The Billy Ruffian

[superheat6k]

So on Friday at 18.15 I became the formal owner of a Grand Banks Sedan 36, and shortly she will bear her new name "Billy Ruffian".

As an ex Navy man, my favourite, and indeed only fiction, is along the theme of Naval History, so Patrick O'Brien and Alexander Kent (aka Douglas Reeman). But I have also read the stories of many of the famous Battles, especially Trafalgar. Amongst the throng of English ships forming Nelson's Fleet on 21st October 1805 was HMS Bellerophon, known to her crew as the 'Billy Ruffian'.

HMS Bellerophon had a proud history with many Battle Honours, the most notable of which were Trafalgar, and as a later Dreadnought Class Battleship, also Jutland.

So that's the background to her name.

I am the fifth owner of Billy Ruffian and it looks like she has had at least four names, so I do hope each re-naming has followed the traditions and protocols to change her name in King Neptune's Log.

I'll be happy to keep this thread going as long as anyone wishes me to. Not nearly as much to do as my previous boat, the Corvette 32 Boadicea, but my learning curve has already begun. see next post.

 

[dj43]

Congratulations, will keep an eye out for your fine new to you craft

 

[superheat6k]

The first task we have had to tackle is how two lower her stub mast to get under the bridges at Bursledon. I have made a stainless steel extending crux with a Y section top for the lowered mast to rest in. This mounts on the centreline at the transom, and has a simple detachable catch and stanchion base.

Yesterday we replaced her fixed bottle screw rigging supports with similar, but with quick please pelican hooks. We then released the base mount locknuts, to discover the threads will need a die running down them, and commenced lowering, to quickly discover that as the mast lowered aft toward the crux, just how heavy this short mast is, and with the added weight of quite an immense section boom.

I also quickly realised that as the angle between me controlling the descent and the line of the mast because more acute, the weight effectively multiplied, and the last 2' of descent was with virtually nil control. The crux was not overly impressed and leant back at quite a bend away from the vertical, but fortunately it did hold.

I managed to get the mast back up and steady back in the vertical position, whilst my Daughter re-attached the first pelican hook.

I have now removed the boom. It is only an aesthetic item anyway, and for the fact I will need to lower and raise this mast twice each trip it has had to go. I am now looking at how to reduce the weight of the mast itself, and first to go will be the Firdell Blipper radar reflector, along with the rigging clutter at the top of the mast for the boom topping lift.

However, I am amazed at just how heavy a section the mast is made of, and I think an early task will be to acquire a 4m section of a broken yacht mast and make a newer and much lighter mast. If anyone has such an object laying about please contact me to discuss how much you would want for it.

So for the crux I have now affixed support lines - two running at ~45o to each side, and one forward adjacent to the mast hinge point, and these I hope will steady the crux.

 

[Poignard]

 

[colhel]

Lovely boat Trevor! Just a thought on the mast. Will the extra weight of the mast help smooth out the ride?
Very much looking forward to seeing Billy Ruffian in person . How big's the fridge? I've heard Grand Banks owners are a generous sort.

 

[superheat6k]

Lovely boat Trevor! Just a thought on the mast. Will the extra weight of the mast help smooth out the ride?
Very much looking forward to seeing Billy Ruffian in person . How big's the fridge? I've heard Grand Banks owners are a generous sort.

Hi Colin - I think the weight of the mast will cause me a Coronary !

The fridge is quite a decent size.

 

[superheat6k]

View attachment 137111

Thanks. I am hoping for a Fathers Day present along these lines.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Looks a lovely Vesel. Congratulations on a lovely purchase.

On the mast there are some very reasonably priced electric winches on ebay that might help with the pulling up

 

[superheat6k]

Looks a lovely Vesel. Congratulations on a lovely purchase.

On the mast there are some very reasonably priced electric winches on ebay that might help with the pulling up

I am thinking about making a further removable support post that would clip to the forward edge of the flybridge bench seat, ~ 2m from the mast with the top about 2m high, with a bracing line attaching further forward to the fly dash. Then a 2:1 or 3:1 tackle with a drop in snatch block from either the spotlight or radar brackets. I want to get this system simple to use and a one person operation.

Something like this ...

 

[AllanG]

Congratulations, Colin, on your fine looking vessel.......looking forward to reading your continuing thread ?

 

[tico]

What about a taller tabernacle and a counterweight on the shorter End?

 

[Bigplumbs]

What about a taller tabernacle and a counterweight on the shorter End?

Now that seems to be a sensible solution

 

[Moonbeam]

Glad you made it on your third try and it looks like it was worth the wait. Very nice looking vessel. Well done

 

[superheat6k]

What about a taller tabernacle and a counterweight on the shorter End?

Thanks - I will give this some thought, but would be quite a construction from stainless. The rail height is ~500mm, which would be as high as it could go. Two stainless cheek plates 6mm thick welded to a similar thickness base then a simple pivot bolt. I suppose I could consider mild steel then hot dip galvanised, but wouldn't look so pretty.

 

[Forty_Two]

I assume the mast is wood? My original was longer as stepped on the aft deck & dam heavy, was a three man job with the radar weight.

When it rotted a few years ago i had a new one made from a yacht mast builder & it's a huge difference, much more manageable. As this is going to be a regular thing I would definitely advise an alloy mast. The radar is also the killer especially for the last bit down as you discovered.

Raising & lowering has been covered on the Trawler Forum GB section as in the US as many have covered slips.
Grand Banks - Trawler Forum

Delightful looking ship, you will have many years of pleasure.
Paul

 

[markc]

Congratulations! Beautiful boat, I've always had a real soft spot for GBs.. proper boat!

 

[MoodySabre]

View attachment 137111

The book was very interesting. I have this print in my hall.

 

[Fjord John]

I’ve always fancied a GB. Fine looking craft. Let us know how you find her. Many congratulations.

 

[stelican]

2 friends have owned 36s.
1 was at Eastlands till he got fed up with the bridge, Do make sure you have enough play in wiring when swinging mast his got damaged. Have crossed the Channel with this one 14knts very comfortable.
Other friend has his (wooden) on Long Island after recent 8 week trip up Intercoastal from Florida single engine aswell!
I have a cockpit wet bar (teak) if your interested

 

[Mr Googler]

Brilliant Trevor! Many congratulations.

how about a 12v ram……push of button ??