Keel-girl in a BIKINI this time!
16 Comments Published by Adventures of Greg on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 4:18 PM.
As promised - another new keel-girl photo. This time I talked her into wearing her bikini for the shot. You are welcome.
To keep the keel from twisting and shearing off the two bolts holding the keel tube onto the stub tube, I welded a couple of stainless angles to make a notch for the keel fin to slide into.
After I finished all the Bondo and sanding, I tipped WiTHiN over onto her side and slide the keel onto the stub from my work bench to check the fit once again. Everything was good.
Then to see how strong (or lack of strong) my keel was, I got someone to hold onto the rudder and I rolled the work bench away while holding onto the keel and slowly letting more of it's 90 lb weight fall down.
Holding onto the hull at the keel causes some serious twisting of the hull which wouldn't be a stress that the boat would experience in water, so I didn't let it go all the way. The join to the hull was solid - no visual bending at all, and the keel tube wasn't bending, but I could hear some creaks coming from the fiberglass hull itself twisting.
Then to see how strong (or lack of strong) my keel was, I got someone to hold onto the rudder and I rolled the work bench away while holding onto the keel and slowly letting more of it's 90 lb weight fall down.
Holding onto the hull at the keel causes some serious twisting of the hull which wouldn't be a stress that the boat would experience in water, so I didn't let it go all the way. The join to the hull was solid - no visual bending at all, and the keel tube wasn't bending, but I could hear some creaks coming from the fiberglass hull itself twisting.
A few layers of paint to seal all the micro up.
And a finishing coat of black paint to hide all my bumpies and seal-up some of the non-stainless in the keel fin.
Now all I have left before sea trials is:
1. Make a foam plug for the Dorade vent (When i tip WiTHiN onto her side to slide the keel on, a bit of water leaks through the Dorade vent).
2. Cover over the holes where the old outriggers used to fit into
3. Install my new manual windshield wiper
4. Add a latch to keep the vent fan onto the Dorade vent. I used snap-loc before and it kept falling off
5. I need to make a stainless ring to fit through my nose ring holes to tie a line to. I used to run the tow line through the stainless tube that is inserted through the nose-ring hole in the bow (and stern), but the edges of the tube cut through the tow line.
Oh - and A brand new interview with me is due to air on Discovery Channel tonight! It's the one we shot out in Victoria during the first sea trials. Daily Planet if you are in Canada.
Labels: boatbuilding
Nice body work!
:-)
Ufff, I got scared!
Keep eye on that trim!
Martin
I want my money back!
Naaa.
I think the first one was best by a long mile, but the keels looking better.
Jeff in the UK
Now you know why the keel needs to be anchored to a bulkhead to triangulate the lateral stresses. Girls look good in two piece suits, boats (and boys) look bad in two pieces.
At least you are becoming serious! :D
Oh Dear, now I'm worried.
40 days and nights alone at sea with Greg dressed like that !
Nick
The support Boat
The new girl was a big let down. I'd say more of the first one!!!!
Keel idea
Just seeing the picture with the boat on the side and the keel unbolted laying at 90° gave my an idea.
What if you put a locking hinge at the attachment point. This hinge would lock as soon as you put the boat in water and she righted herself. It would remove the stress cause by the long lever when getting the boat into the water. True it would add something that could fail but it's something to think about
Tim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_WKgcOiq2M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mf0nwvYmBE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oyWMusaDTI&feature=related
Foils create drag~ but I thought you might like these.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_v3dO1sIOo&feature=related
This is shot in Pozo which is south Gran Canaria, Canaries, on the world tour. The fins being used are as small as possible, almost impossible for an amateur to use, but they are shaped down to reduce drag especially width.
Hello Greg
Do you know about this guy:
www.jeangabrielchelala.com
He just start a Atlantic crossing on another pedalboat. Probably slower than yours, but more confortable.
Keep at it,You are doing a great job, on the project and on the web.
Hi Mark:
I have been following Jean Gabriel www.jeangabrielchelala.com for a while now and I am anxious to find out how he makes out on the Atlantic. His blog is in French, but I use Google translator which does a fairly good job. I wish he would update every day though - I think he has been on the ocean for 10 days now and only sent out 1 update.
I also spoke with him before departure. His boat is slower, but definatly more comfortable. I am trying to reach a happy-medium with the new ocean version of WiTHiN - a bit faster than the prototype, but roomier and more comfortable.
She's looking good greg (the boat of course).
Have you thought about the retractability at all?
That Expedition 48 looks good, his boat seems to be steaming pretty good in the intro movie. But I MUCH prefer your idea, sleek and fast... Snails and turtles never set any speed records that i've ever heard of...
11 posts already people are liking what your doing keep it up... Just out of curiosity any idea on how many people visit your blog per day?
Mike Studli
Queen's University - Kingston Ontario
Hi Greg
Reading point 5 on your to-do list conjoured up a picture in my mind, bikini-girl in the #2 version with large shiny ring through the nose ;-)
Keep going!
Mike
Studli:
I get about 450 to 500 visits per day on Adventuresofgreg.com and about 800 page views per day. The Blog is hosted at Adventuresofgreg.com
On Pedaltheocean.com I get between 50 to 60 visits per day with 142 yesterday due to the Discovery Channel interview.
gk
you really need a hat on in that picture one that hides more
Oh jeez, the brackets are just what I was suggesting in the previous blog. Maybe I had better read the rest before commenting more... except...
The brackets look a little bit small to me.
The stress of holding the hull still at 90 in the shed will not be anywhere close to the stress of going sideways down a wave offshore. If that hull is creaking now, it will tear apart offshore.