher]

Hello again Russ, did you ever get round to photographing your new 60 small wheel set up for launching and recovery? Not that I'm any nearer getting on the water, mind! Spent the last few weeks tarting up the woodwork, including repairing the fairly knackered rubbing strake, sanding down roof rails and revarnishing, sorting out some interior issues. I decided after all not to go too mad with the electrics, as the basic system appears to work just fine, and all I'd be doing would be putting lipstick and rouge on a tailor's dummy

I might have to move the boat soon, off the drive, as it is possible my van is about to come back from Yorkshire, still unfinished, after 18 months off the road, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel (cue ruddy train noises, no doubt!)

Has anyone got any pics or video of a Pippin 20 under sail? I'd be very interested to see some, for the vicarious pleasure of sailing by proxy

 

[Russ Fisher]

Hi. Struggling to post pic of my trailer. Just says the file is too large any ideas all you techies?

 

[Russ Fisher]

Finally figured out the tech!! Worms eye view of my roller bunk conversion. 60 wheels and 30 stainless bolts from eBay.

 

[mmcare00]

Amazing pic! How did you fabricate the moun for the bolts, and attach it to the trailer frame? I'm guessing you are some kind of engineer?!

 

[Russ Fisher]

The bolts just go through the original square tube bunk. The upper surface of the wheels is just above the surface of the rubber padding. I’m a retired design teacher and very amateur engineer!

 

[mmcare00]

The bolts just go through the original square tube bunk. The upper surface of the wheels is just above the surface of the rubber padding. I’m a retired design teacher and very amateur engineer!

What are the wheels made of, and what diameter are they?

Might you be able to post a close up of the system?

Does it improve things getting the boat launched and recovered and, if so, what is the most noticeable difference?

 

[Russ Fisher]

What are the wheels made of, and what diameter are they?

Might you be able to post a close up of the system?

Does it improve things getting the boat launched and recovered and, if so, what is the most noticeable difference?

The wheels are 75mm diameter with nylon centres and rubber tyres. I think they are made for mobility use. I’ll try to get a picture next time the boat is afloat. The problem it solves is that when recovering on a slipway, the bow would hit the snubbing block and the hull would touch the bunks at the front edge but once pulled onto level ground the boat would rock back under gravity leaving a 4-6 inch. gap at the bow. It’s much easier now to use the winch to bring the boat fully forward. I do have to use a secondary strap though when the winch is disconnected for mast raising and lowering as the boat will roll back under its own weight on level ground.

 

[mmcare00]

Perhaps you could come down to Rutland and have a sail with us sometime. We are new this too so sharing knowledge would be great.
Steve

Hello Steve (and anyone else who has an electric outboard / saildrive set up on their Pippin or similar),

Looks like the boat will go to Cornwall for the summer, but thereafter there is a strong possibility of her being based in the East Midlands (Lincolnshire). One of the things that will need updating is the outboard - the existing Mariner four stroke needs a full strip down and new seals, and a service and.. and ... and. You know the drill - probably best to move on to a more modern system that accommodates the growing requirement for green credentials.

So, I was wondering if you could describe the elecrtic motor set up you've got - what battery and what wiring was required (if you have that info). We are looking at doing an initial trail up to Windermere in a couple of weeks time, to make sure she floats !! After that the idea is to trundle down to Cornwall and bob up and down from Lancashire a few times to sail the summer and get used to the boat, fenders and all.

All the best!

Martin