what is in the bottom of the free Seawych

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

Well-Known Member
Joined
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Messages
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Location
Buckingham
www.keepturningleft.co.uk
some of you may remember that I was offered a free Seawych in return for two signed books

I gave it to an 18 year old neighbour of mine - she has now started working on the boat

in the bottom it has a strange well

is it for an inboard - or a bolt on inboard/outboard trunk?

its film 115 on this page

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/category/scuttlebutt/


Rebeccas mum is going to try to repair the main - but there is no genoa or spinnaker

everything else appears to be on the boat - all the locker tops are rotted out as is the cockpit floor

Dylan
 
does that 'well' coincide with the 'pod' on the outside ? I know they had a self draining heads in the forecabin at one stage. !

Looks like a call to the Seawych association might solve the problem.

http://www.seawych.org/
 
Think that might be a mounting plate for an OMC 15 hp "saildrive" which never caught on. It is not a Volvo, nor the ill fated Seagull inboard of the era.
 
dylanwinter said:
in the bottom it has a strange well

is it for an inboard - or a bolt on inboard/outboard trunk
Dylan
Click to expand...

My money's on one of these; Seagull made one at one time, as have other makers. Pretty horrible things really, and it messes up the hull shape.

Better buy her a tin of danboline, it looks pretty grotty inside; I wish her good luck!
 
Genoa - measure up & see if you can get something off e-bay, or post the dims on here & some forumite may have summat suitable in a corner somewhere.

Spinnaker? For a Seawych? Don't be daft, unless you can pinch one off a Mirror dinghy!

Can't comment on the fittings, I can't watch vids on my alleged broadband.
 
Searush said:
Genoa - measure up & see if you can get something off e-bay, or post the dims on here & some forumite may have summat suitable in a corner somewhere.

Spinnaker? For a Seawych? Don't be daft, unless you can pinch one off a Mirror dinghy!

Can't comment on the fittings, I can't watch vids on my alleged broadband.
Click to expand...

I had a very nice cruising chute for my wych which was great on the few occasions the wind cooperated. Seateach and the other seconhand agencies are a great source for old boats.

As for the funny shape looks as if it was intended for one of the inboard outboards that appeared in the 70s
 
Technical advisor to the Sea Wych OA here!

Not clear from the video exactly where that "fitting" is. Cockpit locker ?

If so. no idea. Not many questions I cannot answer but dont know what that is. If it is for a Seagull sail drive forget it that was a disaster I am told (Newbridge fitted them briefly in the Corribees)

Toilet compartment is the one in the centre between the forward berths.
I believe for very early boats an SL400 toilet may have been offered but the Ball Head Mini toilet replaced it.

The forward most locker is for a flexible water tank.

GRP cockpit locker tops are available from the Owners association.

The OA have produced an Owners Manual which will be very useful. Hard copy or download from the owners section of the website.

Sails were supplied by Rockall- Arun . They should have all the details.

Re mast and standing rigging .. if it is the original mast (SS Spars) with only one set of lower shrouds the spreaders should be swept back with the cap shrouds on the aftermost U bolts and the lowers on the pair in line with the mast.

Original luff reefing spar was by Cooney ( they now make Super yacht equipment! ) Suffers like many early ones from having the halyard lead back down the spar

Check the roof for signs of sag due to rotting of the mast support beam. Good idea to reseal the mast step and any other penetrations of the outer skin to prevent water getting into that beam.

Advise your young neighbour to join the Sea Wych Owners Association. Details on the website. Only £15.
Unlimited free advice then available as well as the manual. My contact details available too.
 
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great boat

maxi77 said:
I had a very nice cruising chute for my wych which was great on the few occasions the wind cooperated. Seateach and the other seconhand agencies are a great source for old boats.

As for the funny shape looks as if it was intended for one of the inboard outboards that appeared in the 70s
Click to expand...

I do remember looking at one when I was going to get rid of the Eboat

great accommodation

but blimey she has got her work cut out

getting a usable genoa that will go in the track - I would hate to see her go to sea without roller reefing

Not sure where they will use it - I am trying to persaude her that a winter on the broads would be a great chance to find out how to handle a boat by herself

a spinnaker would be great though for when other people aboard

Dylan
 
Spinnaker? For a Seawych? Don't be daft, unless you can pinch one off a Mirror dinghy!
Click to expand...

What's daft about that.
Mirror dinghy one would be no good they are only about the size of a pocket handkerchief
 
dylanwinter said:
I do remember looking at one when I was going to get rid of the Eboat

great accommodation

but blimey she has got her work cut out

getting a usable genoa that will go in the track - I would hate to see her go to sea without roller reefing

Not sure where they will use it - I am trying to persaude her that a winter on the broads would be a great chance to find out how to handle a boat by herself

a spinnaker would be great though for when other people aboard

Dylan
Click to expand...

See my post that crossed in the ether with yours
 
Just seen the comment about the cock pit floor being rotted. Originally all GRP!

Is that fitting below it if so adds weight to the idea that it was for a sail drive .
 
Looked at the video again. Looks like the original SS Spars mast and Cooney reefing spar
 
thanks vic

VicS said:
Looked at the video again. Looks like the original SS Spars mast and Cooney reefing spar
Click to expand...

the spars all look pretty good

buying new sails is not on the cards

the main has been eaten by mice - but I have a few blown dinghy sails she can use for patching - her mother has a good sewing machine that zig zags

no battens but I have a few of those as well

the spars and stainnless steel all looks good

there is an outboard bracket on the back

if she takes the boat to the broads then she can use my old 2hp seagul for this winter

but if she goes to sea she will need a bigger engine

how much are the replacement hatch covers - existing ones are wooden - reckon I can knock some replacements up using the remains of the existing ones as patterns

all round the boat looks salvagable with work

Rebecca has a saturday job in John Lewis so she does have a small cash flow

it will be great to see how the boat comes along

at the moment its at the end of my garden although it is going to be moved to in front of their shed - which will make it easier to work on

Dylan
 
The genoa is 95 sq ft according to the original brochure but I do not have the dimensions.
I could bring the sail home this weekend and measure it if you wish.

The GRP locker tops are £129 so you probably will make new wooden ones! ... I still have wooden ones. They look nice made of teak faced ply if varnished regularly.

Ought to mention the rudder.

We believe they were made using mild steel screws ( we know they were! ) It also seems that the glue may not have been as waterproof as it should have been! I saw the photos of one that practically fell apart by itself.

The stainless fittings were also fixed with steel screws. They rust and the fittings can pull out. If they start to come out they fail ... happened to one member in mid channel. Also some of the welding seems to have been poor There is a design for better fittings in the owners manual but if it all looks Ok Id suggest drilling through the cheeks and the straps inside and through bolting.

Some members have redesigned the rudder blade shape to make it semibalanced. I have and I like it but the racing people prefer the original shape.

I never leave the rudder on so mine has not suffered at all. They can lift off and float away if the boat dries Every so often it happens!

Failed rudder fittings:




Look also at the bottom of the luff spar. There is a nylon bush. If it rests directly on the talurit splice it gets chewed up. There should be a slotted bearing block that fits over the talurit crimp to stop that happening..

BTW is it sail number SW 524 previous name Valkyrie ?

.
 
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dylanwinter said:
- I would hate to see her go to sea without roller reefing
Click to expand...
Why?

I've had two boats without roller reefing, sailed them both singlehanded in choppy places and it's really not that bad. Trick is to back the jib and let off the halyard - wind will pull it down and it'll land on the boat. She can then put a tie around the jib. On a boat this size, she can stand in the companionway to let off halyards at the mast, so no danger at all.

As for sails, post the measurements on here; odds are that sails from a dinghy class will fit and can be acquired cheaply, or perhaps for free for you, as you're a man of much 'wasta' from KTL.
 
Roller reefing - essential in my opinion

sighmoon said:
Why?

I've had two boats without roller reefing, sailed them both singlehanded in choppy places and it's really not that bad. Trick is to back the jib and let off the halyard - wind will pull it down and it'll land on the boat. She can then put a tie around the jib. On a boat this size, she can stand in the companionway to let off halyards at the mast, so no danger at all.

As for sails, post the measurements on here; odds are that sails from a dinghy class will fit and can be acquired cheaply, or perhaps for free for you, as you're a man of much 'wasta' from KTL.
Click to expand...

I have had both - could not sail the eboat safely single handed without it

or would have to sail with a genoa that was smaller than I wanted

so a roller reefing genoa would allow her to have

it also allows her to have just the right amount of sail for the job in hand

would hate her to go bumping some-ones pride and joy filled Bene

so I will do my best to get a replacement genoa before she finishes all the woodwork

the most excellent seawych website

http://www.seawych.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=66


says that the luff is 5.7 m (18feet)

the foot is between 2.3 and 3.1 (7 to 10 feet)

so if anyone has something grotty but repairable in their shed...

it appears that mice attack, mold, green marks, visual appeal and shape not important

I have been offered a fireball spinnaker which is in Peterborough from a YBW Denizen - might be a bit small as its 14 foot long

Why am I messing with another boat

..... I have to question myself... but she is a great kid... and sails on the local pond whatever the weather and if some-one had given me a seawych when I was her age..... you know the stuff

and

the boat is at the end of my garden and while I should be working I keep on going out to fiddle with the boat

sail number.... dunno

thanks chaps

YBW...... very nice place... full of good eggs

as for the information on the rudder - prefer it if you had not told me that

next work break I will have to go out - have a look and start replacing screws using up my extensive collection of spare stainless ones

suddenly dawning on me that I have started assuming responsibility for gear failures on another old boat

Dylan

PS if anyone has any snaps of the interior to help her to reconstruct it....

please feel free to bung them in my inbox

dylandotwinteratvirgindotnet
 
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dylanwinter said:
says that the luff is 5.7 m (18feet)

the foot is between 2.3 and 3.1 (7 to 10 feet)
Click to expand...

For comparison, a a fireball mainsail comes in at 4949mm by 3023mm, so what's got a rig about 2 foot taller than a fireball?

edit - just realised you're talkign about the jib. Ignore me.
 
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Dylan,

I have a genoa that I think will do - yours for the postage - PM me. (It even has a bag!)

As for a spinnaker, many years ago I had a silhouette that had a 505 spinnaker which worked a treat! 208 sq ft from memory. I don't think I have one but I'll ask around at the dinghy section and see if anyone has one. Would expect that a bottle of whisky would get one...

I would not bother with the expense or hassle of roller reefing. My current 35' & 38' boats don't have them. The performance benefit on a small yacht by not having one is proportionally higher.

Like most, I have boxes of fittings so let me know if you need anything - you never know...

Nudge
 
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