You know me, I like a pun and the title refers to the fact that the reason the blog has been a bit quiet is that I have been wrestling with making a cover for the boat and the best thing since sliced bread in the world of cover making is 'Venture Tape'. Really sticky double sided tape that is very thin and means that you can stick long seams together prior to sewing thus avoiding pin holes in your nice cover or wobbly miss matched seams - I couldn't have done it without this stuff.
For the technical amongst you, the cover is made of Odyssey fabric, the colour is 'Sand' and the binding tape that is the best colour match is beige. The Odyssey fabric is a little lighter weight that the usual canvas for protective coves and this is for two reasons, Firstly, the cover in production will be used to extend living space, protect from too much rain/too much sun and provide privacy when on board, not for leaving the boat covered on the mooring.
Secondly, covers take up a lot of space. This one packs down quite well for storage. It zips into two parts using two 4ft beige open ended YKK marine zips,
good and chunky with plastic teeth. Canvas, zips, binding supplied by Kayospruce. Thread was heavy duty and UV resistant. Go for ordinary thread and you risk having constituent parts of your covers not attached as the thread rots.
Cover - front part - first fit
Because the flapping canvas always wears, I have taken the opportunity to strengthen the tie points and wear points with some marine quality suede (marine quality so the dye does not run) acquired from Clyde Marine Leather. They sell leather for steering wheels but also they sell hides. I didn't want a whole hide but asked and they sold me half one which was more than enough and I am contemplating what projects could make use of the remaining buttery soft gorgeousness.
What I have learned in making the cover....
- The sewing machine purchase (see last post) is more than man enough for the job although I hand sewed the suede as I am not sure it would have made it through the suede and cover material.
- Your table will not be big enough.
- Unless you are a professional, be prepared for a number of fittings.
- If you gaff ends short of the full length of the boom, (and let's face it, whose doesn't) then the cover will droop at the end unless you do something about it (I took some material out of the centre panel so it now doesn't droop).
- Use Velcro judiciously. I know it solves a lot of problems but it wears out. For accommodating the topping lift, I put a cut in the cover running from the topping lift aft and then cut a transverse slot to take the topping lift. I then had to come up with a closure method that was strong, would not rust, did not wear too quickly and did not require the cover to be put on millimetre perfect each time. I went for ye olde latching so we will see that goes on (See picture below) .First mentioned in the 1600's and used by circuses to connect canvas panels the only picture I could find was in good old Ashley's book of knots. This is my 'desert island' book, leave me on a desert island with this book a selection of cordage and a fid (yes can I have a fid as well please Kirsty ?) and I would die a happy woman.
- Pay someone else to make your cover if you are at all fainthearted.
Latching demonstrated, Rope loops sewn to cover at appropriate sizes and distances to pass through eyelets and preceding rope loop.
And what about the boat ? Well we got out to sail again on a cold grey day with a little more wind than our first sail and as we messed around outside the entrance to the Hamble, out came our friends on Ivy Green. They
sailed alongside us and I have to thank them for the photograph - the first of Satellite sailing but not the last.
The next 'Add Venture' was really an 'adventure' in as there was a rally organised to Chichester Marina. This was the first opportunity to take Satellite on a proper trip and to work out living on board. Setting out on Friday morning, we hit fog crossing the fairway into Portsmouth. We had managed to check left and right as we could see boats disappearing as the fog rolled in and were OK to cross quickly at a narrow point of the channel. Once at the entrance to Chichester Harbour the fog lifted and in sparkling conditions, we made our way to the marina.
Sunrise over the skipper
Now I know you don't want to bore with tales of 'what I did on my holidays' but suffice it to say that things worked and we had pretty much got it right in terms of interior layout and the right kind of stuff on board (not too much but the right stuff). Berths were comfy and stuff fell to hand easily. I don't think there will be much that we would have done differently. One small addition I have yet to fabricate is a handy pocket to fix between the companion way grab rails to keep racing instructions etc handy when racing as I will really miss the space under the previous boat's sidedecks where this used to go.
I will report on progress once I have made it and used it.
The only other slightly more significant thing concerns the staysail. We are well behaved with our sails but we made a concession with the jib by having a sacrificial strip added so that we could keep the jib out when not in use without the thing rotting away. The compromise is looks and although it is not too ugly, it is not how we would do it if we had rigged her with a bowsprit traveller, which we haven't. The consideration for the staysail was whether to protect the luff in the same way or commit to the slightly easier job of taking it down each time and stowing it - but where ?: The only place is down below but this is not favourable if the thing is wet when you come to leave the boat. So what's the solution ? A trip to the 'Sailrite' website to view a video on how to make headsail covers and another bout with the sewing machine.
What else is there to report ? Ah yes, an experiment in seagull deterrents but I shall leave that for next time - It has worked so far and I am patenting it if it works for longer as anyone who can keep seagulls from depositing on your boat should earn a fortune. There, a cliffhanger to end on.
