Comments for YWDB Members Forum

Comment on Restoration of DB 362 , Playbuoy by Fred Brookes

Fred Brookes — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:23:37 +0000

Progress on restoring 362 continues. I managed the rebuild of the bow, with new oak apron and false stem, and a repaired stem knee. The plank ends were all cleaned up, old fixing holes filled with epoxy and wood dust, and the plank ends refastened with screws.
With the hull turned upside down I found that the failure in the hog was more serious than it looked from inside. The hog was split between the garboard plank and the keel all down one side of the centreboard slot, along the line of fastenings. I was not up to dismantling the whole boat to replace the hog, so have added reinforcing members along either side of the slot on the outside, bridging the cracked hog, fastened to the keel and garboard. That seems to have secured the structure, though only time will tell.
Taking down the outside of the hull to bare wood was a struggle, particularly as the submerged area had been treated with some very sticky and tenacious black stuff at some point, later covered with paint and antifouling. I believe that 362 lived on a mooring for a long time.
I cleared out all the old black rubber caulking from the submerged plank joints, and re-caulked with Sikaflex, using their primer to maximise adhesion. The bare hull then had a coat of International BWP as a base for paint below and varnish above the waterline.
This weekend will see the below-waterline area finished with gloss paint and, if weather allows, the first varnish coats on the topsides.
Then it is the inside, which has been scraped a good deal but I think will end up being mostly painted, as it is a very big task to get it all back to the bare wood. Lots to do on spars, which don’t exist, and fitting out the bare hull. Still planning/hoping to get in the water in the summer.
In future 362 will be re-registered as Elbow, in view of the amount of grease expended.
I am looking for a trailer, and if any reader has heard of one suitable being available, I would be glad to know about it. I could use a foresail too, if anybody has one available.

Comment on Restoration category by Tim

Tim — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:54:41 +0000

Here is another opportunity for an enthusiast to end up with a lovely boat. But hurry, time is short! DB250

Comment on The future of the Ladies Cup by David Cake

David Cake — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:20:38 +0000

I like the idea. One big race is always better than two small ones. I think the name will give it a boost too, everyone likes an opportunity. Good thinking Tim.

Comment on The future of the Ladies Cup by Diana Parkinson

Diana Parkinson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:21:57 +0000

I think that’s an excellent idea and solves several problems in one fell swoop!

Comment on The future of the Ladies Cup by Tim Parkinson

Tim Parkinson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:12:18 +0000

Its really time to establish a satisfactory arrangement for the Ladies Race as well as the Crews Race and the idea has come to me to combine the two in one “Opportunity Race”.
In essence both these races are poorly supported and the Ladies Race in particular seems to lack a “raison d’etre”. So lets combine the two (one or two ladies already sail in both) in a single race where the sole entry criteria is that helms from the points series are excluded.
And of course by reducing the number of races it is easier to fit them in to 5 days on the water
Do post your reaction to this idea

Comment on Havengore Epic Cruise from Crouch to Thames by gary illingworth

gary illingworth — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:14:06 +0000

Tim Hi again, yes there will be times I expect when I shall go sailing single handed so would need to consider ease of launch and recovery. I think I may have to buy more than one boat !!!!

One big heavy one that I can take a couple of others with me without too much fear of a capsize and then something a little lighter to handle on my own, it may be a bit more twitchy but I’ll have to get used to it, if I’m not carefull I’ll spend too long looking for a boat that doesn’t exist and never do any sailing.

If I buy a boat that after a season or two isn’t exactly what I want, then I’ll sell it and move on to something a bit different, I suppose by doing that I’ll gain a degree of excperience sailing different types of boats till I do find the one that suits most of my needs. Day Boat does sound rather good though.

Thanks for chatting, I’ll let you know what happens. All the best. Gary

Comment on Havengore Epic Cruise from Crouch to Thames by Tim

Tim — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:46:57 +0000

Gary,
I have one further point to make about launching and recovering single handed. I have a modern combination trailer in which the launching trolley sits on top of the road trailer. Using this I have many times launched and recovered on a very steep slip (the Severn tides go in for up and down!) in reasonably mild conditions and using a small winch on the road trailer. One other important feature to say is that I have is a hole half way down the stem which eliminates the downward pull you get using the deck level attachment point.
All the best
Tim

Comment on Havengore Epic Cruise from Crouch to Thames by gary illingworth

gary illingworth — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:13:55 +0000

Once again Tim many thanks for reply and everything you have said seems to make sense to me even with limited experience and knowledge so I will take on board everything you have said in helping me come to a decision at some point.

I do think that whilst I like the idea of something stable and roomy, I think I need the flexability of being able to launch and recover a boat relatively easily and maybe even singled handed too. I’m hoping to take it to different cruising grounds so ease of handling is quite important.

I’m not sure there is one boat that will meet all my needs and wants and probably I’ll have to consider what is more important in a boat for me to begin with.

Difficult decision to make with limited knowledge but I’m not going to rush into this without being completely satisfied I have given each possible choice of boat a degree of consideration, I’ll get there in the end and when I do I’ll drop you a note.

Anyway Tim it’s been good chatting and I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

All the best for now. Gary

Comment on Havengore Epic Cruise from Crouch to Thames by Steve

Steve — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:26:24 +0000

Gary,
I think most DB sailors keep their boat on a mooring, or at a Club, but trail them from time to time. (Incidentally, at Gravesend we launch all our DBs by crane – no ramps, and dry feet!). If you decide to trail frequently, you may decide to get a small power winch or something to minimise the physical effort.
You will find the DB very stable and roomy, and ideal for cruising – and it’ll stay up in quite strong winds (with experience, F5+ under full sail is perfectly realistic).
Its actually possible to camp very comfortably on a DB – see this blog of a week on the Caledonian Canal this summer: http://gravesendsailingclub.org.uk/gscweb/extrabits/userjournals_menu/userjournals.php?blogger.30 (although I must admit I mostly stayed on the accompanying cruiser).
I’m sure you’d be welcome at one of the DB clubs to look at one, and maybe have a sail.

Comment on Restoration of DB 362 , Playbuoy by Fred Brookes

Fred Brookes — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:38:01 +0000

Hello Mike, my boat 362 has no spars at present. I would like to build a wooden mast, though I never have before, just because it is an interesting project. So I am not in a position to advise you on your mast work. I have plenty to do repairing the hull before I get above decks. If I get to a wooden mast I’ll let you know. Yours, Fred