Engine On!

A good news and bad news day. The good thing is that an important mile-step has been achieved yesterday. The engine, a 8hp Mercury outboard, unfortunately 2-stroke, with a long shaft, has been tested in its final position, on the engine "sled". We have also started the engine, for a test run. Of course I was at first unable to use it. My experience with outboards is very limited. So I got it choked. I was happy to have Roger there, for orientation and tips. We got the engine started in the end, and all worked fine.

Engines are not really my cup of tee, therefore I was happy, but not tooo happy. I will be much happier once I have the mast stepped, and the sails rigged, and working. But,... never mind. Having an working engine is a good thing. ... My impression is the the boat is slightly underpowered, with the 8hp. Time will tell.

The engine sled worked. But getting it up and down was much harder that thought. I believe that I will increase the reduction, to make it more usable.

The bad new is that we did not step the mast. The guys from the boat-ramp argued that the ramp was very busy, and that there was no space this day for the operation. And indeed, the rap was full of rather large powerboats, cramping the space. They also convinced us, that stepping the mast would be a piece of cake, and that it should be done on the same day that the boat goes to the water. Which should work, indeed.

We retreated, and agreed to postpone the stepping. I was happy that we, at least, did some pressure towards the water. We used the time to give my tool-room, the "box" a good brush up. In the effort, we managed to trow away a lot of accumulated rubbish, and to take stock. That is, we looked through the sailing and construction material.

Regarding the construction material, I am happy to see that not much is left. Just enough, I think, to do the final fixes and adjustments, once we have the boat tested. ... I also need to remember sometimes, that I still have another project waiting for me...

Regarding sailing material, I already have an interesting array of equipment, including safety harness, sewing stuff, blocks and shackles of all sorts, besides a variety of ropes of different diameter. Most of these I have inherited from Narwal, my brothers 40ft. monohull. When he sold it, he sorted out all "superfluous" spares and gave them to me as a gift. A very generous gift indeed! As a result, I have a colorful collection of ropes, many of large diameter. I can use them as lines. And many other things, which I am really grateful for. I will call him today to tell him...

Espionage

I was quite shocked to find out, that apparently my boatshed has been visited by industrial espionage agents from the far east. Corean agents must have found their way into Ramos Yacht Club. They copied the configuration of Arpex, and reproduced it in bigger size. Having more resources at hand they also competed the project before I did. Nevermind. I'm not in a hurry.

It is also usually so, that when you are in a hurry, you make mistakes. The dumbheads did not think much ahead. Not having noticed, that the mast was not yet mounted on Arpex, they completely forgot this elementary piece of equipment. Yes. Unbelievable, but true. They wasted all their money on a boat without a mast. Just what they are going to do with it, I don't know. I just hope they wont come back and ask for advice. Now that they ran into it, they might just as well find out themselves how to save the situation

Saturday Status

Saturday was used well. The boat now has its port of call declared on the stern. Also the name has been applied on the ama. I made good use of an old paddle stock, which long ago had been produced for my canoe Arara. The blade was rotten and gone. So I produced a new one, with 6mm plywood. Since this is not very strong, I backed it up with glass and epoxi.

I also started producing the attachment for attaching the main sheet on the boom. Also for the downhaul.

Buying the anchor chain and rode felt like a milestone. This is 10 meter of 8 mm chain, and a 40 meter 12 mm anchor rode. They are spliced together ... All that sort of stuff you need on a boat.

 The paddle seem to be well sized and strong enough.

In preparation of the boat launch, I invited the boatramp guys to see the assembled boat. The idea was to have them see the boat how it should be after we put things together. They will be able to work more focussed, once they understand the complete picture. 

Divas Avessas Visit

Divas Avessas Visita 2: Peter Mirow Construtor do Veleiro Arpex. O velejador Peter Mirow é o meu marido. Ele tinha um sonho de infância, construir com as próprias mãos um barco. Peter transformou o seu sonho em hobby. Há seis anos e meio constrói o veleiro Arpex de 30 pés. Mais informações no nosso blog: www.divasavessas.blogspot.com

Test Assembled

Yesterday we, Roger and I, used the holiday to  assemble the boat. Some things are better tested now, before I have time pressure in the close confines of the ramp space.Like the engine sled, for example. The lift needed to be arranged. To figure out how it should work has required me a lot of thought. I was therefore very happy that it worked, just as I thought it should.

Not without a slight surprise, I took notice of the wonderful fact that all pieces seemed to fit, and together quite nicely. A very happy day indeed. For the first time I saw my boat (almost) fully assembled. A pleasing sight.

The forward section will receive a trampolin, while the rear section will receive a netting for safety reasons. Ergonomics seem to be agreeable.

What is to come

I am thrilled with the prospect of a boat launch. It will happen still within 2014. I had planned for a potential launch date on this weekend, since tomorrow is a public holiday in Brazil, and I thought about taking off Friday. A launch day on Saturday or Sunday was therefore achievable. However, it seems that this will not happen. A longer curing time is required for the recent structural additions, so the boat has to sit still for a couple of days more.

Launching the boat, getting it actually out in its natural environment involves a lot of energy in order to get actually done. You would be quite surprised. After 7 years of building time, the passage to the next phase means another step, a wide stride out of the comfort zone. As an antagonist point, one could point out the very start of the construction process. A similar mental step must be taken.

For one, there is the challenge of letting your creation out into a hostile environment, where harm is always a possibility - and deterioration is the program. My boat will stay out in the weather, unattended. Not in a boat shed. Deterioration from the sun, salt, use and weather is unavoidable. From now on, I will have to work against it. Maintenance is the buzzword of the future.

And then there is the surprise of finding out how the boat actually sails an works. Right? I mean, I have built the boat for the sake of it. I wanted to design and build a boat. And one for experimenting, and thinking out of the box. A learning process. And in that, I have had great rewards in all these years. A full success. An enriching experience all the way, and I can recommend it - if you are prepared.    

But I admit, that I am curious whether the sailing concept works out. The sailing performance, the usability under sail, engine and anchor. The durability. The structural integrity. ... There are so many surprises waiting for me. Breakages, disappointments... Yes, they will occur earlier than I expect. But not matter what. I have had fun, and I am still enjoying the ride. I want to have Arpex in the water. The sooner, the better.

Pre-Launch Admiral's Inspection

On last Sunday Adri, my lovely wife, made an inspection visit to Arpex. My intention was to move things in pre-launch order, to maybe put the boat into the water this week. She tested the ergonomics of the steering position.

However, my last minute addition to the project, the third beam, has crossed my plans. The construction is going forward quite quickly, with Valmir having prepared things. Lamination of the structural additions to receive the aluminum tube, has occurred today, or will occur tomorrow. The thing is, Valmir has recommended a few days curing time for the laminate. The idea had crossed my mind before, so I concurred easily. But I might discuss the possibility of just moving the boat in direction of the ram, in order to step the mast. But I will not yet, mount the complete boat, mostly the aluminum beam. 

Together for alignment

 I am quite happy with how things look now, with the third beam. I am also happy, that the production is going ahead quite swiftly. Now we just need Valmir to laminate the internal structures.

My plan is to get the boat to the water as of Thursday, coming week.

Third Beam coming up

Today Valmir and I spent the day, working on the third beam. Valmir had sourced the aluminum tube. We cut it to length, and made the perforations on side and deck, which will receive the internal structure. Valmir will produce it in glass and resin.

 To me the third beam looks right, and I will have more confidence in the structural integrity.

The third beam

I have often entertained thoughts about  structural solutions to increase the strength in the bow region.  Having such a long, free, unsupported bow, seemed to provide a potential breaking point. 

Now I have decided to implement a third beam, in order to have a sturdier boat, which will improve my confidence. I will use a aluminium tube of  >4 inches diameter.

Valmir will support me in the production of this new item. I have already talked it through with him. He will purchase the aluminum beam, and produce the fiberglass structural fittings to join the beam. Hope to have it done quite quickly. 

 Valmir and I mocked up a third beam, to facilitate the discussion of different possible solutions.