Wood / Epoxy as a boat building material?

This issue gets kicked around from time to time and often falls finally on the boats resale value and worth?

The problem is that we never really know the truth until we try and sell the boat?

Recently a Dix 43 that was built in a plywood/epoxy method was placed on the market, it took a number of months, then the prospective buyers arrived.

Some may have been  interested in the boat due to its condition, as even after sixteen years in the water the boat still looks as you can see in the picture above.

 

The boat found two possible buyers and within the same week, the first to place his deposit became the buyer.

 

One guy flew down from Richards Bay at his own expense, he was totally knocked out by the design and the quality of build.

 

 

Of the four main possible buyers not one questioned the fact that the boat was built from a wood/epoxy system, not one made a lower offer and the boat sold at its full asking price.

 

So the next time I am asked about the resale of a similar construction built boat, I will suggest that it is not the material the boat is made from but how it has been  built and then maintained?

 

The buyer was recommended to have a survey, one of the capes well known boat builders did the job.

The in the water survey showed that there was no area with a moisture content higher than eight percent. The surveyor later did a Skype call to the buyer and recommended that the boat be purchased.

 

Roy

 

Picture a gaggle of British Seagulls

If such a thing exists that gaggle may look like the picture.

 

Some are quite alive and some are sleeping and waiting for parts.

 

 

We recommend a new Villiers type coil, this one is some sixty year old now and even if it supplies a spark to start with it can fail at any time?

Allow about R1900, plus 20% Duty and 14% Vat?

Restoration and labour charges are available on request, supply the engine number and some pictures of your motor please.

Roy

 

 
 

Philips AP Mk8 GPS display

This works fine, the remote antenna does not.

So either the display is for sale or I am wanting a replacement antenna?

Contact me for details.

An update and many years later, as I first posted on this subject way back in 2016!

As a way of a test I set the GPS up and tried what was once a faulty antenna out, to my amazement the set started to work and has been running for around six months now.

I assume that the small antenna had a moisture ingress and that stopped the unit from functioning, then left in my office for a few years its dried out?

Note, I have some B&G Network repeaters and a GPS Plus connected to it, the best reading on there goes as low as 1.0 right now it reads 1.4.

Looking at ten sats, using five so good enough for a 2D fix

The date is out permanently and cannot be entered into the GPS. Right now the B&G GPS shows me Wed, 14th April 04, when the actual date is Wednesday 29th 2023.

So the Leica Mk8 is no longer for sale!

Roy
 

B&G ACP1 autopilot for sale

Simply the best when it came out I have an ACP1 autopilot control and a Network Pilot to control it with.

 

 

I also have the more powerfull ACP2 PCB (circuit board) if the upgrade is needed?

 

There are a number of the daisy chain wires and end plugs to suit, plus a HRF (heading reference unit) to indicate the rudder angle.

 

 

 

 

Contact me for prices etc.

 

Roy

 

B&G Network repeaters for sale

Brooks and Gatehouse make some of the worlds best navigation systems.

There is a large collection of such instruments now for sale.

There is a mix of the later Network digital too.

 

The Network system can be used with the Hornet 4 system.

 

The Hecta depth sounder matches the Hornet 4, both are the Rolls Royce of such systems.

 

 

This Network speed transducer also gives you water temperature, it has never been fitted, the skin fitting was installed but never used.

 

Contact me for a complete list and prices etc.

 

Roy

 

The Optimist dinghy boat kits

We have sold many of these over the years, our very first order was for five of them, this was increased to eight and for the one yacht club.

We expanded what we offer and now do the Harken deck kit, Marlow lines and also the North Sail.

 

The Harken and Marlow line kit with a North Sail will be delivered to a customer in the next few days.

 

Roy

 

Dix 43 sailing with the HBYC Admirals Sword fleet

The storms of the week before calmed down and Sunday was calm and with a light breeze.

A Dix 43 in wood/epoxy construction was also out in the bay, sailing her own course, she left the Admirals Sword fleet well alone.

 

The Dix 43 was launched January 17th 2000, proof enough that such builds can be a great success and over the period require little by way of attention.

 

Roy

 

Hillman Imp for sale in Cape Town, South Africa

An Imp that I owned may be for sale?

The car is in fine condition with a quality paint job.

The engine has new pistons etc, plus the sport series 180 cylinder head and twin Stromberg carbs.

It also has front disc brakes.

The car is a 1967 model.

Please advise if you know of anyone who may be looking for such a car?

Regards

Roy

The picture shows a similar set of Imp discs we supply.

Imp Californian on the road again

This is true and in more ways than one.

I took a drive up to the Apostle Battery, its near Llandudno.

This was a very important gun position in WW2, manned by ladies (manned?) they had 9.2" guns with a range of around 33 miles.

 

 

This is I assume the lead into a store for the cannons shells?

 

 

Yesterday the car was loaded onto this trailer and taken to the motor trimmers for the new carpets and head liner .

 

Roy

 

 

 

The Dabchick dinghy as a kit?

The Dabchick dinghy is mentioned in the April copy of Sailing (SA) magazine.

We have been asked to consider building one and if that was to happen we would produce a Dabchick kit.

The design is coming up for sixty years old now and depending who you ask has seen some 3000 to 5000 built to date.

Please contact me for more information on a kit.

There is lots more info on the Dabchick design in the link

http://sayachts.blogspot.co.za/2013/10/dabchick.html

Roy

Another shipment to Switzerland arrives safely

Packing is a very important part of the sales and service side of what we can offer.

Is this Heinrich I wonder?

We do of course charge for the packing crate, basically the cost to the materials and some labour to cover our costs.

The crate was specially made to hold three dinghy kits, two Optimists and one Argie 15, plus the meranti wood, North Sails and Harken deck gear.

We supplied the plans and the builders guides also.

 

One of the five steel band straps we fitted is missing, the others look good.

 

Roy

 

The Mirror dnghy class fitout parts guide

Have you ever tried to find the parts list for the Mirror dinghy?

I tried and failed then asked one of our better parts suppliers to track the list down, this he has done and in twenty four hours.

We will have the pricing in this week I hope.

Mirror CNC cut kits are available ex stock and at the same price as in 2014, we can supply any time.

Shipping world wide is not an issue.

Roy

Inside a British Seagull gear box

Most Seagull gearbox openings produce a mess of rust and rubbish from years of running dry, only water does the lubrication and cooling?

For a change the last two that were stripped actually had some oil in them, both were leaking due to over filling, plus the wrong grade of oil being used.

 

These Seagull gearboxes need part filling only and with a 140 grade of oil which we have in stock.

 

The gear box is filled via a plastic screw in plug and when the engine is upright, not when it is lying down, so the box is then just half full.

 

 

This 102 series gearbox is some sixty years old, it has survived well internally but has a bent drive shaft, a spare shaft and gear was used to replace the one in the picture.

 

 

Roy

 

British Seagull engines, assembled and in parts

With the two 102 series engines well on the way to completion, I have today stripped a customers 2hp motor.

The Forty series engine power head is next to the down leg of the 102 series motor, the parts to the stripped motor are in the box.

Roy

British Seagull 102 series engine, a long or a short shaft?

We have the parts to make either the short or the long shaft so conversion of your own engine should be possible?

The long shaft tubes are laid out at the back of the engine.

This model has the clutch, which is really a fork which disconnects the gear box crown wheel from the drive gear, it works very well I must add.

We stock the correct grade of Castrol 140 gear oil for these gear boxes.

An assembly job that is nearly complete.

Roy