Meeting Bill and Other Matters

I finally managed to meet up with Bill Serjeant yesterday at his home. For anyone not familiar with his adventures he writes a fabulous blog (http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/) that puts most of us to shame. I had hoped to catch up with him while he sailed from Burnham on Crouch to the West Country over the last couple of months but it just didn't work out.

Bill's boat "Sandpiper" is now up for sale as Bill wants a change so if you look at his blog you'll find the details but I have to say, if I didn't have my project I would be sorely tempted. Bill has done a fantastic job making her into a practical boat for single handed sailing - she's a bargain.

Sandpiper looking resplendent in the sun

My better half is spending a week with a friend in Spain, chilling out. I have also taken most of the week off to capitalise on the good weather and unfettered time. So I am finally completing the rudder assembly. As I have said previously, the thickness of my acquired rudder has  meant that the stock is rather wider than I had previously intended so has required a little lateral thinking as I was unable to find a pintle and gudgeon to suit. The solution has been to fit them to the inner assembly and fit the two cheeks outside.

However this has required the cheeks to be modified to allow clearance for the fittings.

Modification to the cheek to allow clearance for the pintle and gudgeon

This has also meant that the fitting holes have had to be countersunk so the screws do not foul on the cheeks. Once the fittings were screwed on then the cheeks could be attached - plenty of epoxy. Mind you I had to work quickly as the temperature was in the high 20's and the epoxy went off very quickly.

So now I have the stock assembled and ready for finishing. A little filler, some sanding, a coat of epoxy and three of varnish and she should be good to go.