S2 6.7 Junk Rig Conversion

  • 12 Dec 2020 06:54
    Reply # 9423811 on 9420629
    Deleted user
    Scott wrote:

    Congratulations! I need to learn your secret. I think you will finish building a complete boat in less time than I spent converting this one.

    I was thinking about something doing something like this with the large hatch.


    It has been about 2 and a half years since I started, but then I did nothing through our winter of last year because I was book writing. So about 2 years of part time work. I would not have done so well if it were not for 6 weeks of full time boatbuilding during Lockdown. And then I sold the big yacht several months ago so being Beatles provides a lot of incentive. The catamaran has been more work than I expected. I am currently putting in about 3 days a week almost full time through those days. I am a bit over boat building, so looking forward to sailing. Today I fitted the deck hatch, and the solar panels, and undercoated the hulls. Over the next two days I will finish painting the hulls and hopefully cut out and install the Polycarbonate cabin windows. I just keep driving myself because our summer is now almost here and I want to go boating.

    I think that companionway style is flawed. With an almost horizontal opening every time it rains, or in rough sea conditions, the hatch will need to be closed. On my catamaran the design showed the aft cabin bulkhead which has the companionway opening as inclined forward. In a climate such as we have in New Zealand where rain is a common feature that inclined aft bulkhead and companionway opening would be a disaster. So I have made the bulkhead vertical. The sliding hatch when closed extends partially over the bulkhead opening. See photo below. The best solution for a companionway is a vertical entry through the cabin bulkhead, and a sliding hatch, or just the cabin roof extending if possible out beyond the vertical bulkhead opening. Some type of dodger, either soft or hard improves the all weather utilisation of an open, or partially open companionway. 

    1 file
    Last modified: 12 Dec 2020 20:01 | Deleted user
  • 12 Dec 2020 03:35
    Reply # 9423636 on 9420629
    Deleted user
    Anonymous wrote:
    David wrote:

    [...] we are very close to a launch date so will know how it all works out in a months time.

    Congratulations! I need to learn your secret. I think you will finish building a complete boat in less time than I spent converting this one.

    I was thinking about something doing something like this with the large hatch.


    I bet a very good dodger or hood could go a long way to help her keep that nice smile.
  • 10 Dec 2020 22:53
    Reply # 9420629 on 9415613
    David wrote:

    [...] we are very close to a launch date so will know how it all works out in a months time.

    Congratulations! I need to learn your secret. I think you will finish building a complete boat in less time than I spent converting this one.

    I was thinking about something doing something like this with the large hatch.


  • 09 Dec 2020 06:29
    Reply # 9415613 on 9414850
    Deleted user
    Scott wrote:

    Thank you David, Mark and David.

    I very much appreciate the advice of long-time sailors. I will take it to heart.

    I am shopping for a small ventilation hatch that will go on the foredeck somewhere. I think I will hold on to the full size hatch and use it to make a more water-tight companionway, if I ever have time!

    I had hoped to avoid spending money on a new hatch. If anyone knows someone who wants to buy the original mast and other spars please send them my way! That would really help my boat budget.

    Proper deck hatches are very expensive, which is one thing that did motivate my decision. But I am happy with my smaller Vetus hatch which measures about 280 mm x 150 mm. The hinges will be on the forward side so the hatch will open on the aft side. That way even in heavy rain it can be left slightly open to provide some ventilation. It is positioned above the head end of the double berth so as to provide ventilation through the night.

    The aft cabin bulkhead also has a window which is hinged at the top and can be propped open. This is important for ventilation in New Zealand's quite hot summer climate. 

    I am not totally sure of the best answer for a water-tight companionway on a small yacht. Annie has her own very good solution. On 'Footprints' we had a conventional companionway and sliding hatch, with a solid dodger built just around the hatch opening. That proved to be very waterproof even in an ocean crossing environment with waves sweeping across the deck and through the cockpit. But the companionway opening was set forward by about 300 mm from the aft cabin bulkhead which I expect contributed to the success of the arrangement. I had hope to duplicate this on the catamaran but have been unable to do so for practical reasons in such a small boat. So I have a conventional sliding hatch with drop boards in the opening. I intend having a boom tent which I hope will help with a waterproof cabin opening when staying on board during inclement weather. Anyway we are very close to a launch date so will know how it all works out in a months time.

    Last modified: 09 Dec 2020 06:31 | Deleted user
  • 08 Dec 2020 22:35
    Reply # 9414850 on 6872873

    Thank you David, Mark and David.

    I very much appreciate the advice of long-time sailors. I will take it to heart.

    I am shopping for a small ventilation hatch that will go on the foredeck somewhere. I think I will hold on to the full size hatch and use it to make a more water-tight companionway, if I ever have time!

    I had hoped to avoid spending money on a new hatch. If anyone knows someone who wants to buy the original mast and other spars please send them my way! That would really help my boat budget.

  • 08 Dec 2020 13:12
    Reply # 9413295 on 6872873

    Perhaps Benefits of a fore hatch needs a separate thread?

    one other:

    the mast falls down, an blocks the main hatch.  A reason to avoid a single outward opening hatch.  You don’t see this on yachts, but all Navy vessel do so.

  • 07 Dec 2020 08:53
    Reply # 9409774 on 6872873

    Scott,

    It seems that as long-term seamen, David and I have done the risk assessment and come to the same conclusion. I think that for me, it goes something like this:

    What would cause a fire in the cockpit? An outboard and its fuel tank. What's to be done? Come out of the main hatch fast, toting a large extinguisher of appropriate type. Coming out of a forehatch would be too late, an explosion may have happened by then.

    What would cause a cabin fire that would trap me? A propane cooker? No answer, there's an explosion, not a fire, and the boat and I are a write-off. Vented lead/acid battery (gives off hydrogen)? Better to fit a sealed type. An alcohol cooker? A small fire can be extinguished quickly and easily with water, no need to evacuate via a forehatch. A solid fuel or diesel heater? Not applicable to this size and type of boat. 

    What else would trap me in the cabin? A major leak? Having a forehatch doesn't help. A main hatch that is self-securing from the outside? Not a good plan, avoid this in fitting out. Violent intruder? Possible but unlikely, and a forehatch wouldn't help.

    Anything I missed? Forehatches might be needed for sail handling on those boats unfortunate enough to be rigged with other than JR, but we can save ourselves the downsides of major leak possibility, plus the work and cost to install one.

  • 07 Dec 2020 03:57
    Reply # 9409451 on 9408489
    Deleted user
    Scott wrote:

    Hi David,

    Thank you for taking the time to respond. I think I want more than one way to get out of the boat just in case the main hatch is blocked by a fire in the cockpit or some other very unexpected event. Maybe this is nonsense. Either way I will definitely add some type of dorade ventilators when time and my budget allows.

    Scott.

    I thought about this on the 6 meter catamaran I am building. I had originally intended to put a full size hatch in the cabin top forward thinking second means of egress in the case of fire. But then I realised on a 6 meter boat I am only a brief second from the main hatch any way, no matter where I am in the interior of the boat. So in the end I have fitted only a small ventilation hatch which allows both light and air into the cabin.

    I have also provided for as much ventilation as I can making vents into the open coaming lockers for the aft section of each hull, and vents forward in each hull. The composting toilet will have a small 12 volt extractor fan running continuously which also helps in providing positive ventilation.

    Last modified: 07 Dec 2020 04:52 | Deleted user
  • 06 Dec 2020 16:44
    Reply # 9408489 on 6872873

    Hi David,

    Thank you for taking the time to respond. I think I want more than one way to get out of the boat just in case the main hatch is blocked by a fire in the cockpit or some other very unexpected event. Maybe this is nonsense. Either way I will definitely add some type of dorade ventilators when time and my budget allows.

    Scott.

  • 05 Dec 2020 07:21
    Reply # 9406247 on 6872873

    I'm not convinced that a small JR boat should have a full-sized forehatch.

    There is a need for all-weather ventilation, best provided by a cowl+dorade, eg Air Only.

    In hot dry weather, a minimal size (20cm square) ventilation hatch can be useful to get a through airflow.

    Neither of these options would unduly weaken the deck. 

       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

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