628 replies to this topic

[Kevin Farrar]

Finally all white and shiny. Flat grey nonskid will start going on later this week.
Kevin

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[B.Wilkinson]

Boats looking really good kevin. How much longer do you think till she hits the water?

[tamaozy]

Hey Kevin, I need some love where are the picks of the non-skid!!!! Crappy end to the week, a cold beer and some cool pics of a cool boat would make it all go away!!!!

[Kevin Farrar]

Pictures of the non-skid will be posted soon. The deck and cockpit have been sanded a prepared for paint and the application of the non-skid will start Wednesday afternoon. We laminated the mast collar today and the spar came out of Hall's autoclave the end of last week. I will install the mast collar before the non-skid goes on the cabin top.
Kevin

[Heriberto]

What are you using for a mast collar?

[Kevin Farrar]

The two coats of paint (non-Skid) are on the cockpit sole and deck I have one more to go and that should happen this afternoon. The mast collar was made from e-glass (biaxle and uni) wrapped around a padded out section of the mast.
The photos seem to make the light gray deck appear lighter in color than it is.
Kevin
PS taping will come off tomorrow.

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[Kevin Farrar]

Fine tuning of the keel bulb. 445kg is the max so we are getting close.
Kevin

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[Kevin Farrar]

Non-Skid

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[Kevin Farrar]

And from aft.

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[chickenlips]

Kevin,
Thank you for taking the time to share the build with us. The quality of your work is impressive!
What did you use for non-skid?
Who's building the mast?

[jim lee]

I always wondered, why the cutouts in the cockpit? It seems that they are optional, but what are they used for?

-jim lee

[Kevin Farrar]

Hi Jim,
Do you mean the round holes in the de-watering boards? If so, they are for inspection ports. The space under the boards are technically air tanks. The winters are cold here in New England so any water in the board will freeze.
Kevin

[tamaozy]

Hey Kevin, boat is looking great. Thanks for keeping us all up to date. It really is a priviledge to be able to watch.

[jim lee]

I mean the missing cockpit sides. Where you sit, the deck is like a shelf that you could slide things under.

-jim lee

[tamaozy]

Jim from my limited understanding I think the original design had no side walls but the Windseeker guys are doing a model with sides because the owner wanted them (one of the other threads has it). From what I can gather it is personal taste.

I am sure Kevin or Jim will correct me if I am wrong.

[quasi-expert]

I always wondered, why the cutouts in the cockpit? It seems that they are optional, but what are they used for?

-jim lee

weight saving?

[jim lee]

Well. if I -really- wanted to know the answer, I guess I could always just walk up the road and ask Mr Donovan. I was figuring there was some big deal everyone knew about and I was, as always, missing.

-jim lee

[SA Lurker]

Well. if I -really- wanted to know the answer, I guess I could always just walk up the road and ask Mr Donovan. I was figuring there was some big deal everyone knew about and I was, as always, missing.

-jim lee

Aesthetics, pure and simple...and somewhat more expensive.

[Ryley]

I thought that was for the under-deck halyards and sheets.

[windseekeryachts]

Well. if I -really- wanted to know the answer, I guess I could always just walk up the road and ask Mr Donovan. I was figuring there was some big deal everyone knew about and I was, as always, missing.

-jim lee

Aesthetics, pure and simple...and somewhat more expensive.

yes aesthetics and a little of AC technology by trasferring weight from sides to cockpit sole. (probably some minimal effect)
definetely more expensive because of time required. It is optional for our boats. Hull1 demo boat is like Kevin's, Hull2 in HK more conventional style

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[Kevin Farrar]

I will post photos soon. Much has happened since my last update. Full report in a day or two. Kevin

[Kevin Farrar]

Going togeather.

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[Kevin Farrar]

Hatch

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[Kevin Farrar]

Shroud holes and jib track.

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[Kevin Farrar]

Winches are on.

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[Kevin Farrar]

Stanchions and pulpits are mounted. Support bars for the aft two stanchions are being welded today. Mainsail traveler is in.

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[Kevin Farrar]

I will post photos soon. Much has happened since my last update. Full report in a day or two. Kevin

[tamaozy]

Kevin, looking really good. Lots of work since I was there, it has only been two weeks. Again sorry I missed you but glad I got to see the boat. It really is looking good.

Have you taken more off the bottom of the rudder??? The couple of pics with it in the background look like it is more tapered at the bottom than I thought.

Are you going to fill the shroud holes once the shrouds are installed or do they remain open??

[tamaozy]

was just showing the wife the pics and the three year old boy (who came in with me to see it) just walked up and said, "hey dad, thats the boat we went and saw. It looks good." He makes me so proud, he has quality sailor genes in there!!!!

[Ryley]

You bringing this thing to Fall Off Soundings Kevin?

[Kevin Farrar]

Hi Lance,

I certainly hope so. I am still missing some critical parts. However, I am optimistic we will see them soon! We have found a place to move the boat with a ceiling height high enough to install both keel & rudder.

The attached photo shows the spherical rudder bearings on the rudder shaft & bolts threaded to the bottom of the keel fin. You can also see the bottom of the kelp cutter track. The leading edge has been glassed over and the blade slot will be re-cut after fairing.

Kevin

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[Travieso]

Hi Lance,

I certainly hope so. I am still missing some critical parts. However, I am optimistic we will see them soon! We have found a place to move the boat with a ceiling height high enough to install both keel & rudder.

The attached photo shows the spherical rudder bearings on the rudder shaft & bolts threaded to the bottom of the keel fin. You can also see the bottom of the kelp cutter track. The leading edge has been glassed over and the blade slot will be re-cut after fairing.

Kevin

Is there a supplier for these spherical rudder bearings or are they just custom machined?

[Kevin Farrar]

The bearing are custom. They were made by Tri Star manufacturing in Massachusetts.
Kevin

[mustang__1]

looks great. im sorry i wasnt able to be involved the in the process. Maybe the next one?

[Kevin Farrar]

Sculpture in New London.

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[Ryley]

Nice - do you have the rig yet?

[Winchgrinder69]

Those sculptures are truly a picture of beauty and a joy to behold......tadahhhhh !!

[Damp Freddie]

great series of shots!

what materials are the keel and rudder foils and flange/shafts in ?

[Jim Donovan]

foils and rudder post are carbon

[Heriberto]

Zounds like it is going in the water soon! Well done Kevin!

[psyklik]

Sculpture in New London.

Cool shot Kevin,

Meant to visit with you yesterday, but got side tracked one too many times. Congrat's on Kahoutec's first place!

[Kevin Farrar]

Finally it see's the light of day.

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[Heriberto]

Wow. Nice pic Kevin. Pretty sure that's not a Melges!

[tamaozy]

Oh baby, I'm excited. Cant wait till she gets wet. Good luck Kevin.

[fullsail]

Congratulation Mr.Farrar. Nice job done.

[Jim Donovan]

Fantastic !

Congrats on moving out of the shed; it looks much better in the daylight Kevin.

[windseekeryachts]

Hi Kevin. Looking forward to seeing the sistership afloat...

[Kevin Farrar]

The boat has been moved to the shed at Mystic Shipyard where it is sitting very high on Mike Hennessy's cradle for his Open 40 Dragon. The assembly should start this weekend. I think the only thing that is needed is a 4 and a half inch hole saw.
Kevin

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[Heriberto]

To install the rudder stock?.

[Kevin Farrar]

Yes rudder tube kelp cutter tube and keel.

[Conny71]

Is that trailer convertible from low boy to high boy? Boat is looking great.

[Ryley]

I was really hoping you were going to make it to Fall Off Soundings with that beast. You would have had a hell of a ride on Saturday when it was blowing a pretty consistent 18. RockIt got to 13 knots a couple times, Your steed would have had even more fun. See you in the Spring, hopefully.

[Savage 17]

Kevin - The boat looks fantastic!!! Great job. When will it be hitting the water? Key West?

So, if you had to go back and do it again would you build from scratch or just buy the Windseeker GP26? Was it less expensive then Windseeker or more then the $47,000 introductory price offered?

[Winchgrinder69]

Hey Ryley, Was that you @ C1 slip @ Mitchell Park Marina during OS ?? I was on the little Tartan-27 right next to you...Is Rockit's aux a Torquedo ?? Winchgrinder69

[Ryley]

Hey Ryley, Was that you @ C1 slip @ Mitchell Park Marina during OS ?? I was on the little Tartan-27 right next to you...Is Rockit's aux a Torquedo ?? Winchgrinder69

Yep that was us, and yep, that's a torqeedo. we had a fun weekend and a great sail back on sunday - one of the best deliveries back yet. Hope you guys had a good sail too.

[Kevin Farrar]

Some answers.

The low trailer is a Melges 32 trailer and wouldn't want to be rasied. I have a new trailer which was built by Brain Bishop at Sailboat Transporter Trailers in Michigan. This trailer is beautifully made and I will post some photos once we finsh building the hull bunks.

Would I do it again. Yes, and the investment in materials is quite a bit more than the Windseeker build. Windseeker arranged with Jim about a year after I started my project so the option of purchasing a production boat was not in the picture. Also to the best of my knowledge the hull shapes are indentical with the exception that I allowed a little more hollow in the forward meter and a half of the boat creating a slightly finer entry. There are stuctural differences between the two builds. Go figure the production version beat the prototype to the water.

Photos,
The keel fin and blub combined wieght was taken and is about where we figured.
The kelp cutter tube was glued in today which means the keel is very close to being pluged in.
The holes for the rudder have been cut ( thank you Dave for the use of your hole saw). The rudder tube will go in after the keel is in place so we can keep the two parts in line.

More soon.
Kevin

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[Kevin Farrar]

Well Hung.

The keel is finally on and the kelp cutter lined up and fit. Yeah.
Tomorrow the rudder begins the alignment process.
Kevin

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[WCB]

So cool...thanks for sharing with us.

[Jim Donovan]

Looks great Kevin - this is a great view

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[Savage 17]

Some answers.

The low trailer is a Melges 32 trailer and wouldn't want to be rasied. I have a new trailer which was built by Brain Bishop at Sailboat Transporter Trailers in Michigan. This trailer is beautifully made and I will post some photos once we finsh building the hull bunks.

Would I do it again. Yes, and the investment in materials is quite a bit more than the Windseeker build. Windseeker arranged with Jim about a year after I started my project so the option of purchasing a production boat was not in the picture. Also to the best of my knowledge the hull shapes are indentical with the exception that I allowed a little more hollow in the forward meter and a half of the boat creating a slightly finer entry. There are stuctural differences between the two builds. Go figure the production version beat the prototype to the water.

Photos,
The keel fin and blub combined wieght was taken and is about where we figured.
The kelp cutter tube was glued in today which means the keel is very close to being pluged in.
The holes for the rudder have been cut ( thank you Dave for the use of your hole saw). The rudder tube will go in after the keel is in place so we can keep the two parts in line.

More soon.
Kevin

Thanks for sharing Kevin.... The boat looks amazing and can't wait to see it on the water

So, if you had to do it again you would build it yourself even though the cost is higher, due to having a finer entry in the dow?

[Kevin Farrar]

We are not allowing the grass to grow under our feet around here. Since the last post:

Rudder aligned and the tube has been glassed in place. The tube has been flush cut to the hull surface.
The outboard bracket has been designed and built but still needs some finishing touches, paint and to be installed.
The triailer bunks have been fiberglassed and a coat of micro ballons is currently curing.( Polyester really stinks up this place.) The bunks will need a final sanding and paint or gelcoat, I haven't decided which.
Lastly, the mainsail and jib have been designed and cut and also are currently being assembled. The VMG kite is designed and will be cut soon.
Kevin

[tamaozy]

Kevin, is your plan to wet sail or dry sail the boat. Just interested, is there a lifting point somewhere in the design or do you require slings to lift in and out???

[Jim Donovan]

Kevin, is your plan to wet sail or dry sail the boat. Just interested, is there a lifting point somewhere in the design or do you require slings to lift in and out???

Single point lift off the aft keel bolt: this is a 16mm diameter piece of Aquamet 22, so somewhere near 37,000 lb breaking strength

[Nrg85]

Is the mast going trought the cabin?
ISP = 11.15 m, that is from the top of the mast to the deck.
P = 9.90 m that is mainsail luff

So is the mast 11.15 + high in the cabin (if the mast is going trought the cabin)?

[Heriberto]

Is the mast going trought the cabin?
ISP = 11.15 m, that is from the top of the mast to the deck.
P = 9.90 m that is mainsail luff

So is the mast 11.15 + high in the cabin (if the mast is going trought the cabin)?

Yes.

Except ISP is top of main hoist, not top of mast. But you know that.

[Jim Donovan]

Is the mast going trought the cabin?
ISP = 11.15 m, that is from the top of the mast to the deck.
P = 9.90 m that is mainsail luff

So is the mast 11.15 + high in the cabin (if the mast is going trought the cabin)?

Yes.

Except ISP is top of main hoist, not top of mast. But you know that.

Actually,

ISP is the measurement from the "measured sheer" at the fwd face of the mast to the top of the spinnaker hoist point - top of P (mainsail hoist) can be above or below ISP.

Measured sheer is calculated in a formula within the ORC rule (it is essentially the same measurement calc used for nearly 30 years)
Top of the mast can extend above ISP, which it does in my rig design.

Mast extends through deck to the step on the keel frame, which makes the mast tube approx 12.14m long (39.83 ft)
That fits inside a 40 foot container (angled against a wall or on the ceiling). Better to keep rigs off container floors so they don't get crushed.

[Nrg85]

So the mast is going on the step on the keel frame, thank you for the info.
So there is about 1m height inside GP26.

Are there any two piece mast designed for GP26?
If the answer is yes where hey bond together?

[Ryley]

I think the Pauger mast is two-piece. not sure where it bonds though.

[Kevin Farrar]

Trailer shots

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[Savage 17]

Nice Kevin!!! Moving along... now you just need a mast, boom and bowspirt? Key West this year?

[Heriberto]

Hey Savage,

Upthread Kevin mentioned he has Hall mast, boom and already hadtied prod, so basically can be in the water this fall to my understanding.

[Heriberto]

Kevin,
What are you using as the bunk cushioning material and what are the orange screw mount pads for?

[Savage 17]

Hey Savage,

Upthread Kevin mentioned he has Hall mast, boom and already hadtied prod, so basically can be in the water this fall to my understanding.

Saying and showing are two very different things!!!!

[Jim Donovan]

Hey Savage,

Upthread Kevin mentioned he has Hall mast, boom and already hadtied prod, so basically can be in the water this fall to my understanding.

Saying and showing are two very different things!!!!

I've seen the sprit, and have been helping Kevin with details to get the rig set-up in the boat.
Kevin has told me his the mast and boom are beautiful.

But come think of it; no photos . . .

Hey Kevin?

[Ryley]

The mast is beautiful.

[Winchgrinder69]

The mast weighs approx 59# and the boom is sllightly heavier than a rigging knife..tadahhhhh........Regards......

Hey Savage,

Upthread Kevin mentioned he has Hall mast, boom and already hadtied prod, so basically can be in the water this fall to my understanding.

Saying and showing are two very different things!!!!

[DIMITRIS]

This topic has gone quiet for quite some time although you are near completion......are we the unfortunate ones that leave far apart from you gonna have some update on the current status of the new rocket? So how things are coming along? Have you splashed it? Just too curious to see it going balistic

Trailer shots

[Kevin Farrar]

Hurricane Sandy launches GP 26. Sort of.
At about 21:50 hours the evening of the hurricane the water level in the shed was well up the tire and left a scum line on the keel and tip of the rudder.

Does this constitute a failed trailer launch!!

At the same time I was at my home about a quarter mile north of the shed watching sea water come through the front door and also in the attach garage door. No damage.
Kevin

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[Kevin Farrar]

Here (finally) are some photos of the spar which was made by Ben Hall of Hall Spars. At this point the spar has not been coated with anything and is a flat peel ply finish. We will sail it this way for a while and if the spar needs to be beefed up in any areas we won't need to grind off paint. The spar will eventually get painted.

In the back ground is Spartan the recently restored New York 50 (waterline). The GP 26 mast sits next to the spar that goes to Spartan, quite a difference for spars made a year apart.

Barely visible are the exit slot reinforcements I glue on last weekend.
Kevin

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[Kevin Farrar]

The bow ladder is the tits. Very easy to get on and off the boat. The only draw back I can see is that with the boat on the trailer at it's lowest position the sprit cannot be extended. A little angle iron and a torch will fix this one of these days.

Hardware continues to be installed and yes the boat is covered in mud.

The rudder post fairing came out pretty well.

Kevin

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[DIMITRIS]

Hurricane Sandy launches GP 26. Sort of.
At about 21:50 hours the evening of the hurricane the water level in the shed was well up the tire and left a scum line on the keel and tip of the rudder.

Does this constitute a failed trailer launch!!

At the same time I was at my home about a quarter mile north of the shed watching sea water come through the front door and also in the attach garage door. No damage.
Kevin

I think your GP26 is so wild that is trying to launch by itself!!!!Are you sure that it is not possessed ??? Anyway sorry to hear about having problems with Sandy I realy hope nothing major! Thanks for the photos and update.... the beast looks really nice!

[Steam Flyer]

Very glad to hear you had no damage
Looks like there is still a lot of mess up there...

FB- Doug

[Nrg85]

Here (finally) are some photos of the spar which was made by Ben Hall of Hall Spars. At this point the spar has not been coated with anything and is a flat peel ply finish. We will sail it this way for a while and if the spar needs to be beefed up in any areas we won't need to grind off paint. The spar will eventually get painted.

So it the mast won't be stiff enought you can add few layers of unidirectional?
That sounds like a great idea to achive optimal mast bending.
What if you put few layers of uni on different places and paint the mast, wouldn't there be a "bumps" where reinforcements are?

[Jim Donovan]

So it the mast won't be stiff enought you can add few layers of unidirectional?
That sounds like a great idea to achive optimal mast bending.
What if you put few layers of uni on different places and paint the mast, wouldn't there be a "bumps" where reinforcements are?

Mast builders that build over male mandrels typically have hollows in the surface where reinforcements are applied; you see these in the photos of Kevin's mast at the spreaders, masthead, etc. GP26 rules address these.

The constant section shape required by the GP 26 rule has a +/- 3 mm tolerance which also allows for normal variance in sections size due to manufacturing and the type of reinforcements Kevin is describing. Normal practice is to carefully taper reinforcements to avoid abrupt changes in section properties so there should be no noticable "bumps" caused by Kevin's reinforcements.

[Nrg85]

Thank you for your very clear answer!

[Conny71]

That appears to be an ultra buoyant keel, the boat doesnt float anywhere near the designed waterline. Glad to see it came through with only minor cleanup, hope it hits the water soon.

[Nrg85]

Did you weight your mast and boom?

How long is the bowsprit? I haven't found that info in class rules.
When it is all out how long is the part in the boat?

[Kevin Farrar]

The mast weight at this point is 43.3 kg. Several allowed fittings and brackets have yet to be installed which when added should bring the spar up to the class minimum of 45 kg. Should the mast need additional carbon to stiffen it further the wire shrouds (uppers and lowers) can be changed to soft rigging reducing standing rigging weight by around 4 kg.

The boom is not quite finished so I haven't weight it yet but it's a fairly large section and very light.

The overall length of the sprit is 2860mm. The TPS (tacking point of the chute forward of the fore face of the mast) is 4800 mm where the J dimension is 2900mm. The sprit when extended is 1720mm forward of the stem while 1140mm of the tube remains in the boat.

Most of the sail, hull and rig measurements appear on the "table of limits" page of the class rules which can be found on the ORC website.

Kevin

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[Nrg85]

Thank you.
Is your mast tapered at the end? I can't see clearly from the pic.

Is there a problem with a carbon mast and inox part on in like bolts, rivets and others for fittings and brackets?

Main sail track isn't finished yet?

What are dimension of your mast, it looks something like 6"x4"?

[barefoot children]

a point of reference:
My spar derived from a Mumm 30 section with custom masthead crane weighed 94.5# this is deck stepped, so shorter at butt end than yours.
This is with running rigging installed, goosneck & vang tangs & spreader brackets on and painted, so ready to step package
Key dimensions: I= 38.1
P= 40.6
Isp= 44.95

[Nrg85]

How come there is a rule in class rules of using carbon:
carbon fiber with a tensile modulus not to exceed 250 GPa.

Why is that rule applied for a rig too?
So you can use high strenght carbon fibre but you can't use high modulus carbon fibres which are usually used in builidng carbon mast.

[B.Wilkinson]

Hey Kevin,

Went and checked out the boat today. Your going to be fast. Very fast. Boat looks awsome!

Where is it going to live this winter?

-Ben

[Kevin Farrar]

Getting closer.

Lisa successfully fits in and installs the bob stay sheave. Who said the cat bunk wasn't practical.
Peter and Kevin warming up inside at night. The small heater really makes a difference.
The back stay flicker is on.
The sprit is installed and lastly the outboard bracket is fitted.

Kevin

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[StayinStrewn]

Almost there!!

[Ryley]

Kevin.. are you going to post some new (exciting) pictures soon?? Give me a ring - I'll be around this weekend and probably next too.

[musicman]

Good chatting with you last night Kevin, boat looks great! Give me a call when you're ready to go for a sail.

[Kevin Farrar]

Getting even closer.

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[Nrg85]

Looking great!
Are your spreaders forming upward angle or they are perpendicular to the mast?

[spich]

Very good job Kevin.

[B.Wilkinson]

So kevin, your in the know. Who has bought windseeker hull number 3 from northeast usa???