New BC20 blog

[Peter Taylor]

I've set up a web site "seatern.org.uk" mainly to act as a logbook for my BC20 - since I'm lousy at keeping a proper logbook. Most of the diary pages describing different sailing trips will only be of interest to myself - Seatern's present exploits do not rival those of Vagabond or Daisy Grace to name but two. However some of the pages describing the building and fitting out of Seatern may be of interest to others who own, or are thinking of owning, similar boats.

[Jonathan Stuart]

I've added a link to this blog from the Links page (http://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/?page_id=173).

[Andy Dingle]

Very well done Peter. Both on the setting up and equipping 'Seatern' and the web site.

Thanks for the email yesterday with the useful information that has already made me change some of my plans. I had sort of decided to go down the 'all Garmin' route - despite having used NASA on other previous boats, but looking at your set up I think I will stay with them. I too lost the cups off my windy spinny thing, but at just £20 odd to replace against a small fortune for the Garmin..

I can now clearly see where you have set up your electronics - very sophisticated. The BC23 has a large empty space directly under the companionway, which to me seems to lend itself to fitting some kind of storage unit, incorporating a panel for the electronics, laptop storage, VHF/DSC etc (and very important to me, ipod fed music centre!). I think I should still be able to use the VHF fist mic from that position from the cockpit and will be close enough to feed the cockpit instruments. Lots to think about.

I must say the pictures of the storms 'down south' - especially of your brand new boat thrashing about on the jetty were pretty scary. Seems really strange as we here in the east midlands had the driest and warmest winter for years!

I will email you separately - and will take you up on your offer of a look around 'Seatern' and hopefully, a sail.

Regards

Andy

[Julian Swindell]

Peter, this all looks fascinating stuff. I am amazed at your electronics! I have just started navigating with my Android tablet, and that is about it. I have a little flag for wind direction, and an estimate of waviness of the water for wind strength.
I would love to see more detail of your mast lowering/raising system, especially how you deal with the sail and boom. Could you be talked into bringing Seatern to the English Raid in Falmouth in September? Just about every other Swallowboat is going to be there, including the new BC25.

[Graham W]

I am amazed at your electronics!

Me too!

[Peter Taylor]

Actually I'm a bit embarrassed at how complicated the electronics got! I blame it on the time Matt took to build Seatern - I kept finding extra things "vital" to being able to sail the boat! But, basically the stuff addresses two needs. (1) I want to minimise my chances of being run down in Southampton Water - Echomax, AIS, VHF, etc. (2) as a retired marine meteorologist it would be too embarrassing  if I didn't know which way the wind is blowing!

With regard to (2), on my Seafly I rely on ribbons tied to the shrouds. I have the same on Seatern but they don't seem to be an accurate guide and I'm finding the readouts from the masthead NASA instrument invaluable. Assuming I haven't been sold faulty ribbons, I wonder if the difference is the height I have them relative to the height of the centre of effort of the rig - the latter being that much higher on Seatern. The other thing I've noticed is that with tan sails it's harder to see the jib luff breaking when I pinch up too far (don't tell Matt I said that).


Julian, I'll try to produce a video or photo sequence of the mast going down and up. Having been detached from the mast the boom+sailbag+gooseneck unit hangs on the main halyard+lazy jacks+topping lift until the mast is lowered enough for the boom to sit to port of the mast on the cabin top and boom gallows. When you raise the mast the whole unit can then be swung into position and reattached to the mast. The main problem is the large number of halyards etc. close to the mast which can end up in the wrong position if you are not careful.

With regard to Falmouth, I don't like trailing and it's a bit far for me to sail this year, especially if I need to be there on a particular date. However Poole Harbour is an attractive destination for me from Southampton so I expect to be there at various times during the summer.

Jonathan, thanks for setting up the link,

cheers, Peter

[Julian Swindell]

I would be delighted to see you in Poole. BC20 no3 has gone and there are no other BC20s in the harbour that I know of. It would be great to have your's visit. There are a couple of BC23s, but not quite the same.

[Peter Taylor]

 (and very important to me, ipod fed music centre!).

The JVC KD-X250BT "Digital Media Receiver" I've installed is basically a car radio which is also designed to interact with an ipod/iphone (displaying the title of the track playing and, if you want, controlling the track played). It also has a front panel socket for amplifying signals from a head phone outlet. The latter amplifies sound from my laptop when it is acting as a TV.  Our local car shop had the JVC at just over £40. Sound through the Fusion speakers (which are waterproof - they are in the cabin but I'm a pessimist) is very good.

However be aware that, possibly because the JVC is designed for car use where there's lots of power, 12V consumption is approaching 1 amp. I don't know if a specific marine system would be more economical. The obvious low power alternative is head phones. The JVC uses my marine VHF aerial through a splitter. That works OK except for sometimes picking up very low level background noise when the boat is plugged into the mains electricity for charging the batteries. I assume the noise is due to the common earth arrangement.

I would be delighted to see you in Poole. BC20 no3 has gone and there are no other BC20s in the harbour that I know of.

Yes, Julian, given that Seatern is BC20 no 9 we are a rare breed!

[Julian Swindell]

Not rare. Select...

[Andy Dingle]

Thanks for the suggestion for the music system Peter. That would seem to be just what I want. Some good reviews on it too. - I'll only be using it to play loud rock music on an anchorage in the evenings so shouldn't use too much of my valuable electrickery!
I've managed to take a still off the YouTube video of the Denman Marine BC23 which shows the interior. The area under the companionway is left open on the UK 23's but I like the way a storage unit has been used on the Denman Marine boat. My thinking is the top of this unit could be adapted to house the VHF/DSC, AIS, domestic radio etc. (I see that this radio is designed to fit into a car dash and so it has some depth to it). I may speak to Matt about this design.

I'd appreciate thoughts from any other current 23 owners on their own designs and usage of the fairly limited space?

[Peter Taylor]

Rather than bob about on the Solent getting wet in the rain, I have, during the last few days added notes to my blog on the instruments I decided to install in my BC20 "Seatern" and my (very limited) experience with them to date. Not recommendations, just a description of what I did!

It's not exciting reading, but some of the notes may be useful if people are considering similar instruments for their boat. You can also find an explanation of why, despite my efforts to use the Torqeedo, I've ended up buying a Tohatsu!

From my home page ( seatern.org.uk ) choose "Equipment Summary" from the left hand menu, otherwise...
         www.seatern.org.uk/SeaternDiaries/equipment_fit.php
is the direct link.  Then click on anything that might be of interest!  I'll try to update it as I get more experience.
Peter

[Andy Dingle]

Peter. I was very interested in reading the latest entry in Seatern's blog concerning the fitting of jackstays and safety points for clipping on. Looks like you have done a good job - and thanks for the tips about using climbing gear.

http://www.seatern.org.uk/SeaternDiaries/diary_2014_july.php

In a recent telephone conversation with Matt I asked about cockpit secure points to clip on, which I would have thought was standard on the Baycruisers. I was quite surprised to read that none were fitted and were an 'optional extra' as such. I have ordered two in the cockpit and one forward.
I mentioned about using the sampson post as a secure point to clip on and Matt stated that in his opinion it was not ideal. We have decided on fixing one forward of the hatch on the saloon roof. Of course, all at additional cost!
I always use the safety harness's with three 'ends', one permanently worn, the other two (one long, one short) so you can 'leap frog' as you go forward - or aft.

I have always had misgivings about the use of jackstays. If you did go overboard, as you say, it is just about impossible to haul yourself aboard at the point you go over and end up stuck to the side of the boat unable to move.
There has already been a long and useful thread about 'going over the side' on the forum. In my opinion going overboard singlehanded has only one tragic outcome.
Again, that is why we always carry our personal epirb's clipped to us with the knife, flares, vhf, gps etc. etc. ..  don't we?!

But thanks for the useful (to me) website.

Andy

[Rob Johnstone]

andy ref harness attachement point: on Vagabond I have had two ubolt attachments fitted at the front of the cockpit, above the hatchway for the water ballast. I have had lifelines fitted down each side deck, attached to D rings on the foredeck and the mooring rope cleat abaft the cockpit. The rig seems to work ok.

Rob j

[Peter Taylor]

I mentioned about using the sampson post as a secure point to clip on and Matt stated that in his opinion it was not ideal.

Hi Andy thanks for your comments. When I initially had webbing jackstays attached to the Sampson post they were always in the way - either of mounting the bowsprit or using the Sampson post for mooring etc. so I would agree with Matt on that. On the other hand the U-bolts I've fitted (probably similar to those mentioned by Rob) are proving useful attachment points for other things as well e.g. anchor ball halyard, fenders etc. Being without guard rails the BC20 is otherwise a bit short on places to tie things to. ...on the other hand the more bits you add the more places there are for the jib sheets to wrap around!
Peter

[Peter Taylor]

My BC20 "Seatern" was one year old last week! In celebration I've added some pages to my blog giving my views on whether I made good or bad choices with the various gear I installed. Possibly of interest if you are planning for a new BC or similar. You can find them via the November/December diary page or via the left hand page menus.

And Seasons Greetings to everyone!