HP Calculations

In reply to a comment here, I realised I hadnt shown my workings!

So is the 12hp engine powerful enough?

This would be the maximum output.  Its very unlikely my batteries could ever draw this much. The plan is to run the engine at 1500rpm, however it can be run faster if needed.  Why 1500?  well its very quiet at that rpm, but even at 2000rpm its a fraction of the noise at 3000rpm.

This is the horsepower required to achieve this.

This is what I am looking to achieve at 1500rpm

This is the horsepower required.

These calculations are of course in ideal situations with a new engine, however there is still about 33% to play with.

So time will tell, but Im confident the engine will drive it.  Interestingly when I was considering a 1500rpm 4 pole 230v alternator it was calculated by the intended supplier that it could not exceed 3kw output.

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Boat Safety Certificate Done!

After re doing the gas main I wanted to get a gas check done. As this forms a significant part of the UK BSS certificate I thought I might as well have the hole thing done. I I have built the boat to the RCD I didnt need to have this done for for years but I thought why not, it wasnt much more in cost. I am pleased to say that the whole boat and its systems passed first time and the certificate was issued. So the boat now has belt and braces paperwork.

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Bed Time

After yesterdays mishap, today was considerably better.  I put up another 15 strips of ceiling cladding in the lounge area first thing this morning.  Then it was on to the the bed room.

Last week I made up the top of the bed ready for the base to be constructed.

The panels are made by the same firm as the wardrobes and chests of draws.  The finish is oak with a pigmented lacquer about 30% gloss finish.  The colour is Truffle.

I fixed the wardrobes in place yesterday.  Today I fixed the bedside draw units to the wardrobes, made the frame then clad the panels to the frame.

 The white strips are edge protection tape

The fix is only temporary for now as the bed might have to come out as the floor sheets  might need to be lifted to put trim ballast in.

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Strange Week

Its been a strange week since the last post. The passing of an era.

I have now sold our Narrowboat.  It needed to have a pre sale survey, unfortunately my marina could not accommodate us on the slip when we needed it but the next marina on the system were able to.  So I went down the marina last Sunday to save a rush on Monday morning.  The new owner turned up and we set of about 10am.  4 hours later we had covered the 12 miles to the other marina.  The boat underwent its survey and apart from some battery terminals that needed soldering and a small clip on a gas pipe all was good.  I stayed at the marina overnight and they soldered the terminals and I did the clip.  All work done I set off back the the home marina.  

 It was a sad journey for me tracked on my iPad

It was the last time I would be the owner of that boat at the tiller.  We have had it for 5 years and have enjoyed every minute if it.  Its been a great first boat and has been the springboard to this boat I am now building.  I hope the new owner has as many good times as we have had.

Leaving Stanground lock

Peterborough city 48 hour moorings

Midsummer Comon 48 hour mooring Cambridge

So having only a short week the priority was to get the rear ready for the cover.  The cover incoroprates a dodger which is the lower part which wraps round the bottom.  To make a neat and weatherproof job of it required a bottom rim to be made and welded in.  Once that was fitted next came the hard part of rubbing down the whole of the stern metawork then finally priming.

 The lower rim

This rim didnt follow the curve of the lower part of the boat so I had to make an infill fillet and weld it in just near the bollards.  The lower rim follows the upper rim.

I will give this a couple of days to harden right off before rubbing down ready for gloss coat. I have used 2 pac primer.  The spray gun I have has a very fine adjustment on it.  As 2 pac is a chemical cure paint the fine adjustment on the gun allows very fine placement of spray.  The primer is a high build filler/primer so the gun can be used to precisly fill any small areas which need building ready for rubbing down.

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Boat Yards have their uses !!!!

Ok, so you want to build a boat, in your garden, in Ireland, and it rains for a week. !!

Short of a few more welds what we have built so far nearly floated...

the result was a mud bath...

On wednesday, 22 ton of stone and a roller left us tired and a new flat DRY surface to work from. I did take pics but it was too dark for the camera.

Before


After..

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Preparing For The Next Chapter

In a little over 6 weeks Avalon will be lifted out of UK waters, loaded on a truck and driven to Nieuwpoort in Belgium to start the next leg of the adventure.  

This was always our dream and her purpose. She was conceived and built with the sole intention of being our cruising home on the waters of Europe.

We have loved our time on the Gt. Ouse and at Ely especially and I very much consider Ely my second home with the friends and acquaintances we have made there.  It would be easy to stay, too easy.  With this in mind we have decided to continue to keep our mooring there even though we wont be there just in case!

How could we not?

This is just an easy 10 minute walk into Ely city centre.  The Chathreal can be seen in the background.

This is a panoramic shot from the roof of the boat.

The other picture is from the railway bridge on the right of the picture.

The next few blogs will be about the preparations of Avalon to comply with  EU waters and to equip Avalon with kit to better navigate bigger waterways   On this point there is (for my non EU readers) supposed to be a level playing field for all EU members in that a UK boat should be accepted in say France or Belgium or in fact any EU member state.  But NO!  each EU state can make it difficult to do things in another EU state.  So much for harmonisation!  I guess full harmonisation would mean 1000s of paperpusher and jobsworth jobs would go and so add to the unemployment figures.  Cynical Moi?

After this I will start a new blog with the help of Deb which will chronicle our journeys in Europe.  We both hope you will join us and follow our ramblings. This will be more of a Travel Blog than a Technical Blog. But check back as there will be boaty stuff as well I feel sure ;-).

Thanks for following so far.

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That 25th Anniversary St Michaels Festival and its Vendors Artists Artisans

We have done a lot of shows over the years. Weve done a lot of kinds of shows over the years; art shows, carving shows, boat shows, various festivals, etc. They all have things that we like about them. Among the types of shows that we do are Antique & Classic Boat Shows (see our previous post). They are special to us, because the boats classified as "antique" and as "classic" can make for some very interesting subject matter for us.

Of these kinds of shows, weve gone from our homebase in Maryland to Virginia, Florida, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, California and other places. We do have a special place in our hearts for the one held right here in St. Michaels, Maryland. This is its 25th year; its "Silver Anniversary". It is known as the biggest antique and classic boat show in the Mid-Atlantic states.

Perhaps it is because the show is at home that makes it so appealing to us. Being a serious event in our home area we get to see the interplay between the show and the surrounding community, especially St. Michaels. If you dont know St. Michaels, its much more than a nice place to visit. Its also not a bad drive from Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Annapolis, even New York. It has the Chesapeake Bay with its natural beauty, wildlife, scenery, historic places, museums, biking trails, boating, golf, etc., etc., etc.. It also has nice places to stay, great shopping and an ever growing selection of restaurants for a wide variety of palates (and budgets).

Certainly this is part of our favoritism for this show, but there is more. Every antique & classic show has special things about it. You can see certain differences related to the shows location. For example the famous Lake Dora, Florida show tends to have boats that are mainly under 30, because, for the most part, the boats come on trailers. They have a very large number of boats and they are from all parts of the U.S. and Canada. These tend to be "lake" boats, every one of them a great boat. Its held at a waterfront park with palm trees and Ibis.

The St. Michaels show also has a very large group of lake boats, but also many cruisers and motoryachts, because of its location on the Chesapeake, a body of water that supports ocean going and coastal vessels. Thus, there are boats from 8 to over 80 LOA. The environment at each show just has a different feel. St. Michaels has the feel of a coastal seaport.

...and the boats have a different feel...

Its held at The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum whose physical layout lends itself to this type of show with lots of grass for land displays and lots of docking space for the boats on display.

One of the things that I like best about the St. Michaels show is also its collection of vendors and artists. Antique & classic boats shows, if they have vendors, tend to draw high quality people with goods and services particularly suited to boaters and in some cases, specifically to those that love antique & classic boats. For example Jim Bassett is an engine expert and has original parts for older boats that are very difficult to find anymore. Since the boats are competing for best restoration to original condition, his parts, from step pads, to entire engines, could be the key to a great restoration. He also has things for boats of all eras and types and might have what you need to make your 1990s era boat work better.

We also have boat builders and restorers that have specific knowledge and abilities relating to older boats, especially wooden boats and their special requirements, including experience in the fine differences between a Century vs. a Garwood vs. a Trumpy Yacht. Among those experts are George Hazzard, Chad Brenner, Mast & Mallet, Will Ruhland, Jerry LeCompte, Dave Hannam and others. We have Chrome plating specialist Jim Wade and Rope specialist Jim Torbert.

We also have people that specialize in acquring original information, such as boat plans, catalogues and other documentation that help a boat restorer, amateur or professional to know the proper standards for the restoration to be done.

Then there are the Outboard specialists...

Basically, almost anything that you need for an older boat is available at this show. Most of these people also are specialists when it comes to modern boats, as well, and you will find that if you are a boater, most anything that you need is here at this show.

Another thing that I love about this show, and its great for anyone that wants to come to the show, but has fear that they are "dragging" someone else around, is "The Arts at Navy Point".

The Arts at Navy Point is basically something that occurred naturally in the shows development about 17 years ago, when the first vendors came. Among them were a good number of artists. Painter Grover Cantwell, who youll find in "the small boat building" was among them. We know because we were there, too and havent missed a show since.

There is a natural connection between the beauty of these boats and the arts. Bringing one of these boats back to its original condition really is an art. Since the time of the first vendors, artists have been in attendance in increasing numbers and we have literally had some of the best in the business over the years. This year we have a long list and it is not possible to include them all, but some of the names include Mary Lou Troutman, John Ritter, Russ Orme, Jim Kinnett, Rebecca Lowe, and many more...

There are also Artisans, those who are artists, but may build things, or practice artistry in whatever they do, including marlinespike artist Vince Brennan, or Wildlife Carver Bill Hickson or the many model makers, authors, furniture makers, and, again, too much to describe here.

I recommend that you go to http://intothings.com/boatshow/vendors.html to see a list of who is coming to this years show. Its very impressive!

Theres not much more to say except that this is one great way to spend Fathers Day. There is so much to see and do at the show, at The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum where its held and in St. Michaels that you wont be saying to yourself "Been there, done that"; Youll be saying "I cant wait until next year!"

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