Rebeccas Sea Wych website - oh ye of little faith

it is slowly starting to dawn on me that I now bare some responsibility for the safety of two boats



Dylan

I wouldn't worry. You recommend what you think is right, and you're no wally and so long as her first trip out isn't in a F9 gale, i'm sure the boat won't come to any serious harm.

Blimey, we used to make go-carts from scrap down the tip and launch them (and us) down steep hills. It's all part of life's rich tapestry. :)
 
it is slowly starting to dawn on me that I now bare some responsibility for the safety of two boats

not the position I expected to be in....and if anyone has examined my films I am probably not the worlds most responsible boat owner

however, I have had a good look at this as it has been worrying me

I can't see any stress cracks in the roof - and the bulkhead that supports the roof still looks pretty sound

I am thinking of bolting a support member across under the mast and taking the pressure down to the bulkhead

although this boat has had very little use - so that is a good thing

once the other sails arrive and we have garnered enough halyards to rig the boat then we will have a mast raising and then we will know what is missing

the standing rigging looks to be in excellent nick and we also have some pretty good looking sheets.

it is amazing how some of the cordage has come up by soaking it in overall cleaning detergent

Dylan


Generally there is no problem with the mast support beams.

In a small number of boats where water has penetrated the beams have failed.

Cracking of the gel coat around the mast step/cabin roof area is the telltale sign that something is wrong.

It is possible to replace a mast beam but it is a job from hell!

It is possible to fit a compression strut below the mast down to the cabin floor. ( IIRC there is a descrption of this having been done on the OA members message board. I have some pictures also. There is also an account of replacing the beam)

The mast is well forward of the bulk head so " bolting a support member across under the mast and taking the pressure down to the bulkhead " is not really an attractive if even feasible solution.

If the beam appears Ok , ie no signs of gelcoat distress, it would be wise to reseal the mast step, and any other fittings that have been screwed into the beam, to prevent future water ingress.
 
My only concern (and this without seeing it) is that if the boat was 1/2 full of water on land, that has to be rain water & it will have soaked into much of the structural ply bulkheads. If not thoroughly dried out, or if it has been there a long time, those bulkheads may be significantly weakened or possibly even starting to suffer from wet rot. Salt water preserves, fresh water rots.

I haven't see it, you have, but keeping damp out & ventilating effectively are going to be important for some time to come!
 
My only concern (and this without seeing it) is that if the boat was 1/2 full of water on land, that has to be rain water & it will have soaked into much of the structural ply bulkheads. If not thoroughly dried out, or if it has been there a long time, those bulkheads may be significantly weakened or possibly even starting to suffer from wet rot. Salt water preserves, fresh water rots.

I haven't see it, you have, but keeping damp out & ventilating effectively are going to be important for some time to come!

This is what I had to deal with on my Europa - all but one were ok and dried out but one half bulkhead had gone very soft and had to be taken out and a new one glassed in... Not much fun!
 
ply and epoxy

This is what I had to deal with on my Europa - all but one were ok and dried out but one half bulkhead had gone very soft and had to be taken out and a new one glassed in... Not much fun!

I have ply and epoxy in the garage

built a couple of boats

spent lots of hours with my head down lockers breathing noxious fumes in innaccesible places

I will delve into the bowels of the seawych with a little hammer

D
 
I have ply and epoxy in the garage

built a couple of boats

spent lots of hours with my head down lockers breathing noxious fumes in innaccesible places

I will delve into the bowels of the seawych with a little hammer

D

:D As you said, you only have one boat but are repairing two!

But then you are passing on the wonderful help you got from "the likely lads". So that's loads of good Karma going into your soul box for future redemption.

A little story;
Many moons ago as a youngster I was done a big favour by an aquaintance (it cost him little, but really helped me) I tried to pay him as that's how I was brought up. But he considered payment an insult, "One day you can do me a favour" he said. As he was a deserter from the Foreign Legion this stressed me a little & I had visions of Cosa Nostra style favours being required at some point.:eek:

So I asked, "What if that opportunity doesn't arise?" "No sweat", was the answer, "Simply pass it on. It will return one day from a complete stranger helping when I need it." It's a lovely concept & I have always tried to honour it & have managed to pass it on many times - and it has come back to me in many surprising & happy ways.

If I believed in any God, it would have to be a Bhuddist one. I love the concept of Karma & found that it works for me.
 
Niffy night-nights !

I'm afraid those cushions are never going to dry, especially still inside the covers. At the very least get the foam out and dry it separately, but I never succeeded when they were thoroughly soaked.

Totally agree....If they do ever dry out they will always, no, always stink like b*ggery, ditch the cushions and buy new....not a priority right now so next year maybe???? sleeping mats and sleeping bag from Tescos if you intend to kip on the boat, two cheap bags better than one expensive one, (cheers for that Dylan!)
 
Any news on how the Seawych is progressing, I had a look at the website but not much on there.

Thanks for bringing this back into view. I'd been meaning to try to contact Rebecca via Dylan.

The Sea Wych Owners Association celebrates its 40th birthday this year and the committee are hoping to contact as many Sea Wych owners , members or not, and past Sea Wych owners to invite them to join in with activities being planned this year.
We are hoping to base some activies around an Olympics theme if we can.

All Sea Wyches are invited to the Annual Rally at Bembridge ( June 2nd-9th) for free (marina fees etc still apply sadly)

draft publicity flyer:

Bembridgeflyer.jpg
 
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bigger job than expected

Any news on how the Seawych is progressing, I had a look at the website but not much on there.

stripping off the headlining took ages

trailer has new tyres

R now back at University - work will re-start at easter once it is warm enough for the glass fibre to go off when the bulkheads get replaced

cushions have been dried and now pretty fragrant

mast is down and boat is covered in big tarp

outboard appears to be running okay

so still aiming for a summer launch

D
 
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