Ventana motors into Hout Bay

There were no sails and no flags,so an unanounced arrival into the Hout Bay Harbour.
On the marina she shows no flag either,so where she came from I have no idea?

She has a full set of furling sails,so all of those may have been rolled away out in the bay?

Ventana looks like she may be from the USA,possibly a Philip Rhodes or a Sparkman and Stevens design,does anyone know?

R McB

Masts to order

Some like them the way they used to be,there is normaly no weight penalty and rarely a cost increase over alloy or carbon.This one is hollow,we can add cable conduits in the center too.

Finished here in clear twin pack polyurethane varnish from International Paints,it was spray gun applied. The construction is the Birdsmouth eight segment,done here in selected  clear american oregon (douglas fir)

Nice!

That was posted just yesterday,a mail which is below, came in that same day,I replied within the hour it arrived.

hi Roy , i have read your page on mast building with interest. We have tried to research for our project but have only found yourself, the ‘pardeys’, a local ship wright and collars in england who seem to discuss the subject much. We are about to embark on building a 60’ mast for our alajuela 38, a colin archer inspired hull.


We are building it in the states and have been able to source sitka spruce.........


R McB

The Argie 15 sailing dinghy

Seen as a crossover to a boat that is probably at the larger end of being a dinghy,its a great do it all boat you can build yourself from one of ours kits.

We can supply the plans only,or the kit in stages.

DUDLEY DIX YACHT DESIGN

Argie 15
Plywood Sailing Dinghy

A nice example of the Argie 15, built by Louis de Lassus in his basement in Paris

~ Attractive & versatile , Argie 15 offers fun for the whole family. ~ Multi-purpose, can be rowed, motored or sailed, space for camp-cruising on lakes and rivers. ~ Simple stitch and glue method, build with minimum of tools, no previous boatbuilding experience & little space. ~ Step-by-step instructions included in plans. ~ Ideal quality time project for Dad with Junior's help or practical winter project to fight off cabin fever. ~ Build as a school project then use for training young sailors in the school sailing club. ~ Built-in flotation compartments & simple sail plan make her great for learning to sail at any age. ~ Drawings now include optional full-length side seats. ~ Optional full size paper patterns available. ~ See Argie 15 amateur project photos ~ Sailing videos

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The ARGIE 15 was designed to be a versatile family fun boat. Essentially a 3 in 1 dinghy, she can be rowed, sailed or powered by an outboard motor of up to 7,5kw output. She is more than the normal 3 in 1 dinghy in that it was considered from the start that she may be used as a camp cruiser. Most dinghies have no areas long enough for an adult to stretch out full length for sleeping but the ARGIE 15 has 1,9m of clear length, sufficient for most people. The addition of removable slatted floorboards to your boat will lift you out of any water lying in the bottom while sleeping. A canvas or plastic sheet over the boom and tied to eyes along the gunwhales will give protection from the elements. The result is a minimum cruiser for use on protected waters. She has also been designed to make maximum use of the advantages of plywood to give a light and easily managed boat which is well within the capabilities of the average DIY enthusiast. The construction method used is stitch and glue which eliminates most of the framing normally used in boat construction and results in very light structural weight. The weight of a completed hull is approximately 60kg, making her suitable for car topping on extended roof racks. She will, however be more easily handled with a trailer.

By normal dinghy standards, the mast is robust and fairly heavy. This is because the sailing rig has been designed to be uncomplicated to set up and easy to control, using a minimum of fittings. The mast tube comes from one extrusion, cut in half so as to fit inside the hull for storage. The whole concept of the ARGIE 15 is simplicity, both in construction and use. For those wanting to customise their boats to suit their own use, there are numerous possibilities. These include floor boards, customised tent, foot straps and extending the side seats right round the hull (these are not covered in the drawings). As drawn, she is about as much boat as can come from six sheets of plywood. The extension of the side seats will need an additional sheet and will limit the sleeping width a bit. However, the extra bouyancy which results will make for easier righting in the event of a capsize and make her more comfortable for sailing. The ARGIE 15 is a good family construction project, with surprisingly good sailing performance and the ability to take a lumpy sea. It has also been built with thicker plywood to produce a robust little boat for small scale commercial fishing or working lobster traps

Jaguar 3.8 liter cylinder head for sale

We have a solid and good condition Jaguar 3.8 ltr cylinder head in the  workshop,it will be fully set up and ready to fit,with correct colour blue paint in the spark plug valley.New camshaft bearings will be fitted, the shims to tappets will be set and all that will be required is fitting of the head to your motor.

Gaskets to the head,cam covers, breather,inlet and exhaust can also be supplied if required.

 Left click the picture for a larger view.

A 3.8 ltr motor with the correct polished tappet covers,in this case the engine is a 1966 model with twin inch and a half SU carburetors,said to give some 220 bhp,while the E type with three carburetors gives 260 bhp?

There is also a complete Jaguar 420 G (Jaguar E Type) 4.2 ltr motor for sale,this has its tripple carbs and is a runner,its condition is not known but we can offer that engine as a complete re built unit if required,costs on application.

Note,the 420 G has a lower compression than the genuine E Type,we can supply and fit new higher compression pistons if required?

A really fine example of a US plated 1962  Jaguar 3.8 ltr car,the cylinder head we have will fit this model and also the later  Jaguar 3.8 S types.

R McB

The Argie 10 and Dixi dinghy kits

Always popular,we have started the year by selling plans and kits to these boats,a local yacht club may also use the Dixi Dinghy as a build and sail training program.
With an auction to close the event,buyer takes all and the boat home!

Two great dinghies, these little boats offer lots of fun for the whole family.

Multi-purpose, they can be rowed, motored or sailed and are light enough for one person to lift on and off the family car or yacht.

 The Dixi Dinghy is on the left,made from just two sheets of 6mm (five ply) Ockume marine ply its a much boat as can be built for the money.

We supply as much or as little of the materials you require,or you can buy the plans only from us and source your own materials where you live.

Simple stitch and glue construction, they can be built with the minimum of tools, no previous boatbuilding experience and in very little space.

Step-by-step instructions included in plywood plans.

Either one can be the ideal quality time project for a youngster with Dad's assistance or Dad with Junior's help.

Build as a school project which actually has some use after achieving your passing grade.

Practical winter project, build one for fishing on your local pond, as junior's "my boat" or as a tender to your big boat.

An Argie 10,it will take four persons with ease.

Built-in flotation compartments and a simple sail plan make them great for learning to sail, whatever your age.

Plans by email or regular post.

Bryan G Brookes,racing driver

I met Bryan this week in the harbour at Hout Bay,I was parking outside the HBYC.

Bryan was really keen to look at the 1967 Singer Chamois I was parking,then I found out why,he had raced a Hillman Imp while he was living and working in Trinidad,this was mid sixties.

Bryan was working at one of Trinidads oil refineries,they more than doubled production he told me.

How hard can that be,ask Bryan!

R McB

Our missing Henry?

Henry flew off about two months back and we have not seen him since.
He had gone off before,once for three days,on his return he looked worn out that time.
Its been a loss to us and not knowing where he was always comes to mind.

Check his right leg,you can just see the white band on it.

Guess what,it seems our Henry is still alive,Dianne from next door says he has tapped at their window and even found him in their kitchen.Jean asked How do you know its he? Dianne says he has a white band on his leg does he not? This is great news but whay does he not come back here?

Please contact me if you see him.

021 790-3859 Hout Bay


Roy

Amazed!

NSRI Station 9 Jack Riley in full flight

This is a perfect example of what the Capes nasty weather can dish out.

Station 9 is Gordons Bay and on the far side of False Bay and Simonstown.
When we get white water like this its sixty knots (60) and more.

A trully fantastic picture and taken by Alex Weaver dated July 28th 2011.

The boat is the deap sea rescue vessel named the Jack Riley,well done guys!

Nandi on her first sailing day in Hout Bay

Nandie is a Didi 34,we supplied Nick the builder,owner and skipper,all the materials as a kit (not the engineering parts) Nandi was built in a really fast time,just two years.Impressive!

The picture shows ex HBYC Commodore Justin at the helm on her first sail,Gavin Cosgrove from MV Dolphin took the picture.

My thanks to Justin and Gavin for the sailing  picture.

Seen here when she was launched in Hout Bay Harbour.

 Owner builder (customer) Nick stands proudly on Nandi,the boat he built in around two years.The yacht had just been launched.

Picture by R McBride using a Sony Cybershot digital camera.

The Cape Jaguar Club

 This should enlarge if you click on it?

Photo taken at the annual Cars in the Bay Classic Car meet,held each year around October,November but not as I recall in 2011? The place was the Kronendal Primary School and the car is a very early Jaguar.

Taken about five or six years back and possibly by myself (no credit shown) using a Sony Cybershot digital camera. I was a member of the Cape Jaguar Drivers Club for twenty nine (29) years.None members will be welcome but please pre book.

R McB

Landrover suspension spring for sale

This one will not fit my grand childrens Series Two Toylander,so is now for sale.

the centers between the shackle pins is 845mm I have no idea which Landrover it fits,it may not even be off a Landrover?

Its brand new and for sale at R500 ex Hout Bay,Cape Town.

021 790-3859 phone and fax.

Shakes in timber

Not a normal topic but one that is mentioned in some designers timber lists,such as

Clean wood,free of shakes,splits or other faults,Meranti,Mahogany or similar,etc etc.

Clean wood and splits is easy to understand but how do we identify shakes?

The tell tale zig zag line of a shake,this has been re asembled,so in practice the line will be tighter.The wood is Meranti,shakes can not be seen in a clean sawn plank,only when final machine work has taken place can you detect the fault.

Once detected,I placed this 44 x 22mm timber in a vice,gave it a firm but not hard pull and it broke with ease.

Click on the picture for more detail,this shake goes clean through the wood,not always the case but most often.This is not a problem once detected,as the wood can be scarphed and glued back together.A scarph ratio of 1 : 7 is an accepted norm.

Not all timber species suffer from shakes,which is thought to be caused by lightening?
teak,oak,beech and poplar do not normally show such a defect.We moved our timber selection to american poplar (cotton wood) for this reason.

All timber sold by CKD Boats cc is inspected for such defects,we reject those timbers when found.

R McB 

That Mulholland hand plane

It amazes me the pure quality of some old hand tools,made long before we had such things as an electric drill or belt sander.Experts were forging bi metal steel blades,then matching them to castings which defy belief when we look closer.

Made in Belfast by J . Mulholland.

This small plane is the exact tool required to trim down a teak trim off a yachts opening hatch.The plane was made in Belfast,thats Northern Ireland,Great Britain,it will date back over 100 years and probably came to South Africa on a sailing ship with one of those who followed the Voortrekers,I wonder?

This was quite a delicate job,I had a think about what other tools and machines were available to me? Realising that a machine could well wreck the teak combing and its only glued up,I chose to do the job by hand. The required 5mm that needed taking off so the scribed frame will fit the opening took just a half hour.

How hard can this be?

It is stamped Belfast and has many makers marks,the same marks can be found on other parts of the tool,meaning this was a hand made and high quality item.

The number 245 was this planes identity,each part was crafted so that when assembled they would stay together,they were not just a pile of similar parts junked together.
The wedge or push handle is very expensive Lignum Vitae.

I love holding and using this plane,size wise you can use it with one or two hands,it works either way.The ultra low blade angle means it will cut super fine and long and cross grains are not an issue,just what this job required.

Progress,what happened?

Roy

A big red boat arrives

When I say big,I mean BIG!

I have no idea what the boats name is or where she has gone,as its not at anchor here this morning,looks like its set up for use in the ice to me?

Seen here in Hout Bay on a calm evening,with a light North Wester blowing off the beach, it was a good overnight stop choice.

 Picture by R McBride using a Canon G11 on a tele lens setting.

Check the running backstays,its nice to see the use of old style Baggy Wrinkles still being used.

Let me know how to make them,I can post them on the blog if anyone needs to know?

Henry gets ahead again

I hope we all do for 2012,so all the best for the New Year starting today.

Regards

Roy

Henry meets Justin for the first time and decides he is family.