Thunder, one of our Didi Mini Transat kit builds

Built for pro sailer Piers Dudin,an RYA yachtmaster Ocean,the boat is his way into the Mini Transat class of sailing in Europe.

We had this kit proffesionaly built by a local wooden boat building specialist,we have a number of such craftsmen available,as their time allows.

Looking East off Jarrow 1835

Some news from Mike Ellison,Hebburn web site controller.

The second image posted (by Patrick) is taken from the website of the
American National Gallery, where the painting resides. So it will be a
professional photograph of the actual painting - properly lit, without
reflections. I like it so much because its absolutely classic Turner. As
my missus always says, he was without doubt England's greatest ever
painter.

Another Hebburn on Tyne contributor,his name is Patrick,submitted this new shot of the same painting,I wonder if its been cleaned? Patrick says he believes the painting is still in Washington,USA?



I have just found mention to this wonderfull painting by Wm Turner dated 1835,it was Mike Ellison editor of www.hebburn.org who found it,Jarrow and Hebburn are both towns in Englands east coast,the River Tyne,an area made famous over very many years for good ship building.

Lewmar Self Tailing Winches restored

This is what the Polymer linked Fluid Film does to plastics,it will soak in and the gloss will settle down to a more normal matt,the treatment is said to last one and a half years,we will moniter this and report back next year.



This 22 year old winch works fine still but it sure looks as if the top plastic ring has seen better days,its a glass reinforced plastic,the glass can be seen when you look closer.


Its not often we get to try a before and after trial with new poducts but one such test was on some Lewmar STC 43 winches,they will be about 22 years old now,they have done two atlantic crossings and lots of work but still look pretty good,excepting the top plastic jaws that grip the rope,they call it Wave Grip I think? A quick application of Fluid Film sorted that out,check the pictures for yourself.

The South African Boat Building industry guide

Just out this week,trade and boat buyers,send your address for a free copy.

OCC youth sailing Bursary offer

Please left click on the above image,it will then open full size.

This has to be one of the best sailing offers I have yet to see,its a way of introducing younger people to true Blue Water Sailing,open to anyone who has the will to qualify,its a great way to start ocean sailing!

Sergeys Didi Mini Transat in New York

This is the fourth Didi mini transat launched that was built from one of our kits.We also have one that sailed from South Africa to England,another went to Spain but I think by ship,we have one in Simonstown,South Africa too.Others may be sailing but we have not been told yet,for sure we are seeing more and more sailing each year.

This boat was the second built by the owner to this design,the first he built from plans,then chose our fully prepared kit for his second boat,we shipped in two stages,stage one was the boat kit,then the following year,the sails,keel,deck stantions,push and pulpit,rudders and foil,steering and tiller.We have done a number of our kits in this manner,it gives the builder time to get on with the boat,then as he or she works along,decide what is required to complete the boat,it helps with the cash flow as well of course!

Didi 26 trailer sailer as a kit boat

Fourteen days after the start,this is where I was at,thats 14 working days and after I had the building stocks built in place,each day was never a full eight hours,as it was still up to me to reply to mails and enquiries,so only six to seven hours a day really?




You can see how the bulkheads are set in place,its not difficult at all,we cut the stringer slots as you can see,no easy task when your doing your own lofting and setting out,I would like to think this is one of the reasons our CNC cut kits have been so acceptable.


It will take you less than a day to prepare all these CNC cut bulkheads and the same again to set them up,so in practice within two days of starting,your moving on to the stringer fitting,followed by fitting the first hull panel,its really that fast with our kits.

We have sold these kits to clients in Johannesburg,RSA,Hawaai and Virginia,USA,the last one started as a kit order,then the client suggested we build the kit for him as well,so we sent the finished hull and deck unit to him,pre primed in white epoxy base coat in a 40ft container,its a close fit but we managed.

Dave and Wendys Didi Mini Transat build in Arizona

Note the Deck Stantions and Pushpit Bars,we supplied those,plus the keels Lead Ballast moulds to Dave and Wendy too.Check out their dedicated web site www.dandwboatworks.com



Turn over time,probably party time too.



Dave and Wendy campain a J22 right now,thats it on the left,just look how much larger the rig is on the Didi mini transat,which is one foot shorter!

Dave and Wendy bought one of our Dix Design Mini Transat kits a few years back,Dave works as an air frame engineer and it shows in his attention to detail in his build process,with many of his own details added in to the designers design,the use of Carbon Fibre being noticable in the Cant Keel box and Chain Plates areas.Dave tells me that not only does he have work on the project between his normal shift work but also keep an eye on local tempratures,as plus 40c is normal where he lives in the USA.

Yanmar Marine Diesel Engine,8hp single cylinder fits!

Looking from astern at the Yanmar engine subframe installation

Yanmar YM10 diesel fits a Didi Mini Transat

The Yanmars GRP Subframe fits perfectly!


We have sold Dix Design Didi Mini Transats to many countries,only one has fitted an inboard diesel motor that I am aware of it,this is Sergeys engine,in the boat he built from one of our kits in New York,as you can see its a tight fit but by using a opening waterproof hatch in the cockpit above,the Yanmar diesel,with a Z drive dropped right in!