Search found 283 matches

by Bob McGovern
Sun Jan 31, 2021 8:37 pm
Forum: Hull and Deck
Topic: Hull 612, built in 1974
Replies: 18
Views: 64948

Re: Hull 612, built in 1974

The Scampi has its fans and is still sailed hard all over the world. Nose-down trim, tho, is part of what made late-period IOR boats so terrifying downwind in a blow. As beams got wider, sterns got narrower, and CofG was raised (to the point racers were gluing lead bars to the coachroof for ratings ...
by Bob McGovern
Sat Jan 30, 2021 6:59 pm
Forum: Hull and Deck
Topic: Hull 612, built in 1974
Replies: 18
Views: 64948

Re: Hull 612, built in 1974

Glad for you and your family! Good luck! How would your compare Ballad to Albina Scumpi 30, for example this one ? Scumpi has a deck-stepped mast, so one problem less, fin keel and ruder on a skeg which is good. Why Ballad is more popular? As I understand the history, Magnusson built the S30 (Joker...
by Bob McGovern
Sat Jun 13, 2020 8:09 pm
Forum: Hull and Deck
Topic: Mast step truss, inevitably:(
Replies: 154
Views: 592390

Re: Mast step truss, inevitably:(

That's really useful, to see a galvanized (later sail #) truss out of its encapsulation. It looks pretty good! Astonishing they didn't galvanize the early steel. We haven't launched yet, but I believe any mast step solution that drains away water and allows air circulation will last forever if built...
by Bob McGovern
Sat Jan 11, 2020 6:06 pm
Forum: Hull and Deck
Topic: Hull bulging and cracking under main bulkhead
Replies: 8
Views: 41146

Re: Hull bulging and cracking under main bulkhead

There is a mild steel 'clavicle', or curved transverse beam, running from side to side almost the full width of the main bulkhead. The mast support truss bolts through it, and it is the thing you step over to enter the V berth. There have been reports of this beam failing at the center, again perhap...
by Bob McGovern
Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:33 pm
Forum: Hull and Deck
Topic: Advice on skeg damage
Replies: 1
Views: 17402

Re: Advice on skeg damage

Hrrrmmm. Hrrmm? Looks for all the world like either the boat backed hard into something, folding the rudder to the side and levering the skeg forward -- or the rudder got bounced on its bottom a few times. Any corresponding damage visible on the rudder blade itself? Have a peek at the flat bottom of...
by Bob McGovern
Mon Aug 19, 2019 2:57 pm
Forum: Cruising
Topic: Summer cruising in the Lesser Cyclades and the Dodecanese (part 2)
Replies: 2
Views: 27706

Re: Summer cruising in the Lesser Cyclades and the Dodecanese (part 2)

Lovely photo essay, Nick. We enjoy the playful colors you find in the Med, the Caribbean, and places like Mexico where we are going. One reason we're tarting up our boat with colors like lime, apricot, chartreuse....I think color makes cold places feel warmer and warm places feel cooler, too. The Ba...
by Bob McGovern
Sun Mar 03, 2019 11:25 pm
Forum: Hull and Deck
Topic: Crackling deck
Replies: 1
Views: 19851

Re: Crackling deck

Hi Marius. The worst places for water intrusion on our 1972 Ballad were: mast partners, aft of foredeck cleat, chainplate eyebolts, and genoa tracks. The eyebolts had putty/bog solid cores, but they were often poorly located & the drill missed them. The mast partners had no real protection at al...
by Bob McGovern
Sat Jul 28, 2018 8:05 pm
Forum: Rig and Sails
Topic: Boom for Larger Main
Replies: 3
Views: 21994

Re: Boom for Larger Main

Hi Ted. We have vague plans for a similar mainsail increase, and many many IOR-era boats have been modified this way with good resilts. As your drawings show, adding foot & leach to the main does not really upset the sail balance at all if combined with a smaller genoa; so much of the 150% G1 is...
by Bob McGovern
Tue May 01, 2018 10:11 pm
Forum: Electrical
Topic: Lifting and removing the engine
Replies: 6
Views: 36912

Re: Lifting and removing the engine

Heavy machinery is definitely an option. My various friends have diggers and forklifts and tractors, but none tall enuf to clear the boat's structure. I could rent, but our town's rental company is a notorious, over-charging monopolist, plus I live 15 miles out of town so the delivery is expensive a...
by Bob McGovern
Tue May 01, 2018 2:16 am
Forum: Electrical
Topic: Lifting and removing the engine
Replies: 6
Views: 36912

Re: Lifting and removing the engine

Hi Mark. Thanks for the link. We're creeping along on the refit: have most of the structural done, the forepeak area completed, new foredeck hatch, etc. I want to get the engine out before starting cosmetic on the main saloon. Still torn on the engine, which is why I've waited so long to address the...