31 May 2019
Dinghy progress on Target.
Today the laying down of the ply strips was completed and gave a certain measure of of achievement. The task was more arduous than expected. Almost nine sheets of 8' X 4' marine ply was used so I have three and a half sheets left over. Turning her over will happen in a few days time but there is the keel band to fit and rubbing strakes at the bilge.
23 May 2019
Cathedral Top Bar Hives - Four colonies doing well
23rd May and a standard top bar hive was shaken down into a prepared Cathedral TopHive so that each hive has interchangeable bars and can be manipulated more easily
To make ready the recipient hive two combs of nectar / honey was taken from another hive that is full from end to end. I then put in place the queen excluder to prevent her flying off after the change over. Some empty bars were placed at the inner end and away from the entrance. Close to the entrance was put foundation and the filled combs of honey/nectar. A void was left for the bees to be shaken into and onto the floor for the actual shake down. The queen was captured and kept safe until the full compliment of bees were in the new hive and the feed supplement and fondant put in place on top of the bars. The gap was closed up and the insulation foil then placed on top of that before the lid was lowered.
After twenty four hours the queen excluder was removed and the colony seen settled in although some appeared a little confused as to where their entrance was. The recipient hive placed exactly in the place previously occupied by the old hive.
17 May 2019
Padstow or Cadiz
Plans to take ourselves in the Morgan to Cadiz, Meridos and Ponta da Lima this month had to be shelved due to an unexpected medical issue. Since Christmas I had been troubled with a small spot on my neck that slowly increased in size and was eventaully diagnosed as sun damage and required excision. The procedure was painless done under local anasthetic and I now have the scar to prove it that is rapidly healing thanks to the NHS and the RD&E hospital .
The majority of the costs incurrred with the bookings made were recoved, and the whole of our ferry fare to Santander was refunded ,due in part to the fact that a fire on the ship (Pont Aven) meant that our sailing would have had to be re-sheduled in any case
So this week our Morgan took us instead on a local trip down memory lane to Padstow, Port Issac and St Agnes.
At Little Petherick |
Port Isaac gifts - This lovely lamp priced at £500. |
Port Isaac |
Magazine masking |
Breakers building up on the incoming tide |
3 May 2019
Shaping up the Cold Moulded hull
Phew ! At last I begin to see something worth the effort. Its wooden and coming together. Staples have been removed and a light sanding given, the shape is slowly emerging of some sort of craft. The outside gunnel strip added, previously steam bent and spliced together out of two lengths of Oak and now glued in place. It will add stiffness as the hull is turned over - right side up.
As I begin to lay lay down the ply strips on the port side the benefit of re-reading the John Leather book on the subject of cold moulding becomes more apparant.
Much better to cut the ply strips in batches and prepare a dozen or more together then fit them in a session so that constant switching of tools is reduced.
The weight upon the mobile jig is becoming more noticable as one of the caster wheels has shed its rubber tyre and had to be helped by a lash up support alongside and formed with the use of a skateboard.
The coloured mould strips are simply adorned with insulating tape to prevent glue attaching the ply to the mould and making it difficult to lift off the hull. I shall need help at that stage.
Alternate strips of 3mm ply being laid - the first of three layers on the port side |
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