4/5/2026: boat work

This weekend passed has been a good one with regards the refit of The Clancy, as follows:-
Autohelm: my initial assessment had led me to believe a separate structure was needed to attach the Autohelm. But today's check had revealed an almost too easy fit. Drill + Goo = Done. Pin on toller was a repeat. Wiring was completed on day 2 & was made easier by prewiring I'd done months ago. Not yet tested, but that will be fun to do afloat. Not free like a windvane, but that option is not readily available on my small ketch, with a stern swiping mizzen boom. But, I suspect with a slightly improved solar-battery setup, this system should be as good. 
Sea Chair: A comfy chair in which to sit at sea has long been of interest. A quirk of the NIS18 is a vast space to port of the hatch. On Saturday I found a suitable "Gamers Chair" on special at a local office supplies store. I removed the casters and fitted a 20mm plywood base. Its a tight fit, but works and again at sea should be a treat.
Tethers: I have recently returned to listening to Chris Stanmore-Major (book reading, podcasts and seamanship videos), and noticed he has slacklines on the overhead on the main cabin. On these lines he dangles head torches, spare ropes etc. So I fitted one of these to port and dangled my harness and lifeline from it. 
I have a list to go on with including: AIS, liferaft, galley plumbing.

But just for now I am feeling very chuffed with the progress and with the improved amenity of my little boat.  
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

a new boat - Norwalk Islands Sharpie 18 "Clancy"

Image
Photo is not Clancy, drawing below shows ketch rig. * photos of building, and possible handover ceremony from professional builder Robert Ayliffe of Straydog  Boatworks to the current  owner John of Canberra in 2009. * An 1880 report by the U.S. Census Bureau characterized the sharpie as "so good a fishing boat and so fast a yacht that it has been adopted in a great many other localities throughout the United States * Clancy  is the first ever ketch rigged NIS18 in Australia, has attended several wooden boat festivals, raced successfully at the large Marlay Point overnight fixture and locally on Lake Burley Griffin where she has also cruised. 
Read more

trip west pt 2

Image
Its the day I leave my daughters place with some sadness & begin a solo drive 100+ kilometres south west. I'll skirt desert lands, seek off piste roads if possible & dawdle at cool places. I know that the main highways will not provide. Let's go! But first some exercise & oats.  1000: my daughter pops in for morning tea (her) & breakfast (me). While we sat talking my son called to report that he had scored a full time position with a local fire management mob. This is huge, his first independent job since finishing homeschooling some years earlier. This news buoys my mood for the day; having him at home will lessen my responsibilities feeding pets & remaining close to home. After I motored almost across the state, my daughter calls to report that her seniors have asked her to apply for several positions on Council that she might prefer. Wonderful to hear my children beingvrewarded.  After sunset I find a lake in the middle of nowhere, known only...
Read more

Radio Operator's Licence

26 May 2025: This morning I sit a Radio Operator's exam with Above Beyond Boating. They have a delegation from the Australian Communications Authority (ACMA)'to conduct exams.  They also have as many as you want to do sample written exams as part of their online training module. After the written component there is a practical element where the student demonstrates how to make various types of calls eg: contact a coastal station, transmit Mayday Call.   It should go OK but I haven't had an exam in years and I'm flashing back to crap experiences I had at uni - I passed OK but the competitive atmosphere was crippling. I know Neil is a much more supportive lecturer, but I can't seem to will away the strain I feel. I know they say a little tension is good.   There will be many benefits of having a radio licence. I can register Clancy & her various electronic items with an MMSI.  Its funny because six months ago DSC & MMSI & even the current radio ne...
Read more