Mini's Log http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:05:00 GMT http://bandzoogle.com Sculling fins on rudder. Ballast issues. http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=1694069 I mentioned a few months ago about experimenting with flexible fins attached to the trailing edge of the rudder for sculling.  This has turned out to be very successful.  I can scull while sitting down at a good clip.  I don't have to pack a long sweep or Yuloh onboard anymore.  In a dead calm I can scull at 1 1/2 to almost 2 knots with very little effort. I just bolted the ends of a couple of speed swim fins to the trailing edge of the rudder.  When I push the tiller back-and-forth the rudder acts like a fish tail.  Eventually I'll replace these crude fins with a single Lexan blade. Of course I've unfortunately added a lot of wetted surface which adds to underwater friction and drag.  I believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.  When I replace the fins with a single sheet of flexible Lexan,  the rudder will be close to its original size.  Maybe the last 25%-28% of the rudder will be the polycarbonate sheet.  For now I'm going to leave it as is. Ballast Issues.   I went for a 3 day sail last week and found that my port keel was leaking through the rusty steel punchings expanding upwards.  The rust epoxy/steel mixture burst through the fiberglass into the cabin in the storage compartments.  I'm fixing that now.  My plan is to chip out the epoxy/steel punching (much of it rusty) until I've removed the top 2 inches worth in both keels.  I will then saturate the rusty ballast mixture with WD-40 (a San Diego product of the aerospace industry).  This will neutralize the expanding rust.   I will then drain off the WD-40 and then reset the keel weight with epoxy resin (very thin) and then reseal the top of the keels with 3 or 4 layers of 8 oz. fiberglass.  I'll let you know how it goes.  The yawl Mini and I hope and pray you all have a great 2012.
I just bolted the ends of a couple of speed swim fins to the trailing edge of the rudder.  When I push the tiller back-and-forth the rudder acts like a fish tail.  Eventually I'll replace these crude fins with a single Lexan blade.
Of course I've unfortunately added a lot of wetted surface which adds to underwater friction and drag.  I believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.  When I replace the fins with a single sheet of flexible Lexan,  the rudder will be close to its original size.  Maybe the last 25%-28% of the rudder will be the polycarbonate sheet.  For now I'm going to leave it as is.

Ballast Issues.   I went for a 3 day sail last week and found that my port keel was leaking through the rusty steel punchings expanding upwards.  The rust epoxy/steel mixture burst through the fiberglass into the cabin in the storage compartments.  I'm fixing that now. 

My plan is to chip out the epoxy/steel punching (much of it rusty) until I've removed the top 2 inches worth in both keels.  I will then saturate the rusty ballast mixture with WD-40 (a San Diego product of the aerospace industry).  This will neutralize the expanding rust.   I will then drain off the WD-40 and then reset the keel weight with epoxy resin (very thin) and then reseal the top of the keels with 3 or 4 layers of 8 oz. fiberglass.  I'll let you know how it goes. 

The yawl Mini and I hope and pray you all have a great 2012.
]]> Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:05:00 GMT BE65FAD85982DF608CFF0AFEA58BD642 Instant mini voltmeter http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=754930 If you have a storage battery for running lights and VHF radio, you need one of these plug-in volt meters which can be bought at most car parts places.  It plugs into the cig. lighter socket.  If you have a battery switcher and two deep-cycle batteries you will always be able to know how much power you have left.  Your charger should push 14.4 volts.  On the charger box it will say 12 volt output, but it should actually put out a higher voltage.  Auto and Marine batteries are meant to have around a 14 volt imput to properly top off.  I have two batteries on "mini".  When I'm on a cruise, I use just one of the batteries and use the other for a reserve.      Most of us have an inverter onboard so we can charge up flashlight batteries, phones and computer.  Some inverters will not operate with less than 10 or 11 volts.  If you have only 11.5 volts, that's getting pretty low.  Your mini voltmeter can tell you exactly how much voltage you have in each battery.  Here is "mini's" wiring and electrical panel.     
   

Most of us have an inverter onboard so we can charge up flashlight batteries, phones and computer.  Some inverters will not operate with less than 10 or 11 volts.  If you have only 11.5 volts, that's getting pretty low.  Your mini voltmeter can tell you exactly how much voltage you have in each battery.  Here is "mini's" wiring and electrical panel. 

   
]]> Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:25:00 GMT 7671105B2ACC748190D02EEA55D2125F Mini is painted http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=538230 So much has happened and I haven't posted forever.  I apologize.  New items purchased:  A true "Charlie Noble" of stainless steel instead of the galvanized vent pipe I've used through the years.  I'm happy about this because when I was on a starboard tack, I couldn't use the fireplace because wind from the mainsail would backwind the fire and smoke would fill the cabin.  With the "Charlie Noble" (a sea going chimney top is called a Charlie Noble because there was an old sea captain by that name who was noted because he demanded the chimney coming up from the galley would always be perfectly polished) I can sail with a fire on any point.  Cool.  I also bought a Para-sail for ultimate storm survival stategy.  I'm following Lin and Larry Pardey's advice concerning parachute anchors.  I bought both of these items at our huge marine swap meet we have here in Chula Vista twice a year down at the harbor.  It is great. I'm racing MINI this Saturday.  This is the last race of the Fall Series in the Venture Yacht Club.  Last race she was 4th out of 7 boats.  Pictures to follow of the new paint.  Same color scheme.
I also bought a Para-sail for ultimate storm survival stategy.  I'm following Lin and Larry Pardey's advice concerning parachute anchors.  I bought both of these items at our huge marine swap meet we have here in Chula Vista twice a year down at the harbor.  It is great.

I'm racing MINI this Saturday.  This is the last race of the Fall Series in the Venture Yacht Club.  Last race she was 4th out of 7 boats.  Pictures to follow of the new paint.  Same color scheme.


]]> Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:30:59 GMT 90AC284C51F26A5426BA3D7D02A47873 From Neil in Jamaica http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=286277 &nbsp;Just received: &nbsp;Dear Dave, &nbsp;How are you? &nbsp;I appreciate the new pages. &nbsp;Please find some pictures of Viva sailing in Jamaica. &nbsp;Thanks. Neil aka Capt Tuna the chicken of the sea Thanks Neil. &nbsp;I just posted Viva's pictures on the photo page. &nbsp;<a href="./photos.cfm">Click here. &nbsp; Dear Dave,  How are you?  I appreciate the new pages.  Please find some pictures of Viva sailing in Jamaica.  Thanks.
Neil
aka
Capt Tuna
the chicken of the sea

Thanks Neil.  I just posted Viva's pictures on the photo page.  Click here.  
]]> Sat, 15 May 2010 02:41:51 GMT 6C58E7166ABBE7C593AB7B238B8EDEE7 Set up the Pepper last week. http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=285577 &nbsp; &nbsp;My son, Hans, called and asked if he could use the Pepper and take out three of his friends from L.A.. &nbsp;The Pepper is a 15' gaff-sloop. &nbsp;My first response was negative because the Pepper is in as poor condition as Mini. &nbsp;He talked me into it. &nbsp;The had a blast. &nbsp; His friends had never been in a sailboat before. &nbsp;My son has a Chrysler 22' fixer upper which he is trying to whip into shape. &nbsp;So I got to sail for an hour before and after the boys' sail. My wife Eva took a fall awhile ago back in Pittsburg visiting your other son, Ben. &nbsp;He is a Coast Guard Officer. &nbsp;Eva broke both of her feet, hurt her back, and ended up with a nasty case of vertigo. &nbsp;Heavens! &nbsp;During her recovery our lives have turned up-side-down. &nbsp;We appreciate your prayers on our behalf. &nbsp;We are holding on to God and succeeding in hunting down the hidden blessings which come to us when we face these types of experiences. &nbsp;&nbsp;
 
 My son, Hans, called and asked if he could use the Pepper and take out three of his friends from L.A..  The Pepper is a 15' gaff-sloop.  My first response was negative because the Pepper is in as poor condition as Mini.  He talked me into it.  The had a blast.   His friends had never been in a sailboat before.  My son has a Chrysler 22' fixer upper which he is trying to whip into shape.  So I got to sail for an hour before and after the boys' sail.

My wife Eva took a fall awhile ago back in Pittsburg visiting your other son, Ben.  He is a Coast Guard Officer.  Eva broke both of her feet, hurt her back, and ended up with a nasty case of vertigo.  Heavens!  During her recovery our lives have turned up-side-down.  We appreciate your prayers on our behalf.  We are holding on to God and succeeding in hunting down the hidden blessings which come to us when we face these types of experiences.   
]]> Fri, 14 May 2010 20:45:00 GMT 8E61EFE2693D397470B7BDCC237BEB5C Work on main hatch http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=165877 &nbsp;Work is going well. &nbsp;I've only spent an hour on it, but I sawed the opening down and will use some foam and pvc to build my new lip to receive the hatch boards. &nbsp;The new little saw works great and I highly recommend it. &nbsp;I also tried the blade which is used for power-scraping and found it really does the job with little effort. I wanted to show you one of the most incredible sailing photos I've ever scene. &nbsp;Wow! &nbsp;This was taken here in San Diego of the BMW/ ORACLE America's Cup challenger before she&nbsp;shipped off for Spain and the races in early February. &nbsp;What do you think?
I wanted to show you one of the most incredible sailing photos I've ever scene.  Wow!  This was taken here in San Diego of the BMW/ ORACLE America's Cup challenger before she shipped off for Spain and the races in early February.  What do you think?




]]> Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:24:19 GMT F7D9D4CBC5C82D0D3EEB8AE056C26458 Happy New Year http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=157210 &nbsp;I just bought a new tool. &nbsp; Maybe you've seen one of these on TV selling for millions of dollars. &nbsp;This is a Harbor Freight tool for $39 on sale. &nbsp;It is a saw,scraper,sander and oscillates 19,000 times a minutes. &nbsp;The throw on these things looks to be almost 1/4 inch. &nbsp;Wow. &nbsp;I'm going to use it to make my hatch opening larger. I'm getting a little older (58 this year) and it's getting harder to crawl through that little opening. &nbsp;I'm going to go to a three board (instead of one) washboard system. &nbsp;I built this little wall up with 1&quot; foam sandwiched in fiberglass. &nbsp;It's been great but it's coming off. &nbsp;I pray this is your best year yet. &nbsp;&nbsp;  I just bought a new tool.  



Maybe you've seen one of these on TV selling for millions of dollars.  This is a Harbor Freight tool for $39 on sale.  It is a saw,scraper,sander and oscillates 19,000 times a minutes.  The throw on these things looks to be almost 1/4 inch.  Wow.  I'm going to use it to make my hatch opening larger.



I'm getting a little older (58 this year) and it's getting harder to crawl through that little opening.  I'm going to go to a three board (instead of one) washboard system.  I built this little wall up with 1" foam sandwiched in fiberglass.  It's been great but it's coming off.

 I pray this is your best year yet.   


]]> Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:56:26 GMT 30CBD6E0E8C5DE46401AC83B9A81121B Starting to work on "mini" http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=99740 &nbsp;Dr. Neil will be so blessed that I'm going to get Mini back to bristol condition. &nbsp; My problem is time. &nbsp;I just haven't had it. &nbsp; Yesterday I did a little scraping on the rub rail. &nbsp;This coming Monday and Tuesday I'm going to work on her. &nbsp;Pictures to follow here on the blog. &nbsp;I've been testing out some inexpensive paint to use rather than the expensive marina store stuff. &nbsp;I've come up with.....regular old Rustoleum (sic) Gloss white is working out very well. &nbsp;1/4 the price. &nbsp;I've had it on the dinghy for awhile in the sun. &nbsp;Looking very promising. &nbsp;More later. Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:27:41 GMT C0705D0A884C4D3692AF0163F49A8531 New Picture of the Pepper http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=80952 &nbsp;I would sure like to post something new every week on this blog. &nbsp;The time flies by. &nbsp;I took the 8'4&quot; dinghy &quot;mum&quot; out last Saturday. &nbsp;I anchored in the estuary and studied for my sermon. &nbsp;Maybe other people don't need three boats, but I do. &nbsp;Mini's cockpit is so small for daysailing and with nine stays, she take a little while to rig up down at the boat ramp. &nbsp;One of my great blessings in life is that my house is one short mile to the launch ramp down at Chula Vista Harbor. &nbsp;Everyone here calls the harbor &nbsp;&quot; 'J' Street.&quot; &nbsp;Eva and I love it here in Chula Vista. &nbsp;The average summer temperature is 77 degrees and the average winter temperature is 67. &nbsp; I posted a new picture of the &quot;Pepper&quot; in Chula Vista Harbor. &nbsp;Took three days off and sailed &quot;mini&quot; up to Glorietta Bay, to Crown Cove and to &quot;Dave's Spit&quot;. &nbsp;I know it's gross. &nbsp;Sorry. &nbsp;Had a great time. &nbsp;The Vivacity 20 is an awesome boat.&nbsp; I'm working on a very simple trim tab self-steering vane that should work on most trailer sailboats. &nbsp;I'll keep you informed. &nbsp;Nag me if I start to get lazy. I finally bought a scanner. &nbsp;This will allow me to post older pictures of &quot;mini&quot; and the crossing. &nbsp; The new &quot;Pepper&quot; photo was scanned. Here is the starboard counter. &nbsp;My Origo stove is stowed with the frying pan in brackets. &nbsp;Where the stock boat's sink should be is the ice box. God bless you all. &nbsp;I'm going to bed. &nbsp;
I posted a new picture of the "Pepper" in Chula Vista Harbor.  Took three days off and sailed "mini" up to Glorietta Bay, to Crown Cove and to "Dave's Spit".  I know it's gross.  Sorry.  Had a great time.  The Vivacity 20 is an awesome boat. 

I'm working on a very simple trim tab self-steering vane that should work on most trailer sailboats.  I'll keep you informed.  Nag me if I start to get lazy.

I finally bought a scanner.  This will allow me to post older pictures of "mini" and the crossing.   The new "Pepper" photo was scanned.
Here is the starboard counter.  My Origo stove is stowed with the frying pan in brackets.  Where the stock boat's sink should be is the ice box.


God bless you all.  I'm going to bed.

 
]]> Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:20:00 GMT 818556EC99E5BE4CA1FCF60319C3E835 Stop sailing and work on the poor boat :-) http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=47598 &nbsp;I've been sailing a bit. &nbsp;I've had 3-three day cruises and a four day cruise since my last post. &nbsp;My church activities have been many and my boats and house are neglected. &nbsp;I've still only renewed one window on MINI and &nbsp;she needs her topsides, deck and cockpit painted. &nbsp;I've been spending some time working on my 8' dinghy. &nbsp;Varnished the rub rail and fiberglass work on the floor. &nbsp;This dinghy is cool because I can use the mizzen sail and mast off of MINI and step it directly to the dinghy while at anchor. &nbsp;The dinghy's name is MUM. &nbsp;So when I'm towing MUM behind MINI. &nbsp; --MINI MUM. &nbsp; Kind of corny. &nbsp;Pictures will follow once my computer is up and running. &nbsp;I'm using my wife's MacBook right now. &nbsp;Blessings.   --MINI MUM.  
Kind of corny.  Pictures will follow once my computer is up and running.  I'm using my wife's MacBook right now.  Blessings.]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 08:05:00 GMT E46B86D3EDE16C40E89DE853BE779BCD Windows and engines. http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=36739 The CYSS daysail is day after tomorrow and one of &quot;mini's&quot; window has been off so I could get the oxidation (?) off and recaulk it. &nbsp;Yesterday I spent a few minutes and installed the window. &nbsp;When replacing the original windows with Lexan, be sure to over lap the cabin sides by at least an inch. &nbsp;Using 3M 5200 and a caulking gun........ &nbsp;(more later) Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:50:31 GMT C68912D5FCE5F9D337BE6D06080558B6 Sick http://minibluewatersailing.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=641986&postid=36306 &nbsp;I'm lying in bed, recovering from the cold and flu thing. &nbsp;&nbsp; I thought I would start a little blog so I can fill you in on what is going on with &quot;mini&quot; and my work on her and you can write a comment, if you like. Mini has been in poorer shape for the last two years. &nbsp;(Neil from Jamaica will attest to that!) She needs paint inside and out and I need to take off the polycarbonate (don't use plexiglass on your boat.....too brittle) &nbsp;port windows clean them up a bit and reinstall them. &nbsp; I took one of the windows off and it looks like it will clean up enough not to buy new ones. &nbsp; &nbsp; My problem is I don't have enough time. &nbsp;I need to get &quot;mini&quot; functional because <a href="http://www.christianyouthsailingsociety.com">CYSS has a daysail a week from tomorrow and &nbsp;&quot;mini&quot; is committed. A Vivacity owner from France wrote about the minibulkheads under the berths which were installed to hold the two-part polyeruothane (sic) &nbsp;foam. &nbsp;He would like some pictures. &nbsp;I haven't taken the pictures yet but they will appear on the photos page with some explanations. Blessings to all, &nbsp;Dave
I thought I would start a little blog so I can fill you in on what is going on with "mini" and my work on her and you can write a comment, if you like.

Mini has been in poorer shape for the last two years.  (Neil from Jamaica will attest to that!) She needs paint inside and out and I need to take off the polycarbonate (don't use plexiglass on your boat.....too brittle)  port windows clean them up a bit and reinstall them.   I took one of the windows off and it looks like it will clean up enough not to buy new ones.    

My problem is I don't have enough time.  I need to get "mini" functional because CYSS has a daysail a week from tomorrow and  "mini" is committed.

A Vivacity owner from France wrote about the minibulkheads under the berths which were installed to hold the two-part polyeruothane (sic)  foam.  He would like some pictures.  I haven't taken the pictures yet but they will appear on the photos page with some explanations.

Blessings to all,  Dave]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:25:00 GMT 58BF90EDF343331379FCB818BF64A952