Five years ago I lengthened the mizzen mast in order to accommodate a mizzen boom. The account was in this blog entry. The increased height is necessary for the boom to achieve clearance over the outboard motor in its raised position. The solution at the time was to place a hollow stainless steel tube over the top of the mast and insert a short length of wood (taken from the wooden spindle of a disused window blind). This, six screws and a lick of exterior brown paint has served the purpose since then. It was only ever intended as a stop-gap until I had both the time and, probably more pertinently, plucked up the courage to do something more permanent.
It's quite remarkable that it lasted as long as it did but recently it had become noticeably loose and, in removing the screws, the rotting wood explained why.
So, it has become necessary to achieve a more permanent solution, namely to attempt to scarf a piece of timber on the top end of the mast. I've heard this explained many times but never before attempted it. It so happens that an off-cut of the piece of spruce from which I originally whittled the most recent mizzen boom was a reasonably good length. It wasn't quite long enough for the recommended 1:7 scarf joint, more like 1:6, but I've decided I can live with that - if it subsequently needs redoing, that's fine! I can think of at least one further reason for inserting a through bolt other than for strengthening the joint - more of all of that in due course.
First steps were to mark out and saw the timber.
I then used epoxy to glue the two pieces together.
The epoxy glue dried overnight. The following evening, using an electric plane and some sand paper, it rather neatly reduced to this:
Next job is to apply some varnish. I'm not one for achieving superior finishes, but hope that whatever I apply will do a reasonable job. I've used Ronseal exterior varnish, on and off, for a while and found a small tin just for the job. It's clear varnish so it should make an interesting feature of the woodwork. This is after one coat; several more to go during evenings this week.
Alterations to mizzen boom attachment, 16th March 2014
I haven't posted here for a while which is really a reflection of a manic start to 2014 from the non-sailing perspective. However, things have been ticking along and, following my first sail today, there is some catching up to do. So, this post is all about the fitting out and I'll put up a second post about today's first sail.
I'm not much of a fitter outer! A self imposed deadline of launching by 5th April has been adhered to come what may. Hence, 'a little varnish and less polish' would neatly summarise my efforts in this fitting out window. I have run some Sadolin over the wooden gunwhale capping - which will doubtless have the purists spitting into their tins of Deks Olje - and scrubbed the decks and hull. I also repaired the damage to the stern transom caused by that lowlife boater who collided with Daisy II on her mooring last October. This latter repair involved removing the wooden transom for the first time, use of some 'Plastic Padding' filler followed up with some colour matched gelcoat repair. The resulting finish is functional rather than professional but then I've never been completely satisfied with repair jobs previously done by boatyards. I didn't do much in terms of photography for this one. And, of course, we mustn't forget my favourite job of all - the good old antifouling, by several nautical miles the boater's least pleasant job of the year. If I had the money to pay someone...
Antifouling, International Micron extra, this year in the preferred navy blue
As for the black marks on the spars, maybe I'll just wait until there are more black marks than brown wood, and then paint the whole lot black!
The most significant modification has been to remove and repair the damaged mizzen boom and use the opportunity to make some alterations to the attachment. The previous incarnation involved chiselling a groove in the mizzen mast to house the boom fitting.
This looked rather shoddy but, more significantly, prevented a raised boom from resting flat against the mast. Hence, following an idea picked up from last year's Broads Rally, I glued together a couple of pieces of spruce over winter, fashioned this into a semicircular prism attachment to fit the contours of the jaws and then, using epoxy, glued this to the mizzen, filling in the previously chiselled groove.
semicircular wooden prism made to fit the attachment jaws
epoxy resin and filler used to attach to mast
Finally, I sanded down the whole and finished it with brown exterior paint.
I used a couple of screws to reinforce the join, but these caused trouble when fitting the jaws so have been removed. Again, purists will be upending their pots of varnish , but I really don't have the time or patience (or skills) to fashion a fully wooden scarfed joint; I'm not a big fan of varnish and this paint matches a similar alteration made when extending the height of the mast a few seasons ago - a repair which still stands the tests of time.
The major objective - to allow a raised mizzen boom to rest against the mast - has been achieved, although I neglected to provide pictorial proof. That may be corrected in due course.
I also had some filling to do on the boom itself. Having filed away the loose wood, I used a similar but lighter coloured epoxy filler, finished with a few coats of exterior varnish and have since reattached the rigging eye.
Not the best angle, but mizzen boom refitted and functioning during today's sail.
Finally, I made it to a Wells-next-the-Sea rally, previous efforts being defeated by a blown turbo about 7 years ago, followed by several years of clashes with other rallies. It was well worth the wait!
Wells-next-the-Sea, approaching from the North Sea
Sailing at Wells is governed by tidal windows which are comparatively brief. There were two sailing opportunities on Saturday - early morning and evening. Admiral's orders were to be ready to set sail at 06.05 on Saturday morning. Oddly enough, this was just about the only time the sun shone!
A trio of coasters at 05:15, Saturday morning, ready for the forthcoming fleet action.
So, at 06:05 on 8 June, we set sail. The original aim had been to make a two-tide trip to Burnham Overy, drying out over lunchtime and then sailing back in the early evening. North-easterly winds put paid to that idea. Instead, having motored out of Wells harbour, we had the most marvellous time reaching one way and another in Holkham Bay. The log demonstrates a determined effort to colour in this area over the three sails (Saturday morning, evening and Sunday morning). Google Earth's weirwolf-like image of the extensive sandbank, known as "Bob Hall's Sand," framing this shoreline shows why, despite the north-easterly wind, the bay remains fairly sheltered. Waves were increasingly pronounced the further north west we ventured.
Google Earth image of sailing track. The town of Wells-next-the-Sea is at the left hand foot of the image, and we were based at the pontoon next to the quay here. The image shows the relatively new construction of the outer harbour, which is for vessels servicing various shoal wind farms springing up in the North Sea. This has made necessary the dredging of a new channel from the outer harbour - controversial since it has made the leisure sailing area in Holkham Bay less accessible for some. The channel from the outer harbour south to the town has also been redirected since my older chart had been published. Fortunately, I've downloaded the new 2013 version onto my Imray ipad app - expensive but (I keep trying to convince myself) absolutely necessary!
Saturday morning (white track: 10.9nm), Saturday evening (red track: 6.1nm), Sunday morning (green track: 6.4nm); total 23.4nm: season's total 177.6nm.
Winds were a consistent north easterly F4, and the bay provided plenty of waves for fun without being overwhelming for Drascombes - in fact, perfect Drascombing weather (excepting the lack of sunshine!). During the course of three sails, I managed to take various snaps, together with some video footage.
Various Drascombes in Holkham Bay
Lugger What-knot
Longboat Cruiser Alouette
Lugger Jimbo heeling
Lugger Jimbo and crew!
Various Drascombe shots
Blue hulled lugger - Tamarisk
Lugger Snowgoose with majestic, dual batten-roached main and mizzen sails
Lugger Piper
Longboat cruiser Alouette
Lugger What-knot
Coaster Liberty Jane
Lugger Piper chasing Scaffie Honeysuckle Rose
Coaster Gabriel Oak
And, finally, a picture of Daisy II, kindly sent by the skipper of Jimbo.
Coaster Daisy II, (picture kindly provided by Yann, skipper of Jimbo)
Later on Saturday, I walked over to see what it all looks like at low tide...
Holkham Bay at low tide
Complimentary moorings on the pontoons were kindly provided by the harbour master at Wells.
Pontoon moorings at Wells, with the town quay beyond
What's in a name?
On Saturday evening, following a second sail, we were treated to a picnic barbecue on the beach near the bay, an area cunningly known as 'Big Gap Dunes'.
Approaching the barbecue
Barbecue at Big Gap Dunes
Beached Drascombes!
(as another contributor noted) the patent Drascombe Galley (photo courtesy of Richard and Carol Clammer)
After a third sail on Sunday morning, it was sadly time to be on our way!
Drascombe departures from the public slip, Wells-next-the-Sea. I bided my time with this one - this is a steep slip, particularly at the top and with little room for manoeuvre, leading as it does onto a narrow road. There is a driveway opposite which could come in handy as an escape road! All boats were safely recovered; I still managed to shave a couple of thousand miles from the front tyres when pulling Daisy II and trailer onto the level road.
The other feature of this trip was the successful debut of the new mizzen boom!
New mizzen boom debut
Postscript (added 24th June 2013)
Since writing this post, copious quantities of other photos have come to light, gathered together in this dropbox file.
In particular, several pictures of Daisy II in action. So few photos come to light, it is always good to share; so, here goes:
This is a log of sailing activities aboard Daisy II, a 22ft Drascombe Coaster No.280. Formerly named Aquarius, she was built in July 1997 by Honnor Marine(UK) Ltd of Totnes, Devon. The original Daisy, a Devon Lugger, was purchased in 2005 following an unexpectedly early opportunity to realise a mid-life crisis! Daisy II, with cabin, afforded more scope for overnight stops, and was purchased at the end of 2006.
For several seasons she was moored at Pin Mill on the River Orwell, Suffolk. More recently, the trailer sailing option, utilising a versatile ‘roller coaster’ road trailer, has extended the sailing range. Over the years, we have sailed from various locations off the south coast from Cornwall to Hampshire, a number of inland reservoirs and the Norfolk Broads. However, her key stamping ground is the east coast, usually based around the Harwich area and reaching destinations ranging from North Kent up to Southwold, whilst also launching on the North Norfolk coast at Wells next the Sea. Most recently, a trip from Harwich to Whitby has served only further to whet the appetite: perhaps, one day, Daisy II might complete her journey, in small stages of course, around the UK!
