Thursday 31 January 2013

The first Dix 43 in wood/epoxy construction

John Holmes is standing on the deck in both of these pictures, it was John who took on the job of proping the boat later that day when the crane lowered the boat with its new keel, we still had to remove the 20mm keel bolt nuts and washers to backfill the holes with liquid epoxy.


The plans were for steel construction, Dudley was out sailing the South Atlantic Race to Rio, the build went fine though and a conversion to wood just means we allow for the thicker hull skin, in the case of this boat its 21mm thick (7/8") which is quite a decent thickness.


Pictures by Robert H McBride using an Asahi Pentax ES film camera, the date was January 17th 2000.

Launch day and in the HBYC boat park, the club house is now on the forward part of the same site in Hout Bay Harbour. This was the moment in time when at last the fast lines of the Dix 43 could be seen, she sails as fast as she looks and with great comfort.

Note, at the time we thought this move was probably a very good idea as the mountian behind had been on fire for the past two days!

The Dix 43 can be part kit set supplied, bulkheads and materials only, not the hull and deck skins. The saloon coach roof is a one off to this boat.

Roy