So I hadn’t done any work on the windvane for a while, mainly because the next big thing I had to do was planing down a plank of wood to form an aerofoil. This is Really Hard and combined with my inate laziness meant that I just did other, easier things that didn’t involve 30 hours hand-planing.
Anyway finally I ended up taking it to Abernethy and Gaudin Boatbuilders Ltd. who are a wooden boatbuilding company. They did a great job, waaaaaaaaay cheaper than the other quotes I got. Hooray! Now maybe I can finish this damn thing! I’ve also done a bunch of other stuff but that will be in different updates. It’s also REALLY HOT here and the weather has been amazing the last few weeks – but I’ve hardly been out. Work is just ridiculous right now and is sapping me of the will to do anything other than lie on my face when I get home. Ugh.
Nice to see someone else in the place I’m at to.no exactly but- It’s 100% boat. You’ve inspired me with the projects, I just received my CG Documentation paperwork, (after months and months). close to untieing the lines now.
I started a blog after reading yours and thought a great way to document what’s going on. Check it out, just started it, trying it out.
sailingdijan.wordpress.com
Hi John, thanks for the nice words. Exciting times being so close to leaving! I’ll check out the link
Hey Matt,
Great to see things coming along, been reading your blog for longer than i care to admit. Is that piece of wood supposed to be the trim tab for the rudder??
Keep pushing onward toward your goals and dreams bro. Have a good one
Hi James, thanks for reading! It’s slight different from a trim tab – it’s tweaked in a certain direction by the servo-pendulum windvane and then the pressure of the water going by it gives enough energy to turn the wheel until it’s going straight forward.
Wow, they did a beautiful planing job. Sometimes it’s worth having (paying) for the pros!
I’m four days off work and still feel exhausted! And it gets so hot I secretly miss some (just a tad) winter!
From the photo that doesn’t look like the NACA foil that is in the plans, but it probably doesn’t matter much. I just left a long comment on this video about it which I’ll repeat here in case it’s useful to you or anyone else.
https://youtu.be/8-MEGHpwqHs
Planing the Hebridean pendulum into a foil isn’t too hard if you make a template. But also, it will work if you just start out by planing the leading and trailing edges to 45°. You can get the rest of the system working and make your pendulum efficient later. I ended up making a temporary pendulum this way. See https://tammynorie.wordpress.com/category/repairs-and-modifications/constructing-the-hebridean/ . I don’t know if the plans still say the pendulum bungee is “optional” but for me it was essential. Feel free to ask questions!
Thanks Richard! I found your site very useful when making the windvane