A new boom tent

Bit of a clumsy design sketch. (I should hide the fact I am a professional designer!), but after improvising a bit over the summer and as we've got a new sprayhood being made up I've just asked for a boom-tent to be made up for us that will fit around our lazy-jacks.

Blooming expensive this yachting lark!

Finished! -well almost!

At last! We've finished the re-painting... all right there is some varnishing to do on the newly stripped hatches, some woodwork to do on the cockpit and of course we have one side deck that needs the caulking finishing.... but it's 99.9% done!

We went down Thursday night, after a long drive arriving at Neyland at 4am! King and MW unpacked while I made sure the yacht was warm and beds were made.

Friday we had a bit of a relax, going out to Solva for lunch in the car, then a run on Broad Haven beach for King. -We bought him a pet life jacket from Mrs Hayne's at the Brunnel Chandlery. Then relaxed for the night.

Saturday was up early to finish painting. Port, starboard and aft decks now done, cabin roof and fore-deck re-painted for a bit extra protection and the hatches in the front and rear decks were stripped then coated in dark silkens varnish. I've also installed two moisture traps to reduce condensation while we're away, i'll let you know how that goes.

We finished the work off on Sunday morning, before driving down to Dale for a pub lunch and local ale.

Sunday after noon also saw a welcome visitor saying hello from the Yacht Omega, also moored at Neyland, and readers of this blog. -Hello!

We've bought the materials to strip and re-varnish the cockpit at somepoint, but all that can wait until we've done some sailing! Two weeks time we're down for two weeks holiday!

I did bring a camera with me but of course forgot to take any photos of the finished look -i'll get these next time. - We now have wifi aboard from OceanWave.

Just as we were packing two disasters hit, King cut his leg -now healing well, and the bilge pump electrics decided to drop out. I think the second battery is either fused internally or VERY flat for some reason, so I'm chancing no pumps for two weeks until we get there to sort it out!

The greatest ship on the sea.

Shoestring at Anchor outside Dunmore East harbour from Dominic

Since starting this site I've had some lovely emails from previous owners of Shoestring. Dominic whom I purchased her from sent me some photos and instructions on various aspects, and now reads this blog to check on her progress.

I've also had emails from Dr Ellis, who co-ownder her in 1980s with Dr Robinson, who's wife and daughter have been kind enough to send me some photocopies of her old ships logs.

Recently I've had Colin and Martin Hunt email in with stories of their exploits sailing on Shoestring and how much they admired her and are glad to see her still going.

Fortunately everyone approves of the new colour scheme and restoration work. -Note to all, still have the traditional Shoestring leaks in cabin roof! (Right above my bunk!)

It's great to get emails in from people whom sailed on her or owned her. Its something you don't get with a new yacht. There must be hundreds of little ships like Shoestring with their own histories and stories. Its probably my imagination but being a wooden yacht, and a Folkboat for that matter does lend itself to the belief that she's more unique than other boats.

Thank you to everyone that emailed in with your photos and stories. Please do keep in touch and please email more photographs if you have some. -I'll have to organise a 'get-together' cruise.

Best, Tony.

Last weekend

After too many work commitments got in the way we missed entering the Seafair! -I'll wait till the 2010 one now.

MW was working so I took the 'relief' crew. Amy and Nick. I also took King along as first dog. He loved the yacht, water, swans and generally anything that moved!



We arrived Friday evening to a warm-ish night, Amy and I made a point of finishing off a bottle of Sailor Jerry's that was in the cabinet. I also hooked up the battery chargers to the mains with our new cables.


Amy spoiling King.

Saturday morning we woke to rain and mist. We drove off to Dale for breakfast and then took King to his first time at the beach. He loved it! Trying to run and kick around, eventually pulling me into the sea with him.


Nick inspecting the ship

Nick arrived later on Saturday with his friend, we had dinner in Milford Haven then bed. Sunday, great weather; a quick look around the seafair, taking King to Broad Haven beach again, then the drive home.


King taking me for a paddle at Broad Haven beach.

A nice weekend really! -Still need to finish the painting and re-fitting but never mind there's always another weekend!

Bilge scrubbing

Last time we were there was some white goop floating the bilge... I think this means that bilge scrubbing and painting may be on the way. I suspect this is a deceptively easy job, but one that I don't really fancy doing yet... I'll let you know how we get on.

Away the weekend

I'm off to Shoestring this weekend, leaving tonight (Thursday) and returning Monday morning. If the weather is there we'll be finishing the aft-deck painting and maybe a trip up river to Lawrenny to spend Saturday night.

Michael's working on Saturday so it will be my Mum and Shaun visiting again. I'll post some photos of the trip and painting works when I get back.

Review: Standard Horizon c180 chartplotter

We purchased and installed this excellent little chart plotter on one of our first projects on Shoestring, we chose this one for three important reasons, 1) Cost, at just £314.99 it met our budget but also had more advance features such as AIS expandability and compatible with Cmap Max cartography cartridges. 2) It was easy to install and had a very clear and easy operating system, and lastly, 3) It is a good size with a not so small screen. -Perfect for a Folkboat's navigation area.

We opted for the external GPS unit, in the understanding that gaining a signal through a wooden cabin roof would be optimistic, however this was not the case, and I now get a full signal with the GPS receiver unit simply sitting on a shelf.

Using it at first is quite daunting, -to the point that at present I still accidentally put way-points in, and also struggle to delete them, but I am sure with time I can get the hang of this.

It has a very useful tracking feature and combined with the CMap Max information such as aerial photography and port information it makes a great makeshift pilot guide if needed.

On the whole a very well made quality product, one that is making me look at more Standard Horizon products in the future. Well worth the money.

The dodgers in place

A few weeks ago I did a feature on here about re-painting the canvas dodgers where the name had cracked and faded over time. We decided to attach them last weekend, they'll have to come off again as we finish the painting but it already looks much better. I also attached the new life-buoy to replace the aging yellow one, moving it from the rear above the rudder off to the port-side hand rails.

New colours

As mentioned previously we've had a few (read: too many) leaks in the decks, so we needed to re-paint the canvas decking. We decided that although the grey decks had a 'smart' look, we would lighten them up a bit with a cream, we settled on a colour called 'Cornish Cream' in the SandTex range of paints with a waterproof seal. -Although not a yacht or marine paint, it came highly recommended from many people as a canvas deck paint.

So just as a reminder, this is what the boat used to look like. We've still got the rear decks to do, the white cabin sides need repainting (keeping them white), and we are going to be stripping and varnishing the fore and rear deck hatches. We'll do this weekend after next.

I hope you all like the new colours! We feel it gives a more 'classic-wooden-yacht' feel with more exposed wood and varnish. The cabin top beam (with small forward facing window) was a last minute choice in the paint scheme but one that really sets the whole finish off I think. Please feel free to leave any comments below on the new colours.

Home again

Just home from another weekend spent in Neyland. Very productive, and expect to see some photographs added later on.

We fixed on the newly re-painted dodgers, striped back some of the white paint to bare wood then vanished, then we re-painted her decks. (HUGE CHANGE!)

You'll see later on we've got a lot left to do, but a very productive weekend. We spent the whole car journey back to London (280 miles) discussing if we should move her closer to home. Except then we'll miss out on the lovely sailing area, the islands and trips to Scilly, Lundy, and North Cornwall that the Milford Haven offers.

More later.

As free as the wind?

I was reading an article at Cruising on the Thames about the costs associated with owning an inland water-ways boat. Its interesting to compare this to our own costs for a 'coastal' boat.

Below is approximately what we currently spend a year (quite literally a shoestring budget)

For our 27(ish) ft Folkboat:

£1440 Mooring costs (8 meters)
£115 Insurance (Third party only)
£500 Servicing and repairs budget
£150 Fuel (for inboard diesel)
£1000 One off equipment (GPS, new sail, etc.)
£250 Lift out/in and anti-fouling

Total annual budget: £3,455

There are of course other costs, petrol to and from Neyland, visiting dues if we stay in another marina for harbour while cruising, books, pilot guides and charts, food and drink, clothing and other smaller costs that are hard to account for.

On the whole the largest dent in our shoestring budget is the marina, yes we could move somewhere cheaper or switch to a swing mooring somewhere, but we are simply happier to swallow the extra expense for what we get in return. (Hot showers and friendly neighbors.)

This will give us, minus petrol costs for the car (around £80 return from London to Neyland and back), a good years worth of sailing, with an average of 4-5 days each month spent with our little yacht and the odd 1 or 2 week cruise.

As we really see this as 'holiday' or enjoyment time, that £3,455 per year to keep her starts to make a lot of sense, its cheaper than the equivalent in weekends away.

But what does money matter, having a yacht like Shoestring is not a fashion statement or status symbol, its a feeling that you could sail anywhere, a sense of freedom and fun.

I would also mention the last look over your shoulder and "I love my yacht" feeling, but that would just be too smug.

Re-painting the canvas dodgers

Lettering before and after

Outside of sailing, my background trainning is actually in Design and Typography. -The study of letterforms. So from day one i've wanted to give Shoestring's name a good sorting. Feeling that the irish script was not one I would choose, but appropriate for the 'look' of a folkboat I decided to stick with it, and in true shoestring fashion, re-cycle them.

They were originally acrylic screen paint painted onto canvas, as shown, I believe the name was added afterwards to the dodgers. The problem with screen acrylic is that in direct sunlight, rain and ample soakings of seawater the acrylic will crack and water will get between these cracks peeling it from the canvas backing.

Old, faded and cracked paint.

So to replace the paint work I'm using a fabric paint, the type you might use for homemade t-shirts: Textil Plus, more details on this below.

The dodgers were originally held in place with plastic cable ties, and this is how I'll put them up afterwards, its quick and long lasting. After we took them off Shoestring, (and drove the 270 miles home) I placed them in the washing machine on a 30C rinse and spin. As the idea is not to wash off the existing acrylic but rather to rinse off salt, no detergents were added. I then let these dry off overnight giving them a gentle brushing in the morning to remove any loose acrylic specks.

Then it is simply a very time consuming, but rewarding careful freehand (or with masking tape if your feeling less brave) tracing around of the outlines of the letters. This is where a flat brush comes in handy, as you can use its shape to fit around corners and letters with less accuracy. The flexible nature and high 'glue' content of the fabric paint means that you can paint-over both canvas and the old acrylic, sealing it inside.

Once the fabric paint is dry, I found a few areas needed an extra coat of paint and touch-ups so this was done. Then leave over night again for it all to fully dry.

When dried and looking how you want it, use an old bedsheet and an ironing board, set the iron to about 2/3rd of its highest setting and then give the back of the dodgers a good iron. Don't iron the side with any paint on, but give the back of that area an extra going over. The heat from the iron evaporates any water left in the paints mixture, it also melts the paint slightly into the canvas.

Port and starboard dodgers, one nearly finished.

All done and ready to re-attach. I've got to wait a few weeks drive back down to Shoestring, so i'll be folding them carefully between the old bedsheet so no brass eyelets in the canvas or creases rub across the new paint.

There is of course one or two areas where I've slipped and put a small smudge or a wobbly line, but thats part of the charm, lovely handmade wooden yacht: hand-painted signage. For around £30 I could have the lot done in computer-cut vynil and it would look perfect, but I always think its the little imperfections in things that show a crafted item. (know one else will notice anyway.)

Materials used:
Size 6 flat rexel brush - £2.99 for a set of 6 sizes
Small 15ml jar of Textil Plus in white (link) - £3.99
Water
Clean cloth
Old bed sheet
Cable ties - 99p
(masking tape optional)
Iron

Textil colours
The Textil range of fabric paints was chosen for three reasons, 1) ease of application, 2) flexibility when dry, and 3) Its water-resistant qualities.

It is also available in the shades below, 070 White was used on our navy canvas dodgers, and in one good application and 'touch-up' overcoat the white become solid. -As there is more space I might add "www.yachtshoestring.co.uk" in a smaller type-size underneath in a different colour, but that can wait a while.


I'll post updates and photos to show the durability of textile paints when being exposed to 'sailing conditions' and salt water, hopefully all good news. Please do let us know if this has helped you at all by commenting below.

The drinks cabinet

Just a quick photo of our now famous, but rather small, drinks cabinet and a preview of some more reviews to come.

Also coming soon, over the last weekend I removed the dodgers, (the canvas panels strapped on either side of the cockpit to keep some of the wind and spray off), not only to give them a quick freshwater wash, but also to re-paint one of the most important parts of the yacht, her name! They had got rather cracked and faded since it was first added to the canvas panels in what appears to be screen printing acrylic.

I'll be posting a full, re-painting and restoration article soon with 'how-to' details.

Cold and wet, but a lot of fun.

Well, still too windy (force 6-7) to take her out for a sail, but this weekend Shoestring was host to my mum, Jayne, and my baby brother, Shaun. We arrived at 11pm Thursday night after one of the worst drives to Wales i've ever done. -We left at 4pm, and spent 2 hours in traffic on the M25.

Shaun loved being in the cockpit and 'upstairs' on deck

He also found a friend. -Who kept coming over to say hello!

Friday we walked over the Cleddau bridge into Pembroke Dock, did some shopping and returned to Shoestring. We bought some filler and sealant from Mrs Hayne's chandlery to attempt to sort some of the leaks in the roof. With temperatures not much above 3C we soon got too cold to continue, but some good progress was made. I also took the opportunity to try and do some slight alterations to her rigging, mostly around the sheets to the headsails.

Shaun, excited as ever to be on a 'Boat' at last, confused completely by what a 'yacht' is, has claimed the forepeak cabin as his 'den', allowing mummy to sleep there if she has to. We spent Friday night being blown around as a good force 7 wind from the north hit.

Saturday morning with snow fluttering around and Shaun finding it hard to keep warm, still no complaints though, we went for a coffee in the Brunel Chandlery Café then packed the car for home.

The calm before the storm.

Sunday:
Sunday was lovely! We got up early, checked the mooring lines -a new hobby of mine I think...

We headed over to the Brunel Café at the marina for a latté and to seek the advice of Mrs Haynes at the chandlery, (she really does know everything about yachts), on how best to go about patching up Shoestring's scratch in the woodwork. She helped us out as ever recommending various vanishes and techniques. -£40 odd pound later we left with all we needed.

We spent the afternoon working on Shoestring, after a quick trip to Haverfordwest to get some sandpaper and shopping. The car smelt awful as we realised a container of Paraffin had leaked all over the boot!

We headed back tot he Marina, and spent a sunny afternoon re-varnishing the woodwork, while MW cleaned and polished the windows and sprayhood. - I'll post a full review of the varnishes and cleaners used soon.

After all this work, and numerous mugs of tea, we went for a walk enjoying the warm weather along the Brunel cycle route, (NCN 4). The route follows along the Westfield Pill, a former creek used for ship building, and the terminus of the long closed Great Western Railway.

We saw Otters and what we think was a Bull frog, together with many ducks, swans, and a whole variety of bird life.

We walked back deciding that we'll treat ourselves to a roast dinner at the 'Bar Restaurant' at the Marina. - Very very good food, at extremely good prices: £19.50 for 2 roast beef dinners, mountains of vegetables and 2 pints of ale.

We then headed back to Shoestring to settle down...

8pm, the barometer dropped of the scale beyond 'storm'
8.15pm, the rain and wind hit...

Shoestring shook and rolled trying to drag the pontoon with her. But all held safely. As the wind got up, boats around us also rolled and shook in the force 9-10 winds. We looked out the windows as all around us the waters swelled and swept past. -We were also on spring tide, so the Spring high-tide hit the storm tide creating one hell of a current under her. -Stern onto the wind Shoestring wanted to roll around.

Despite the wind and rolling we were quite happy, that is until the dripping started. The roof started to leak, in 8 places. Unable to stay dry inside the cabin, and the bilge pump clicking on, our sleeping bags were soaked from water dripping above the bunks. We took the decision to sleep in the car, packing our waterproofs and basics for the trip across the pontoons.

We packed bits into the car, then decided to go for a walk in the exciting storm, seeing other poor yachts in the marina side onto the wind being blown around and up against the pontoons.

We headed back to the car, deciding to move it slightly away from the waters edge and slept.

Monday morning:
We woke looking at still Force 7-8 winds, and a very high tide. -We actually had to step over around 2 foot of tide and then walk UP to the pontoons. Bits of wreckage from boats and rubbish were dotted about. Shoestring remained safely on her morning waiting for us, we wiped down the interior and gave her a quick clean.

We both had to be at work tomorrow, so we packed up and headed home, despite the dreadful weather and the leaks we had a great weekend.

I'm still worried about the bilge pump packing up and her sinking from a leak in the cabin.... Oh well, just need to have faith.

The cooker and the toilet

Our Taylors 029 cooker did start off as a total nightmare but only because we were doing it all wrong!

Find the saftey cut off valve for the paraffin and open it.

Under the burner (where the gas comes out) there is a little dish where you put some meths, ours has a little soak pad type thing but yours might be different.

Don't be stingy with the meths! It needs to burn for a while for it to heat up the paraffin and turn it to gas. We found this out the hard way.

Once your ample amount of meths has burnt out, turn the cooker knob and gas should come out, if it does you can light it with a lighter. If there is no gas its not hot enough. Alternatively you can also turn the knob just before the meths is just about to die and this should light the gas. Do not turn it on too soon as the meths goes mad and you get a huge flame.

This should now be burning with a nice blue flame that can be controlled with the knob.

When you have finished with the cooker, first turn of the safety valve and let the gas burn until its all gone, then turn off the cooker knob.

I managed to make chilli, steak and veg and a cooked breakfast. It also heated the boat up lovely with just the one burner on.

The toilet was a lot less complicated. Firstly, remember to open both of the toilet sea cocks. Once you have done your business close the lid and push it so it forms a seal. Then pump fully 10 strokes, wait 5 seconds and then do another 5. Lift the lid and if there is any water left pump until it is all gone.

The first weekend. Featuring a pirouette in Milford lock.

After arriving late Friday night we set loaded ourselves up and walked along the pontoons at Milford Marina to Shoestring.

Our next course of action was to get the stove on, both to heat the cabin and to make a cup of tea. Packed (or stowed) eveything and then set the front bunks up for sleeping.

Saturday morning we spent going over the yacht, checking systems, equipment and all the other associated parts that make us move, stop, turn, or simply stay still.

We checked in at the Marina to sort our mooring out for the week, then decided to test the freeflow through the port's lock to head out.

Checked over once more, hanked on the headsail, uncovered the main, made ready all sheet lines and equipment. Engines on.

We radioed out for permission to depart. Granted quickly by the Pierhead control. Then had the fun of un-docking. -Shoestring, does not like reversing under engine at all!!!

Then after rounding the marina (and missing another boat moored up opposite), we headed out through the lock.

We didn't expect the tide and current to be quite so against each other, and we had a lot of fun side onto both and being thrown around.

Wind picked up quickly, and with both an unfamiliar yacht, a 'rusty' skipper, and beginner crew, I decided to head back to port after 1/2 hour. -Also a jammed mainsail.

Radioed in for permission to re-enter the lock. Granted after a tug left, so we proceeded.

Upon entering we were told there would be a 1 and a half hour wait for the next lock, no problem.

Halfway through sluicing the lock the jammed and we were stuck there until the next freeflow at 10.30ish that night.

Moored up in the lock we spoke to the Skipper of a Dive charter moored up behind us, who seemed to like the look of the old girl. (shoestring).

After a trip to Tesco, involving a climb up a very precarious ladder from the lock pontoon, and the trip back down we made dinner, and waited until the lock opening.

At last after the an out going tug, we made ready to enter the Marina. Got permission, then left, almost... Classic schoolboy error... We let off the bow mooring line, into the wind before the stern.

A pirouette performed in lock under wind and power followed, without incident, then we headed in for a thankfully uneventful mooring on our birth.

The following day we spent sorting and servicing. We drove to Neyland Yacht Haven in the morning to use the Brunel chandlery, we met Mrs Haynes there, who was both very helpful (showing us which deck cleaners to use, and advising on charts), then we used the lovely café there for a coffee and cake.

We then drove off to Haverfordwest, for the nearest DIY store to buy more paraffin and other equipment. When we returned I fitted our new Standard Horizon Chartplotter, while MW gave her a good clean and scrub down.

We spent sunday night relaxing onboard after quite a busy day, MW cooked us Steak and vegetables on the Taylors cooker, (I believe he is going to post full instructions on this soon.), and we laid down to read and rest as a small gale blew up outside pounding the deck with rain, but stopping quickly.

Monday morning we secured all the sea cocks, isolated the battery supply, and then got ready for the journey home to London. One nice surprise was that the amazing team at BoatShed Wales, had managed (with a bit of wrangling), to get us a birth at Neyland Yacht Haven. We simply need to move her there this week.

Stuff onboard

Im going to use the cooker and toilet lots this weekend and write here exactly how they both work as we didnt find anything that really helped online to tell us how they worked.

The cooker is a Taylors 029 and the toilet is a Lavac, I dont know the model.

Shoestring

Shoestring's Stern, thanks to Boatshed photos.

Well the 'survey' and inspection went quite well. Both 'M' (1st Mate) and I were impressed. As to were Alan and Mike at Boatshed Wales, who could not belive that they had just seen a wooden Yacht with DUST in it's bilges.

She's a pretty little folkboat, we spent sometime on her checking equipment and testing the woodowork. She has a full set of VERY recent sails, including a spinnaker -M wants to use it, I'm a little nervous of them, much prefer a slower gentle sail.

Overall our impression of her was very positive. Minor cosmetics and cleaning, few leaks in the roof, and two lines of rigging i'll have to ask the previous owner, (who has took great care of her) what they are for.

We've got the insurance ready for the official 'handover' on Friday at 9am, but we'll need to sort the berthing out on Saturday. It seems that Milford Haven Marina can't fit us in without a month on visitors rates, and the other local marina, Neyland Yacht Haven, has quite a waiting list.

My impression is that Neyland is the better Marina, it also benefits from not having a lock to negotiate but rather a low-water sill.

We're going down to her on Friday afternoon, this time with my Mother and 5 year old brother, Shaun. Staying over night on her then sorting the berth situation Saturday morning.

We've had an expensive couple of days, new sailing jackets each, a couple of charts, and a Standard Horizon CP180 Chartplotter. -We got an excellent deal on this with Marine Scene, who offer it with a CMAP MAX mega-wide chart of the UK and Atlantic coasts for a considerable discount.

They've promised to do their best to arrange a delivery before we leave on Friday afternoon for me.