FITTING OUT THE BOAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 225, 21 September 1940, Page 15

FITTING OUT THE BOAT.

WORK ON HULL AND SPARS. (By SPEEDWELL.) Most of the boats of all classes which will be seen afloat in the coming season have already had their topsides cleaned off and are ready for their, first coat of paint.

After the vork of cleaning off the old paint Is finished by the use of pumice brick, pumice stone, sandpaper or scraper or a combination of them ill, have a look at the seams for soft spots In the caulking or puttying. If there are any pick out the caulking cotton and renew it. See that the keel or centreboard is smooth and has no jagged edges to catch the water. See that tne ruddef is working freely on its plntlles ana the stock is not warped or the rudder head loose. If the rudder head is not rigid it may cause you to lose many valuable seconds when rounding a mark or make you strike it or a competitor and so put you out of the race. Speedwell lost a bowsprit and a keen race for Just this fault—slack in the rudder head. » The standing rigging should have a careful survey, for 60 much depends on the shrouds, backstays, fores tay and bobstay, especially ra these days of high, narrow rigs. Charcoal iron wire, of which most of the stays are made, wui last three or four seasons with caje. but it is false economy to trust it too long. Bobstays want renewing almost every season, as they are in j and out ol the water all the .time and rust very quickly. New lanyards require to be fitted every second year unless you use rigging screws. It is when you are going full and ln * fresh breeze and a roll of sea that the heaviest, strain conies on the shrouds. On a wind tne Xorestay takes its share and when running the backstay will help. . , . Running rigging should be overhauled carefully and new peak or throat halliards fitted if they show much wear. It is better to do work now than to find out just before „ the opening race, with a hard westerly blowmig, that you want new gear. Moorings, if outside the protected areas, should be lilted and care " fully examined and any weak parts cut out and replaced with generous sized shackles, which should be riveted with a heavy hammer, Many a good boat has come ashore through a faulty shackle pin. If you are in the protected areas, a visit to Captain Sergeant and the payment ox a small fee will ensure this work being attended to by the Harbour Board's men, who are practical yachtsmcn and familiar with the sizes required for each part of a mooring. Make time to do up the dinghy before the boat goes off. Some crews put all their energy into the yacht and quite forget the dinghy. Scrape and paint or varnish it and have a look at the bottom battens, fender and painter. While Speedwell advocates doing all possible work by the owner and crew, which often calls for a smattering of carpentry, ringing, caulking, painting—to say nothing of the engineering which a motor boat requires—it would be as well to have the last coat of enamel or other on J by a professional. The time and labour during the next two months or so will be quickly forgotten when the season is in fullswing.and you will enjoy your racing or week-end cruise all the more for having made a thorough job of tne fitting out.