Super Student Shakespeare Shenanigans

[Tim M]

Looking good Tim. Is that bench going to have a back-rest?

[The Jackeens]

Lordy Tim, that's a lot of work!!!

Well done & keep it up

Nice archive

Us

[pathalla]

It's looking more and more like a boat Slim Tim, nice rigging job so far, I think you will appreciate the extra thick pad on your seat over time, extra padding never hurts!

[slimtim]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Tim, yes it will have a back rest eventually. I've sent drawings off to companies for quotes but sometimes I just feel like I'm bashing my head against a brick wall!

The only company to get back to me promptly was marine fabrications (The one Hugh Jardon used) with a quote of £137 + £25 P&P. Another company informed me yesterday that they would be charging £283+VAT for the same job HOw they can justify charging that much I really don't know!

More updates soon I hope.

Tim

[slimtim]

Update hopefully coming tonight! So much has been done in the last 2-3 weeks. I'm aiming to launch friday evening so will be reporting on progress, speed, handling bla bla over this weekend!

I'm like an excited little kid....

[LeewayComposite]

Originally Posted by slimtim

Update hopefully coming tonight! So much has been done in the last 2-3 weeks. I'm aiming to launch friday evening so will be reporting on progress, speed, handling bla bla over this weekend!

I'm like an excited little kid....

Good luck..

dont forget to get some pics

[J S]

Yes good look on maiden voyage tim

Hope everything works as it should

James

[PeterR]

Good Luck Tim,I hope the weather is fine for you.It may be worth taking in the car some kind of ballast with you i.e spare chain several small strong plastic bags with sand or gravel to iron out any handling problems.Although i know mine is 6.2 and different set up .I did have bad chine walk at about 50mph now handles great 50+ with 30 kg and anchor and chain in bow locker

[slimtim]

thanks guys!

Bit too late to update now, was outside working on the boat until I couldn't see any more.

I will find some time over the weekend to update with the last few build pics and the first few launch/buzzing about pics.

Tim

[Jizm]

Good luck, I will be about on saturday, in and around the solent. Maybe I will run into you if you are still out on sea trials!
Jiz

[Hugh Jardon]

starting to come together, good luck with the launch and first trip

[slimtim]

Right, had a hectic (and expensive) couple of days!

First of all, the last of the last of the build pics...

upholstery was screwed on using ss hinges purchased from the boat show. I have used 2 inch long screws sunk into mahogany blocks to make sure the seats aren't coming off! Takes ages to get them lined up, took mike and I an hour and a half to put the helm seat on! Anyway, its all sealed with expanded sticky backed neoprene (simple but effective) and I have plated brass hasps to hold the lids shut.

The engine was fired up for the first time in over one and a half years. Had some problems with the cooling as described in another thread, but other than that it went ok.

Fuel tank is strapped in with webbing strap held to the deck with stainless loops. There are also blocks front and back to stop the tank moving (its wedged in real tight!).

Electric were done by my dad. Two switches (index marine) mounted in a carbon fibre plate made in an autoclave by a mate doing a phd at uni. An on off on switch for the nav lights (not installed yet) and an on off mom for the bilge pump. The dials and compass are wired to light up when the nav lights are switched on. The on off on switch will enable me to switch red green and white on and white on on its own. Its very surprising how much wiring is required for so few electronics!

Stainless bench seat backrest arrived far earlier than expected from marine fabrications (same people who hugh jardon used). They provide an excellent service and could not really say anything bad about them...quick, cheap (well over half the price of some quotes!), helpful and quality work.

Pics:
1. running the engine in a large bucket (with a hole in it) before I phoned southern water and found I could use a hose!
2. Some cables at the back. Orange ones are battery cables and you can also see the fish finder transducer (bottom right) and fuel filter.
3. Battery positioning in the bench seat.
4. Fuel tank installation with fuel sender in place.
5. Rear corner of the jockey seat. Can see here that the upholsterer has screwed/stabled webbing on to the under side of the seat to protect the vinyl...a nice touch I think.

[slimtim]

more pics coming soon, I need to go to bed, been sinking a few pints in the anchor in cowes

Another expensive day of slurping fuel tomorrow!

[slimtim]

some more build piccies.

1. Puting the first fuel into the tank...spilt most of it on the deck, so I bought a jiggle syphon from halfords

2. Back rest on and looking pimp. Thought the 32mm tube might be a little flexy with 2 or 3 people on the seat but in practise its perfect! I mounted the stainless with 3 M8 bolts on each side and doubled up the ply to 2 x 9mm, so she should be plenty strong enough.

3. Another view. Can see the plated brass hasps I have on the seats.

4. side view.

5. Helm's view, fishfinder mounted.

A little tip...don't leave masking tape stuck on to paint for too long as it makes a mess when you rip it off!

[slimtim]

1. Fuse box and back of switch panel. All the wires have been bundled up and stuck to the inside walls with sticky tabs. We bought a box of coloured zipties from maplin to make cable identification much easier in the future. I mounted the fuse box on a wooden plate and have used velco to attach it to the console...this way I can take it off to change fuses easily.

2. Wiring to dials (unfortunately not in focus ), fish finder cables and fuel vent on left.

3. Dial and compass lighting works, as does fishfinder!

[slimtim]

She was launch last friday at about 6pm. There was a little gathering of friends and family and a varied assortment of cakes and booze

1. At the slip, poised to be fired down the slipway behind my golf...

2. There she goes!

3. Bloody hell, it floats!

4. I like this pic...such a great evening for it too.

5. Mike at the controls as we pootled up the river to check engine was ok.

[slimtim]

1. Mike again up the river before venturing into the solent.

2. Off out of the habour to open her up...

[Hugh Jardon]

hey congratulations, i bet you are chuffed to bits

[slimtim]

I'm afraid there are not yet any on water pics, hopefully will get those soon!

Anyway, I spose I better say something about how she handles etc.

Low speed: She seems to have fantastic manoeuvrability at low habour speed for such a deep v and far better than any other boat I have tried of a comparible size. At rest the tubes just touch the water when loaded so perfect.

Seating and comfort: If I don't say so myself, I think I may have got my helm seat pretty much perfect for someone tall such as myself (I would be interested to know how shorter people get on with it). I can sit in comfort or stand and perch my bum on the backrest and reach all controls easily from both positions...ideal! I can also perfectly brace my feet against the raised up deck areas either side of the console. The bench seat is good too with loads of padding and support back and sideways from the backrest. Crew sitting on it can hold onto the helm backrest with one hand and the side rail with the other.

High speed stuff: For a boat of its size, she is remarkable in the small - medium solent chop we encountered. She hardly ever slams (I thought it may be a slightly harsh ride with those big reverse chines) and she just skips over the waves. I had so much confidence in her, I was hammering her at motor boat wash almost straight away with not much let up on the throttle. She rides very flat and true with no noticable tilt due to prop torque and if she gets knocked off the level by an awkward wave, so sorts herself out no probs

She rears up a little bit more than I would like when getting on the plane, but once there she flys! Trimming right out resulted in some chine walking when I was on my own, so lots of concentration is required! The hull gives a lot of lift, which gives the feeling of almost floating over the waves and the bow picks up high when she's trimmed out.

When cornering however she tends to ventilate a lot which can be almost cured when trimmed fully in. After a very interesting chat with the buy at prop revs, a change of prop may help me here. I'm currently running a solas ss 15inch pitch prop (not sure of diameter) which I think is lightly cupped. I may get a slightly larger diam (to decrease slip) and 16 or (if my engine can take it) 17inch prop. Trouble is it seems I have the smaller gearbox size (3.5inch) which is a bit unusual on a 70hp, so props are a little difficult to find above 15inch pitch. For the record I'm pulling about 5600-5700rpm at WOT.

So far my top speed it 34.2knots (GPS) with 3 on board and against the tide. I'm hoping I can squeeze a bit more out of her with a change in prop and lighter load!

Took her wakeboarding on monday night too. At about 3800rpm she sits nicely in the water producing a surprisingly large wake! Perfect. Unfortunately on recovering her, a hull to trailer interface resulted in a large gouge at the front (through to the glass ), but shes all fixed now Learn from my mistakes me thinks! See here: http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....340#post156340

Haven't worked out fuel consumption yet, but if I go to priory on sat, I will do a run between yarmouth and cowes to work it out.

She is also a very dry ride for the size. I think I got wet once while under way the whole weekend.

Comments and suggestion welcome, especially if anyone has any advice about my prop. I'm planning on getting a powertech 16inch from prop revs.

[slimtim]

The thank yous....

Many many people on RIBnet and else where have helped me out with this project and it would never have been possible without all the help and advice!

Thank you to...

Ray for the bilge pump, cover and steering gear.
Jackeens for the battery, flask and general encouragement!
Martin and anto for the waterproof container.
Mark Haliday for the Mahoooosive flag (just need to find a pole big enough!)
Pete 7 for the wind thingy and I think one of those waterproof containers! Oh, and the loan of the cables!
Willowkis and chris for the ickle (and slightly more suitable ) flag.
Rogue wave for the fuel tank plate, console hatch, life jacket.
Andy hightower for his exceptional stainless crafting!
Bogi for the light pole.
Tim G for the VHF course and hopefully more courses soon...
My mate trystan for the carbon fibre panel courtesy of soton uni autoclave.
Stevetheboat for the hull and trailer at a good price and the advice.
Ribraff and chris at henshaw for the tube advice and tips.
Leeway for his GRP advice, and for sitting down with me for a few hours discussing consoles in the early days of design!
All those who have taken me out ribbing while the build has been in progress.
my mum and dad for lending the funds to make it possible, for the help in building and for driving a million miles to pick up the hull and trailer.
All those who have given me advice on the forum, sent PM's and have let me nose around their ribs looking for ideas!

and...My mates mike, james, joe and will for their continual and essential help...its been worth all the effort!

So sorry if I have missed anyone out, there have been so many helpful and generous people!

I hope this thread has been helpful to others thinking of doing the same...I know I have inspired one or two people to undertake projects of their own!

Thanks again to all.