Summer in Rio

It is hot!

Summer in Rio is hot in any way you want it. The first and obvious is the temperature, which is commonly above 30, and not rarely above 40 degrees Celsius. Trying to refresh, we go to the beach. And in a very natural way, like only the Cariocas can, we use our beachwear to go from the beach to the next bar, to meet friends, to chat, and walk the streets.

 Definitely the current summer days are too hot to work on the boat - just in case you have wondered. Well, anyway,... too hot for me, I'm not afraid to say. This is also why this blog has not seen any updates since Christmas.

Best way to cool down and refresh, is to take a night swim at Arpoador Beach - Arpex, which is lit up by floodlights. Yesterday the water was calm and pleasant like a swimming pool. And the colours of the sunset were just mesmerizing. I just love to try to catch these moments in pictures. If you like them, you can follow me on Instagram, where I usually post them (Look for: petermirow).

 

Merry Christmas!!!

Ho Ho Ho! Feliz Natal!!!

Check the blog: Divas Avessas

Outrigger Junior by CLC

Here is one fine looking outrigger canoe, built by CLC  - Chesapeake Light Craft. The Outrigger Junior, as the canoe is called, is sold as a kit. Nice christmas gift, if you live in the US.

 Looks like a good design. And the prototypes seen on the pictures are beautifully built too.

Captn Santa

Ho, ho, ho - Captn Santa is in charge now. No more boatbuilding before Christmas...
We wish all of you a Merry Christmas!
Thanks to Eduardo Hammond for the nice picture of Captn Santa.

Christmas update

Christmas season is here. A difficult time for boatbuilding. All those errands that need to be taken care of, social engagements. Yesterday I went to the boatshed, with a wane hope of at least get a to do list together, of cleaning up, of doing something. I didn't get beyond sweeping the decks... Well, maybe before year end, I get something done. Maybe. But completion will have to wait for 2014.

A multihull gathering

Inhotim again

Last weekend I took my mother to Inhotim, a great contemporary art park, close to Belo Horizonte. It is a fabulous experience, where art and nature complement each other in a unique way. The park has the largest collection of palmtrees in the world, and one of the most important collections of contemporary art. 

 

 

Outrigger for sale

I often get the question whether there are other boats like Arpex, or whether I "invented" it.  Funny question. Of course I didn't invent anything, outriggers have been sailing the South Pacific for centuries. But maybe the boats are not quite comparable. Arpex is more like a modern interpretation of those formidable boats, al built of natural fiber. But still I did not invent a modern interpretation of them either. Many other have been before me. Ok, maybe not many. Actually, it is more like a few. I don't know how many. They are actually hard to come by. Pictures rarely exist.  One of my favorite is "Freedom Child", which sailed in the Caribean in the seventies. But, the boats are more often than not forgotten, derelict, scrapped. On the other hand, more modern examples exist, like the outrigger built by Mark Thomas Hansen, in Queensland, Australia.

And here is now another example, for sale in the Vancouver area. It is a 30ft. tacking outrigger. So quite comparable to Arpex, being of the same size. I would love to hear more about the boat.

Looks like the boat needs quite some tender love and care. But for a winter project, starting of with two hulls for USD 1500, looks like a good proposition. Could get you sailing in less than 6 year it took me to build Arpex:

From the Add:

"Carbon fiber mast with some rigging, not used for several year however has continued to float on its custom molded hulls with race pitch

Main cockpit can seat 6-8 enthusiasts, main hull 30 ft long, 15ft wide when assembled, room to sleep 2-4. 

Build with 1/8-1/4 fiberglass over 3/4 plywood, great potential, enjoyable winter project, you can sail away when your done, did over 20 knot speed many times crossing the gulf to islands

Note: you will need to find some used sails $1500 obo must go"

I thing the add could be improved significantly, since it does not describe the potential opportunity in a very tempting way. But here you go...

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/boa/4219545404.html

The Creator has a Masterplan

Cleats and bits

While the deck is now getting ready, I took a deep breath and drilled the holes to secure the deck cleats. Somehow, drilling holes into the boat, the deck specially, not to speak of the hull, of course, is always a chilling moment. Mistakes are hard to correct...

The deck is now complete.

 

Jzerro sailing

I always find it fascinating to see Jzerro, the 40ft. proa by Russel Brown, sailing.

From Near and from Far

Anyway you look at it. It is a great view.

Rio de Janeiro treats

 

We who are happy to live in Rio de Janeiro are graced with amazing landscapes and natural beauty left and right. On any day of the week we can witness why they say that "God is Brazilian" - and indeed I suspect he must be a carioca. But some days just hit the top out, and leave you wondering speechless. Like last Wednesday, november 27th., when it seemed that golden light was raining down to the earth. A phenomenon created by fine, spared rain weils up high, being lit by the setting sun. A sunset to remember.

Click on the panoramic image to get a full view. It is a somewhat large file, but you might find it a worthwhile use of your bandwidth.

Slow day...

A little paint on the engine sled and four more slats glued and pecked to the deck. that's about all I managed this weekend. Scant progress, caused by some other domestic errands and abundant rain.

I guess that one I have the deck completed, which should be about the next week, I will have to seriously think about remaining details, before I take the boat to the water. this time for real. A couple of months ago I was already announcing the move. But it was too early, and I heartily glad, that I postponed. Imagine, I would have to do all these things I still had to do in a very awkward position.

 I'm confident, that the deck will be very solid.

Graffiti excess

A really well cut video...

Serious looking french proa project

Trying the deck out

The structural part of the engine mount is now done - epoxied, pegged, glassed. All it needs now, is a coat or two of paint. Also the ama's internal structure is done, having received a finishing coat of polyester with dioxide, to white all the interior out. It looks much neater now. and for sure it improved the structural soundness of the hull quite immensely.

Since this part of the hull will serve only to store fails, fenders and the like, the internal structure is of no negative consequence, and adds very little weight.

I could not resist mocking up the deck with the engine sled. The picture below shows it at the approximate height above the waterline level. As it is, the engine sled will have a sufficient clearance above the water. A tackle system, which I still have to work out, will allow the sled to lower to the water.

The anchor mount is also prepared on the forward end of the deck. I will have to see how this works, in terms of handling the anchor, and in terms of making it fast. You might see the anchor mount on the upper right corner of the deck.

At first I had in mind to install the wooden slats with a slight gap of 5 to 10mm between each other. But when tried it out, and discussed the matter with others, I decided to install them joined tightly. This will avoid spray from below, and give a more safe feeling to the users of the deck. I specially think of my dear wife. Interestingly, it was Valmir who gave a precise analysis, putting the opinion that the gapped version equalled to have, even if only slightly, a sequence of "object and obstacle". Even in this mild configuration, the mind does perceive this, and translates it into a feeling of insecurity. Well, now it is decided, and I have started gluing and pegging the wooden slats. Since it is done in two by the time, to allow for the clamps, it will take a little while to conclude.

The sled still shows a wide open "mouth", at the front end. This makes it somewhat vulnerable to water slapping and flooding the sled. I will close this with some plywood.