For love of a boat – Castle Bay, Barra 1976

18/12/2009 / Bill / 1 Comment

‘Island Monarch’, Castle Bay, Barra 1976

We had sailed from Oban, via Tobermory and Col, to Barra in the Outer Hebrides – (back via Canna)

I was a guest crew on a yacht chartered by friends.

It seems I was taking photos of inshore boats even then – (this one copied from the newly found original slide).

~~~

What was there not to like about ‘Island Monarch’?

Island Monarch – an appropriate name for these waters.

So what was she?

No fluorescent orange buoys, no plastic nets, no synthetic ropes – (wrong generation).

An interesting ‘pair’ of oars, a simple cuddy, a broadish beam.

Are these seats (or lockers) – and the upturned box a step? Is the inflatable in the box in front of the cuddy a safety feature?

Perhaps it’s the ferry to a nearby island? The scuffed paint on the port bow seat from the shoes of people boarding?

All clues, of course. The sad thing is it was 33 years ago. I knew then, and now I can’t remember.

Canna, early morning September 1976

For the origins and full set of images in this series, here

On sailing a Folksong – Matilda

13/12/200913/12/2009 / Bill

One of the pleasures of writing this blog is to hear from other Folksong owners – in fact, that was one of the reasons I started the blog.

So, let me introduce Matilda.

Alex contacted me because he was looking for other Folksong owners for advice and comments.

He writes:

“Having recently bought my first cruiser, a Folksong called Matilda (Aug ’09) I am in the early stages of a major winter refit.”

“I was . . . hoping to find some other Folksong owners based on the south coast as it would be good to get in touch with them, with the thought of meeting up next year for a mini rally of sorts. Also I was thinking of setting up a Folksong website, but wasn’t sure how much interest there would be. What do you think? Incidentally do you know how many Folksongs were built and how many are still sailing in England?”

“One question that springs to mind is regarding the primary winch mounts you have. Currently I have large wooden blocks under the winches, which I found stop the water flowing along the deck whilst heeling and water comes over into the cockpit. I have tried to find some stainless steel mounts similar to yours but have not been able to find any. Do you know where yours came from?”

In answer to his last question I have sent the telephone number of the boatyard I use in Plymouth, but, like Alex, I would be interested if other people have a similar problem to his. As he noted from the images I sent, Blue Mistress has a stainless steel bracket for the sheet winches that allows for the free flow of water along the deck. We don’t have a problem with water entering the cockpit.

Out in the boat today, it seems that the boat has to heel at least 30+ degrees to bring water along the deck to hit the winch bracket.

Alex has started his own blog and can be contacted here.

For love of a boat – Richmond upon Thames 2009

04/12/2009 / Bill / 2 Comments

Richmond upon Thames, 2009

On 2nd February, we awoke to find eight inches of snow had fallen during the night. The snow was still falling.

Later, we walked along the embankment.

Much later, the sun came out. The snow had almost disappeared by the following morning.

For the origins and full set of images in this series, here

For love of a boat – Wells-Next-the-Sea 2009

22/11/200923/11/2009 / Bill

Wells-Next-the-Sea 2009

In the evening we found the beach at Wells-Next-the-Sea, walked along the seemingly endless sands and looked carefully for the safe passage through the surf.

We then fully understood the extra coaming on Miss Judith.

For the origins and full set of images in this series, here

For love of a boat – Dungeness 2009

15/11/200915/11/2009 / Bill / 1 Comment

Dungeness 2009

There was a strong wind blowing down the Channel.

We walked along the shingle, from the lighthouse to the Pilot Inn, enjoying the sunshine and the solitude.

The boats were a bonus.

For the origins and full set of images in this series, here

For love of a boat – Erbalunga, Corsica 2005

06/11/2009 / Bill / 1 Comment

Erbalunga, Corsica 2005

For the origins and full set of images in this series, here

For love of a boat – Sailing Gaffers and smacks on the Colne

31/10/200931/10/2009 / Bill

I couldn’t resist this from Dylan Winter.

For love of a Boat – Southwold 2009

31/10/2009 / Bill

Southwold 2009

For the origins and full set of images in this series, here

For love of a boat – Birling Gap

25/10/200931/10/2009 / Bill / 1 Comment

Birling Gap 2009

Here is a problem most fisherman don’t have to face. Note the tideline.

Not only has the boat to be dragged up the shallow beach out of the tide’s reach, but, having hauled it up the scaffold, there is the further irritation of the gear falling out.

The Birling Gap section of this very beautiful coast is eroding faster than the rest, the buildings at the top of the cliff heading for the sea.

Seven Sisters, East Sussex 2009

For the origins and full set of images in this series, here

On sailing a Folksong – small jobs

24/10/200924/10/2009 / Bill

The weather was due to set in yesterday afternoon and I was late getting aboard – so no sail, but a happy couple of hours doing small jobs:

A small brass cleat plus a short lanyard on a brass screw will stop the lid over the stove crushing the kettle every time we go onto a port tack.
Two O-rings will hold the chart table firmer to its fittings. The play wasn’t much but just enough to cause concern.
The greaser for the stern gland has been recharged. How do you stop grease travelling around a small saloon? Answer: wear gloves, have a couple of cloths handy and be very, very careful!
The oil has been checked. We have used a little since the last check, but it’s ok.
The screws on the autohelm attachment below the tiller needed tightening. I have used it much less this year – enjoying the helm myself or letting the crew steer. It was only when I removed it last time that I noticed the fitting was moving. I shall watch it more closely in future.

~~~

I have been playing with a tubtrug as a simple solution for extra stowage in the fore cabin.

They are large enough to hold all sorts of odds and ends that you don’t need often, but when you do need them, it’s always in a hurry and they are always buried somewhere.

Because space (including headroom) is limited in a boat this size, stowage is critical. It’s hard work searching beneath piles of loose gear. Using these for bins, clears the fore cabin and makes it easy to open the lockers in the sole.

As from yesterday, this one holds various coils of rope, lines etc; it was sea boots, awning, hand-bailer and a couple of fenders (as in the image) before that.

They are flexible, meaning they are very easy to pull into the saloon or up on deck.

I like the versatility – it would bail a lot of water in an emergency.