Andrew

Barry you're worth more money feel free to pass this along to any of your bosses Andrew

OK so I'm thinking, today would be a great day to finish the steering, I'll go to Nelsons site, print the doco and pictures, and voila it shall be finished. But lo and behold (that sounds a bit nautical) Nelson's site has vanished!!! Does anyone have his/similar/improved doco and piccy's? please Thanx Andrew

Dave A true-er word has never been spoken, 'cept prehaps that with the amount of mistakes I've made, I should be 'all knowing' by now I'm sure it has been said many times before, but my 'enhancements' just make this boat all the more MINE and not one of those mass produced, plastic fantastics that just cost LOTS of money. I'm still trying to convince my 5 and 7 year-old girls that I may run out of room for a TV in the cabin - Still that would be another 'enhancement' HAHA

OK here's the story..... I have aquired a new friend recently (my wife's girlfriends new boyfriend :? ) and guess what - he's the owner of a 30' sailboat He has it moored on the coast (2hrs away) and has asked if I would like to go for a sail with him - He's sailed in 2 Sydney to Hobarts (not on his boat) and has also done the Lord Howe Island race (in his boat) but this has little to do with brass, so I'll get to that now.... We (my wife and I) were invited over to Peter's (the new boyfriend) for a BBQ on the weekend and while I was drooling over all his boaty stuff we got to talking about my project and when I told him it was Gaff rigged he immediately yelled - 'hang on, I'll be back in a tick, I've got something that'll look great in a Gaff'. And he came out of his shed with a couple of OLD and corroded 'gimballed' brass oil lamps. Apparantly a fellow sailor had given them to him when a boat was scrapped and he has no use for them on his plastic fantastic - so I am now the proud owner - now the question you've all been waiting for - how do I restore the brass to something like its former glory????? I've done a quick check of the net and 'flour, vinegar, salt' seems to be the formula they quote, but it's having trouble with some of the more corroded spots. The brass was lacquered, but it appears that the lacquer has failed in spots and so under the lacquer are corrosion 'spots' that look similar to the way mould grows on jam etc. (possibly not the best description ) The flour,salt,vinegar doesn't seem to move any of this Any help (as always) will be greatly appreciated Andrew

Hi I'm at work trying to post, but the firewall won't let me send my LONG version - so until I get home and can let you know the full story, does anyone have a good/easy/any way of restoring brass? Thanx Andrew

Hi all I'm looking for a picture of some teak that has 'aged' naturally. My boss is making some furniture and has been offered some Teak at a pretty good price, but he wants to know what it will look like in 2-3 years if he leaves it unvarnished. I told him that my boat building buddies would come through with the goods :oops: Thanx Andrew

Dear Mr Eagle Draw away - I have no idea what your talking about but it sounds intriguing Thanx Andrew

Hi All While I'm sat here waiting to collect enough money to purchase the wood for the hull sides I've been contemplating some more mods for VAZTR. Does anyone have any thoughts (one way or the other) on having a boom with jaws as opposed to the regular goose neck fitting? Would I have to make the boom heavier to make this happen or could I fit a 'boom vang???' to the cabin roof. Or is this just waaay tooo much hassle to even start contemplating? :? Thanx Andrew

Gaylen you traitor!!! :shock: Have a ball After all thats what we're all here for! and who knows, you might find that the new boat is just a little too big, and we'll all still be here waiting for you to come and build that dream boat. You only live once, so enjoy it Andrew

Hi, Just wondering how things are going for you? I've hit the 'I've run out of cash' barrier at the moment, so have to save some money for the hull sides, but the bottom and deck are on Andrew

Hi all I don't have the wood for the sides yet (can't afford it :x ), so while I save my pennies I'm trying to get as much done as I can. I realise that the S'sons say that by the time you reach the seats that the measurements are more a guide than 'exact' figures, but my seat 'divider' seems to be short at the top by about 2 inches, where the bottom measurement is almost perfect. Did anyone else find this, or is this just another 'Andrew mod' for VAZTR? Thanx Andrew PS. the rudderbox is on and the steering shaft mockup is working well - now to make the real thing!

Jan As per Franks message - get two of those combination countersinking/drill bit The first two I bought must have been made of plastic 'cause they broke after about 4 holes (I don't think it was my fault ) The next one I bought was great - lasted the bottom and deck and only broke when I dropped the drill :oops: I'm lost without it - off to the shops I go! Andrew

Tom Have you tried removing the stripped screw with a 'hole saw' bit in a screwdriver? Then you can fill the hole thats left with some waterproof filler - much like the way the eyebolt for the rudder is mounted Just a thought Andrew

A picture speaks a thousand words.... or a couple to someone as dumb as I Thanx Frank - I'm in. I was getting to the galley OK, but didn't go the extra step of logging in :oops: Be prepared - my beautiful boat (or parts thereof) is on its way

Thanx Frank Boat builder...site keeper...defender of the forum users... What do you do in your 'spare' time?

Bill Yes I had thought that the wood was a frail - UHMW on its way and I am using 2 screws at about 120 degrees from each other - a pin would need more clearance than I've made. Frank I must be the dumbest guy on this board - and I work on PC's for a living. I've been into the Gallery and it tells me I'm in My Gallery, but there doesn't seem to be any 'post' button Maybe you don't want me putting up my Mbs of piccies Thanx

And the last two [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin]

Ah-ha - the secret password.... Please no more!!! between here and work, I've got more 'secret' passwords than James Bond Lets try that again Here's the first three shots [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin]

OK now I'm feeling kinda stupid... Anyone want to give me a hint as to how I go about posting to the gallery :oops: Thanx

I remember a while back someone posted saying that they were finding that the lagscrew was coming loose - hows this look as an alternative :? I 'mocked' it up today, I'll tidy it up a bit and it will be my steering holder - and yes that UHMW plastic IS a kitchen chopping board (note the curved corner!!) The pics will be in my gallery shortly (I hope - first piccy post!)

Tom That's pretty much how I'm building....I just don't have the cash 'up front' I'm now up to saving for the 1/4" for the sides and am getting more and more frustrated that I haven't got it yet while the boat has started to look like a boat. My dog doesn't mind too much, he's taken to sleeoping 'in' the boat while the sides are missing :shock: The kids think it's pretty good too - they can climb 'in' and 'rock' the boat on its dolly stand My eldest daughter told our friends the other day that 'Daddy has almost finished the boat, all he has to do is put the sides on, put the roof on and find a spot for the TV' And I thought it would be nice to get away from all the 'square screens'!! Andrew

Ah-ha Another reason to build a boat - 'cause your dad did. Now if we team it up with Franks reason ('cause his dad didn't), then I think I can honestly say that one of these is the same reason I'm building a boat! :wink: Andrew

I am looking to put 'slatted' seats in the weekender and don't want to varnish them in case they are too slippery when getting in and out of the boat. Any suggestions? I have been told that carnaubra wax will give a nice 'glossy' finish and if it is mixed 50/50 with paraffin wax it will also be water resistant. The wood I'll be using will probably be mahogany Thanx in advance Andrew

Thanx for the responses - glassing sounds like too much time and expense so I guess I'll go with the primer/paint method Andrew

OK so I'm about ready to paint the inside of the cabin, do I epoxy all the surfaces first or are they OK 'cause they won't see much H2O (I hope)? Thanx Andrew