Saturday 28 March 2009

Yaesu FRG 9600 Comunications receiver

Click on both of these Yaesu receiver sheets to view full size.

This set I never did get to own,when it came out around twenty years back,such a broadband receiver was quite ilegal to own in South Africa,the powers that be just did not want you to be snooping on them and so they made it unavailable to the general public,has anyone got one for me now?
Note,with a better review on the set than some I have just read!

Yaesu FRG 8800 Communications receiver


This set does of course carry on from the various other Yaesu receivers,now quite old sets but still great value for money if your ever given the chance to buy one.

Adjusting your Max-Prop under water


Douglas Bernon,wrote in his monthly Cruising World blog (back page) that when in Belize,he and two other helpers changed the pitch on his Max-Prop,having done this job a number of times in dry and fresh air,I am still in awe at what they did as a 'free dive',no air supply,they worked each persons task out in the cockpit,then got into the water and carried them out,amazing!

Friday 27 March 2009

Cockpit hard dodger kit is ready

Having just fitted the laminated aft top cross beam,glued and screwed side
rails etc,I am now about to move to a painting stage.Materials and CNC work
look like costing R11,414 thats a complete kit (about U$1180),screws,epoxy roof builders jig,all plys,CNC work etc.

Windows are extras,6mm toughened glass will be what I will fit,the cost to
that and the correct sealant will be an extra.We can also pre laminate and machine to profile the top laminated cross beam,plus supply two double loop and two single loop teak grab rails,these will fit on the top and the back edges of the dodger,the size 30 Lewmar opening hatch is an option,price to these items and a full materials list will be posted later.



Note the strips of 6mm (1/4") plys cut and glass taped to the lower half of the frame works,once this is dry,removal of this jig will give us an exact copy of the frame work we can take to the boat and scribe it to a perfect fit,which will be a lot easier than taking the entire structure to the boat.


This laminated beam will stiffen the roof up,provide a very usefull hand hold and also stop driving water dripping into the cockpit.



Note the strips of 6mm (1/4") plys cut and glass taped to the lower half of the frame works,once this is dry,removal of this jig will give us an exact copy of the frame work we can take to the boat and scribe it to a perfect fit,which will be a lot easier than taking the entire structure to the boat.


Well ready but not quite ready,we continue the interesting (long) process of finding out what comes next,we are now at prime stages eleven and twelve,being the addition of the laminated beam and the fitting jig just added to the lower frame works.The laminated beam will form a part of the kit,as will the parts for the jig to form the structure to the boat,as its easy to cut and trim in the factory rather than on the boat? In my case I want this dodger to hold the weight of a person who may want to stand on its roof,I have stood on top,with the laminated beam in place but the epoxy glue still wet,its quite good,once the lamination is taken off and machined to size it will be very platform for tending the mainsail.


Our hard spray dodger can be supplied as full kits,this will include the pale tinted and toughened window glass,Dow-Corning 813 black silicone sealant to fasten them in with,plus all the wood,epoxy and required jigs to make your dodger build a success.


The fitting of a knee,makes sure this joint stays bonded,in practice the knee is smaller than it looks in this picture,if you did not want the knee (supplied) we can supply you glass tape to replace this feature,the tape is then sanded and epoxy paste faired untill it is not visible,similar to the joints on the front of the main structure.

We have now reached the stage where the roof is bonded to the lower sub frame,stage ten of development was fitting the two classic 'knees' so common in older wooden boat construction,they just made good sense in this build too.

While this build was made for a specific 43ft sailing yacht,it can be resized to suit between say a 30ft and ad a 50ft boat,even a open sailing catamarran comes to mind.

Marine Protection,in defense of the South African fishing industry


The offshore patrol vessel SARAH BAARTMAN in Cape Town harbour. Picture IAN SHIFFMAN.

The effective deployment of the Environmental Protection Vessels (EPV's) during the past few weeks yielded significant results once again as poachers were arrested, boats seized and numerous poaching activities prevented, reports the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism (DEAT).

During the latest voyage of the SARAH BAARTMAN, the inspectors, captain and crew of the offshore patrol vessel arrested a diver at Bird Island, scared off three superducks (rubber inflatables) thereby prevented abalone poaching, and fined three fishing vessels for contravention of fishing permit conditions.

The Sarah Baartman struck again soon afterwards this time confiscating a ski boat and arresting three suspects in the Kleinmond area for west coast rock lobster poaching. This arrest took place late at night and more than 20 crayfish traps, which were detected by the on-board equipment of the patrol boat, were also removed from the water. In a separate incident fines to the value of R13,250 were issued for contravention of fishing permit conditions in the St Helena Bay area.


A new fisheries protection vessel,the Ruth First.



Freshly caught Tuna fish

I have read that only two marine eco systems in the world exist that support such a wealth of marine life,one is in Austrailia,the other is here in South Africa.Daily I witness the evidence of this in our local Hout Bay Harbour,the Western Capes busiest by some margin? Recently the fisheries protection department have built three seriously sized vessels (Farocean built them) and we can now expect super service and top quality protection.

Thursday 26 March 2009

Dacron sails,from North Sails


The logo of North Sails as seen world wide.





Recently a couple of friends have invested in new sails,the topic can bring up a number of discusions,we may use the laminated stuff being one,I tend to think that given the boat in question is a cruising yacht,the use of laminated cloth is both more expensive,harder to handle and has more bulk,which in a main sail or roller furler just leaves you with a larger package when stowed?

Dacron as a panel fabric has gone through a long design process,decades in fact,North Sails have new types now as well,closer weaves making it stronger,plus a Nordac 4800 series for even better performance.

Tip,if you really want sails that last a lifetime,have them made in a tan colour cloth,they resist the sun and are really easy on your eyes,no glare etc.

NorDac
NorDac sailcloth is woven with the densest possible fiber content to ensure excellent shape holding and durability.© North SailsPremium NorDac
The manufacturing of exceptional quality plain (standard) weave polyester sailcloth is far more complex than the material’s appearance might indicate. Premium NorDac™ starts with high-tenacity polyester yarn woven in proprietary warp/fill combinations. Premium NorDacs have the densest possible fiber content ensuring excellent shapeholding and the longest performance life. Woven “greige goods” undergo extensive and closely monitored finishing, scouring, calendering, melamine impregnation, heat setting, coating (One Design and UV styles), slitting and final inspection/grading. Premium NorDac is offered in fill-oriented High Aspect styles (for taller, narrower sails) and balanced Low Aspect styles (lower than 2.5:1 sail height to width ratio) versions, and may be ordered in both firm and very firm finishes. The world’s best woven polyester sailcloth, Premium NorDac is available in a wide variety of styles.

Lyle Hess,yacht designer


Lyle Hess.



Yacht Teleisin sailing,she won the boat of the regatta at the TBA meeting when she was here in Cape Town.

The man passed away in July 2002,he was ninety years old (90)at the time,he left us a legacy of yachts and Teleisin is a good example of such a boat,we had the pleasure of meeting Lin and Larry Pardey and sharing a bottle of wine in their yachts saloon,I asked Larry to show me his large Luke anchor which is stowed beneath the floor boards,Lin told me the area below them was varnished as she dropped a can of varnish,so just spread it out and that was that!

The writing of Lin and Larry Pardey of their world travels aboard two Hess cutters, first SERAFFYN and now TELEISIN (above) helped bring fame to Hess's designs as capable cruisers. (photo by Bob Grieser

Lyle Hess type pilot cutter

Pictures taken by R McBride with a Canon FT 1.4/50mm lens.




I have no idea who designed this yacht,but I did get a phone call from Neil Rusch,editor at SA Yachting to suggest I go to the RCYC to take a look at it,I was not disapointed,a very nice yacht indeed.

Wednesday 25 March 2009

Dave and Wendy build our Didi Mini Transat in Arizona


They have taken sometime but its been a well documented process,this is Dave raising the carbon fibre mast with some friends,excepting a the boat falling off the trailer again,launch day may not be far off?

The gin pole worked and we got the mast up. And back down again. We had to stop the first time and make some adjustments to the gin pole rigging, but the second time worked fine and it was less effort then when we step the J/24 mast. We then set the boom and bow sprit and took measurements for the sail maker. We then took it all off and and started moving the boat back it the garage. Then the wheels fell off. No really the wheels fell off. As we were pushing the boat in to the driveway the wheels on the front of the cradle did not make the bump. After 3 more stops to either put the wheels back on or finally put a movers dolly under the bow we got it back in the garage. Thanks to Craig, Paul, Walt, Georgia, Beth, Ethan & Wendy for all the help!

Follow the full story at http://www.dandwboatworks.com/

Rob Johnson


A rare picture (Robs) of Little Wing in Durban Harbour,packed in with many other cruising boats,note the national flag of Zimbabwe off the back of the boat and the yellow Q (quarentine) flag up in the crosstrees.Not too many yachts cruise from Zimbabwe.


Rob Johnston,doing what he did best,sailing and sleeping and both at the same time!


Rob and a friend to his right.




The marina was then in what is now the ABC waters.

Little Wing,on the original HBYC marina.

The world had a great guy in a man named Rob Johnson,its about time you all see who he was,I say 'was' as Rob passed away some years back due to cancer,he was only about 34 at the time? I recently found some film of his,we had a lot of his gear at one time,his VW Beetle and his boat Little Wing,this was when he took the Dix Designed Hout Bay 50 named 'Sunlore' on a delivery trip to St Maarten,finding the islands suited him Rob stayed on,we sold his car and his boat for him in his absence.
I later met up with Rob at Oyster Pond and stayed on Sunlore while doing a buying trip for exotic timber in the general area.

Rob was many things,a shofitter (his own company) a pilot,dinghy sailor,yachts man,including as a sail trainer for one of the better local companies in Cape Town,he had an adventure deluxe with his boat Little Wing,which he swopped a Fireball dingy for its unfinished hull and deck unit.Born in Rhodesia,which then became Zimbabwe,he decided to depart Zimbabwe and take his belongings with him,in this case Little Wing was a large part of what he owned,Rob loaded the large yacht up on a trailer and on his own departed for the Mozambique border,exports of large valuable items is not allowed unless you pay a hefty tax,arriving at the Zimbabwe/Mozambique border,he spun a yarn to the customs official that the boat was his 'fishing boat' he was off on his annual leave and would return in two weeks time,they took the story for truth and let him through!

Robs brother was working for the Shell Oil company in Maputo,he sorted out a rusty crane and when Rob arrived they managed to lower the boat into the harbour,Rob told me the cables were snapping strands as the boat was being lowered,continuing with the 'fishing' story to the local harbour officers,he raised the mast then got on board,sailed to a local island,sorted things out,then head off for Durban Harbour south of where he was.The voyage was solo,he then brought Little Wing down to Hout Bay,these are Robs pictures.
Go well Rob Johnson,(r.i.p)

Superform Bending Plywood picture


5mm thick Superform Bending Plywood,this is not at its full bend,it will go lots more,the open hatch was just handy for this picture shoot.

We have regular enquiries for information on our specialist bending plys,so how about a sample picture and a little technical information,here it is!

Some data for you:

Bending radius:

3mm 3cm
5mm 5cm
8mm 8cm

Density 300 to 320 kgs per M3 at a 12% moisture content,we have normally
seen it un packed at 7%,so it can be lighter?

Screw holding 900 Newton
Nail Holding 55 Newton

Tested to European Standard EN 314-1
CE Certified ECC to 89/106 ECC

Tuesday 24 March 2009

The Scotch Piper Inn

This is not quite my local pub but its not far from my other home in Maghull,near Liverpool,when last there we called in for a very nice pint of beer!



Situated on the A567, 9 miles from Liverpool, 11 miles from Southport stands the oldest inn in Lancashire. To visit this traditional thatched inn is to step back into the past; it retains most of its original structural features. Real ale is drawn from the barrel and served from a jug. Built around an oak tree in the 14th century and known as 'The Royal Oak', until, as legend tells, an injured highland piper from the 1745 rebellion took refuge at the inn, he married the innkeeper's daughter, hence the change in name to 'The Scotch Piper'.

The oldest Inn in Lancashire is certainly a very old building and associated as it is with several curious legends, is still in very much it's original form, despite at least three fires in living memory!

The Scotch Piper is strategically situated close to the late medieval remains of Lydiate Hall and St Catherine's Chapel on the west side of Southport Road, Lydiate. Bordering on open farm land it is on the northern edge of Merseyside, close to the important Liverpool/Ormskirk turnpike and Liverpool/Leeds Canal.

Also adjacent and approached from Station Road (formerly Lolly's Lane) was the Cheshire Lines railway from Liverpool to Southport, now one of the increasingly used 'Sustrans' walking and cycling trails.

Lydiate, still as in former centuries, provides a rural refuge, not only for example, Gerard Manley Hopkins (1880-1881), but during the 19th century a school of painters. Since then many others have, during the last thirty five years enjoyed the

hospitality of the hard-working and well-loved tenants of the Scotch Piper, Charles and Ada Rigby.

THE BUILDING

According to a recent archaeological survey [see references] the Scotch Piper appears to be of mid 16th century construction. It is a two-storey thatched "yeoman" dwelling with a cruck frame consisting of three bays. It has external walls of brick resting on a sandstone plinth which may have been taken from St Catherine's Chapel , Lydiate Hall or indeed the same adjacent quarry that their stone came from in the fields at the back of Lydiate Hall.

Crucks are a medieval form of construction found in the west of England consisting of long curved timbers joined together in pairs, rising from ground level and joined near the top by a tie beam or collar, supporting the purlins of the roof.

It's centre chimney is built from hand-made bricks with fireplaces opening on both sides on ground floor level. On the first floor there is a fire grate on the north side only. It is interesting to note that the earliest use of brick in Lydiate is dated at 1609 and possibly the brick of this chimney dates from that time. A smoke hood is formed from horizontal wattle and daub supported on an oak beam and wattle and daub is found extensively in the construction of interior walls.

The Scotch Piper 1920

The north bay is an 18th century rebuild of an earlier bay which may have been a stable with a granary or hayloft above. According to the archaeologists all the timber in the bay seems to have come from elsewhere, maybe from Lydiate Hall.

Further alterations probably took place in the 19th century with the introduction of a new chimney in the north bay and alteration to the south gable. After the 1985 fire this was remodelled to a hipped shape.

Following the fire in 1985 timber from the middle bay was sampled by tree ring analysis and the date of 1550 has been suggested for its construction. The tree ring analysis shows that the trees from which the wood had been cut had been grown in open woodland. The still visible lower parts of the crucks seem to have given rise to the legend that the pub was "built around an oak".

When sold by the Weld-Blundells to the then tenant, Mr Henry Moorcroft in 1922, the Scotch Piper Inn stood on five acres of land. Apart from the house itself there were shippons for four cows, a two stall stable, two pig styes, two earth closets and a urinal. Water was supplied from a well. The contemporary map shows, behind the main house a, ( possibly wooden,) erection which seems to have served as a village hall.. This extension was said to have had a well-sprung floor, ideal for dances and weddings.It was replaced by the purpose built hall on the opposite side of the road in 1935.

WHO BUILT THE SCOTCH PIPER?

Based on the apparent date of construction as given by the timber ring analysis and the known fact that the property was part of the Lydiate Hall Estate up to it's sale in 1922 we may suppose that the building was erected during the lifetime of Lawrence Ireland II of Lydiate, (died 1566) and during the reign of Elizabeth I. One of the Military Muster of 153, he was nominated as one of the Commanders of the west Derby Hundred and died in 1566. A grandson also known as Lawrence was living at the Hall in 1561. This Lawrence Ireland is said to have been the "first of his family to suffer on the score of religion". Lawrence Ireland III, died

before 1610 with property in Lydiate, Eggergarth, Cunscough, Aughton and Maghull. His son, Edward inherited in Lydiate apart from the Hall, 10 houses, 12 cottages, 1 dove cote, 1 windmill, 1 watermill, 10 orchards, 120 acres arable, and 100 acres meadow.

The Scotch Piper would have been one of these properties.

In their time, the Irelands of Lydiate became a prominent local family but the direct male line died out and on the marriage of a daughter the estate passed to the Andertons of Lostock.

WHEN DID IT BECOME AN ALE HOUSE ?

Exactly when the Scotch Piper first functioned as an Ale House isn't clear but if we take it from the licence lists it was probably from the mid 17th Century. Licence lists for Lydiate for the years 1663-1675-1681 and 1693 can still be found in the Lancashire Record Office but the actual licenses (flimsy bits of paper ) seem to have long vanished. The licences were issued annually and were issued to individuals not for specific houses. The first person to be named was Bartholomew Holme in 1663 and his name remained on the list along with Henry Gore until 1675. Bartholomew and his wife Janet were listed as Recusants in the Bishops's Transcript 1673 and he was buried at Halsall Church in 1681. These gentlemen also list themselves as farmers. Further research could possibly uncover earlier lists.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Originally thought to have been called the Royal Oak we know the pub was later called the Scotch Piper - a name clearly shown on the licence granted to Peter Taylor in 1823 (incidentally his name first appeared on licence lists in 1805). In 1825, it was the 'Bag Pipes'.

New names appear in the directory for 1854, a new licensee Ann Hartley and another name 'Old Lolly'.

Down the road (then known as Halsall Road) the other old Lydiate Pub, (originally know as the Plough) subsequently became known as the 'New Lolly' (1871) and then later the 'Weld-Blundell'.

The assumption has been made that in some way "Lolly" was a local colloquial term for bag pipes, but we can find no evidence for this in the Lancashire dialect. It is interesting to note that ajacent to the ScotchPiper there was in 1851 a Lolly's Lane (now Station Road), and that the adjacent canal bridge originally known as Holmes Bridge became known as Lolly's Bridge. In all probability the Inn was named after Lawrence Ireland its builder but it should be noted that there were four generations named Lawrence between 1410 - 1673. The licensee in 1861 - 1871, Edmund Harrison, kept the name Old Lolly but a new Licensee in1881 reverted to Highland Piper and by 1891 it had again become the Scotch Piper.

The old pub sign.

THE SCOTCH PIPER LEGEND

"The Scotch Piper was called after a Scottish soldier."
Here we have the legend of an injured (?) Scottish Piper marrying the Landlord's daughter and causing the ale house to be renamed the "Highland Piper". First we have to ask ourselves how is it a Highland Soldier comes to be in Lydiate? There is

of course no reason why such a person whether a piper or not should not have been passing through Lydiate in a perfectly peaceful manner at any time. The tradition seems to be that there was some connection with one or other Jacobite rising in the 18th century.

Certainty Sir Francis Anderton the owner of Lydiate and other extensive estates in Lancashire in the early 18th Century is known to have been one of the Lancashire gentry who personally joined the Jacobite army at Preston in November 1715.

Unfortunately for him the fight was easily won in a matter of hours by the government forces. Within 24 hours, he was captured and on December 9th his cousin (Mr Blundell) personally saw him arrive as a prisoner in London. He was subsequently imprisoned at Newgate and tried.

Condemned for treason Sir Francis escaped with his life but suffered the confiscation of his estates including the Scotch Piper which subsequently went to his brother Lawrence who renounced his religion in order to inherit. Lawrence seems to have been a bit of a "Jack the Lad"! Despite having been educated as a Catholic priest on the continent,he amassed huge debts and the estate subsequently passed to the Weld-Blundells.

Sir Francis subsequently returned to Lydiate Hall were he continued to live the life of a country gentleman (breeding prize game cocks ) but there seems no reason why he would have brought back a Scotch Piper with him. According to local tradition he was accustomed to say that "for a days out he had lost a fine estate"!

The second Jacobite rising in 1745 followed a different course. The Jacobite troops were led by the 'Young Pretender' Prince Charles Edward as far as Derby where on the 4th December 1745 they lost confidence and retreated back to the north. Hearing of the attempted rebellion the strongly pro-Hanoverian Liverpool Merchants took very active steps to defend the town should it be attacked. These included the raising of a Regiment of eight companies of volunteers (The Liverpool Blues), 700 strong. Baines records that after being drilled for three months, on the approach of the Pretender and his army, the Liverpool Blues were ordered to march to Warrington and other places in Lancashire and Cheshire for the purpose of breaking down the bridges and thus prevent the march of the insurgents to the Welsh border where the supporters of the House of Stuart were very strong. The first bridge over the Mersey was at Warrington and the two central arches were taken down thus destroying it. Today there is a plaque on the bridge commemorating this event.

The Fire, 1985; Charles Rigby in Action

At Warrington the Blues captured a reconnoitering party of Highlanders and then returned to Liverpool with their prisoners. Liverpool was in fact not attacked and it would seem likely that after a period the Highland prisoners were released to return to Scotland. Lydiate is, of course, on the direct route from Liverpool to Preston and points North. It could well be that one of the dispirited returning Scotsmen, arriving at the end of a days walk from Liverpool, sought refresment and comfort at Lydiate. Perhaps this is a possible source of the legend?

THE LAST CENTURY OR SO

According to census entries, Edmund Harrison Publican and Market Gardener and his wife Jane were at the "Old Lolly" in 1861 together with 3 daughters, a son and a 3 year old grandson. They were still in charge in 1871 together with a new grandson Robert Moorcroft aged 4.

The Moorcroft name then became a " fixture " for the next 64 years. John and Jane Moorcroft were in charge in 1881 and 1891. In the latter year John was described as a farmer and Jane was the licensee. In 1922 when the Lydiate estate was sold, Henry Moorcroft aged 30 purchased the house from the Weld Blundell estate. Mrs Moorcroft subsequently was licensee for a long period and it is said that she kept the small parlour at the North end mainly for here own use, customers only joined her by special invitation!

In 1945, Mrs ,Moorcroft sold the pub to Burtonwood Brewery and retired leaving the management of the pub to Mr and Mrs Jones and then Mrs Orrin, Ada Rigby's mother. The Orrin's were in charge until 1961 when Mr Orrin retired and Charles and Ada Rigby took over the tenancy - a reign which very successfully and happily continued until Charles' sad demise in September 1996 and Ada's subsequent retirement in November 1996.

Charles and Ada celebrating their new thatch

THE CUSTOMERS

A pub would be nowhere without it's customers- who were they?

Historically, most of the neighbourhood traditionally consisted of market gardeners and small farmers. No doubt they would call in on their way to and from market. Although not on the Turnpike Road, there would be passing travellers on their way

to Halsall and Southport. The farmers would employ outside labour for harvesting so no doubt they would want a drink - legend has it that the middle room became " The Guiness" room.

The local land owners would employ gamekeepers and what better place for them to relax. Let us not forget the people from the barges. It is surprising how many boats are recorded, some with wives and families, some just groups of men.

Lydiate had its station on the Cheshire Lines so there would be people coming out from Liverpool to do business with the merchants in the larger houses or perhaps a tailor who would come out yearly to measure and make up suits for the farmers.

It is known that the well known poet Gerard Manley Hopkins when a priest in Liverpool in 1880-1881 used to come out to Lydiate to stay with the Lightbounds at Rose Hill and the Scotch Piper is nearby so is this were he also found inspiration?

Right up to the present day many people, whether local residents, or visitors have appreciated the Scotch Piper for what it is- a village meeting place -an oasis of peace and human interest. Long may its sturdy timbers and happy atmosphere survive.

"Them as buys beef buys bones, Them as buys land buys stones, Them as buys eggs buys shells, Them as buys ale buys nowt else,

- Except at the Scotch Piper where you get History as well."

Adapted from an old Lancashire Rhyme.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Journal of the Merseyside Archeological society vol. 6 1990
Riches and Religion, StephenW.Manning 199?
Based on a talk given to the Maghull and Lydiate Local History Society in February 1995 this short account is dedicated to the memory of Charles Rigby whose kindness and generosity of spirit will long be remembered with affection by very many local residents and visitors.

Our appreciation and best wishes also go to Ada in her retirement.

For some of the historical infomation we are grateful to Stephen N.Manning, Jennifer Lewis and P.A.Leggett of the Merseyside Archeological Society. (See Refmrences)

All profits from the sale of this publication will go to Queens Court Hospice,Southport.


Written by Reginad and Barbara Yorke

Icom M-71 VHF marine transciever



We are spoilt for choice these days when it comes to radios,this one is water proof,Icom also say their IC-M33 will float too! Size has come to be as small as is practical now,if the sets become smaller,we will not be able to use our fingers to control the buttons? You can make your own mind up on which brand to purchase but do check out the transmit power,this one is a full 6 watts,also find out if the type of battery used is in line with the best available,as it is the batteries that are going to change how we see and use or radios now,checking a report covering five other brands of radio,this Icom is a clear leader on battery power available.

The IC-M71 comes with a standard 2000mAh Lithium-Ion battery pack, BP-245 that provides up to 15-16 hours* operating time. * Duty cycle: 5:5:90.

PS: you will need a licence!

Icom IC-M71 Waterproof Handheld VHF.
Probably the best specification Handheld VHF on the market.
VHF Marine Transceiver

The IC-M71 VHF marine handheld transceiver is designed as the successor to the immensely popular IC-M1EuroV and builds on the ‘ground breaking achievements' of its predecessor by setting new standards in design, waterproofing and battery technology.

Stylish, slim design
The IC-M71 has a stylish, ergonomic design. A durable and rugged body provides for user-friendly operation and long life.
Advanced waterproof protection
The IC-M71 provides advanced waterproof protection to 1.5m depth for 30 minutes, equivalent to IPX8 rating, a first for the market place. Use this radio in the rain, snow or any other severe weather conditions!

Lets build a Didi 26 kit from CKD Boats







Bow shot with a 1967 Hillman Imp to the right.

The building stocks,we supply the treated pine to these in our kits too.

This began as an order for a kit,it then became an order to build it as well,so at one time we had three boats under construction in our factory at the same time.Once the building stocks are in place its a simple job to set up the bulkheads and before you know it you have the shape of the boat before you.Fitting stringers on Dudleys design is a doddle,once fitted to the bow they overhang at the back end at the inner transom doubler and you just cut them off,the transom covers them up then,simple stuff.

The Traditional Boat Asscociation


Our annual Easter Regatta at the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town Harbour was always featured in SA Sailing,this time we got the front cover.My thanks to Justin,the HBYC IT Officer for formatting this picture for me.


A Venus design.



Sailing a Dix Design dinghy in Hout Bay harbour,thats Pier Malan,a TBA member sailing with his daughter and son,SA Sailing often used traditional pictures and gave us good reports and cover.

This group,known as the TBA for short, was formed in Cape Town around fifteen years ago in response to an SA Sailing issue featuring a traditional Gaff rigged design in steel by Paul Johnson,Ankon Marine had won a contract to build four such hull and deck units and sent the news with drawings of the boat and its sail plan to then editor Neil Rusch (where is he now?) Neil published the news and the sail plan in the magazine and such was the rush of mail to the editor,that later issues proposed a meeting to form a group of people with traditional ideas?

The meeting held later at the then V & A Maritime Museum (now closed for good to make money from the land it stood on) saw a gathering turn up at the 6.30pm posted time that shocked everyone,some one hundred and twenty (120) people arrived! this was close to being revolutionary,it was said that 'real' yacht clubs were seriously concerned and it all thanks to Alan Craxton of Ankon Marine and Neil Rusch of SA Sailing,thanks guys.

I think Neil himself took the table and threw open the meeting to ask what was expected of this very mixed group,it was a great event,many at places like the Royal Cape Yacht Club scoffed at the very idea such a group would ever get off the ground,time has prooved them wrong of course.A call for those persons who would take up a committee post was called for,I was one of ten on the night who agreed to accept the position,at least forty put down a nominal sum,was it R50? to get the ball rolling,and before we knew it the Traditional Boat Asscociation was formed!

Monday 23 March 2009

Midway Atoll in detail


Once your inside,please be carefull not to anchor in the center,its only 75 feet deep but even with a scope of just 3 to 1 you will need a warp of some 225 feet long?




Midway Atoll (or Midway Island or Midway Islands, pronounced /ˈmɪdweɪ/; Hawaiian: Pihemanu Kauihelani [1]) is a 2.4 square mile (6.2 km²) atoll located in the North Pacific Ocean (near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago), about one-third of the way between Honolulu and Tokyo. Midway Atoll is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States. It is less than 140 nautical miles (259 km; 161 mi) east of the International Date Line, about 2,800 nautical miles (5,200 km; 3,200 mi) west of San Francisco and 2,200 nautical miles (4,100 km; 2,500 mi) east of Tokyo. It consists of a ring-shaped barrier reef and several sand islets. The two significant pieces of land, Sand Island and Eastern Island, provide habitat for hundreds of thousands of seabirds. The island sizes are shown here:

Island acres hectares
Sand Island 1,200 486
Eastern Island 334 135
Spit Island 6 2
Sand Islet
Midway Atoll 1,540 623
Lagoon 14,800 6,000

According to other sources, Sand Island measures 1,250 acres (5.1 km2) in area and the lagoon within the fringing rim of coral reef 9,900 acres (40 km2). The atoll, which has a small population (40 in 2004, but no indigenous inhabitants), is designated an insular area under the authority of the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The visitor program reopened in January 2008 and there are facilities at the present time for receiving visitors. Currently the best way to travel to the Atoll is through a non-profit marine conservation organization based in San Francisco, Oceanic Society. They offer week long naturalist led tours focused on the ecology of Midway and the military history. The economy is derived solely from governmental sources and tourist fees. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Midway, as its name suggests, lies nearly halfway between North America and Asia, and halfway around the world from Greenwich, England. For statistical purposes, Midway is grouped as one of the United States Minor Outlying Islands.

Midway is best known as the location of the Battle of Midway, fought in World War II on June 4, 1942. Nearby, the United States Navy defeated a Japanese attack against the Midway Islands, marking a turning point in the war in the Pacific Theater.