Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Weaver Birds


Ploceus Cucullatus

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wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Close neighbors

At least 100 birds are building nests in this one big tree.



looking at me

They use dry palm frond bits






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Hatch gets R & R



Before

Our old Bomar 31 x 31 foredeck hatch has been looking scruffy and leaking. Time for an R & R.

Here are the steps:

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wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Old Hatch is removed

We built this temporary hatch to cover the hole.

dis-assembled

Next the parts are off to the painters to be stripped, primed, and painted with polyurethane.

wingssail image-chas gerretsen
Tighten down the frame

Frame is painted and back, we bed it down and tighten the screws. Judy puts on the washers and nuts and holds them from below.

For the wood and frame we used Simpson SSKF. We found however that it is tricky to use because it skins over very quickly; you have to work fast!

wingssail image-chas gerretsen
Hi

Cover is back on, waiting for new glass

From Inside, it looks good

New Glass (actually it is 5mm Acrylic UHI)

wingssail images-judy jensen
More Masking

Altogether we used two full rolls of masking tape on this hatch.

Sand bags

The Sika 295 UV, which is very good for plastic glazing, takes a couple of days to cure so we left the sand bags on it.

In addition to this excellent sealant we used other Sika products, SA/205 Activator Cleaner, 209 Primer, 206 G + P Primer. But we've had experience with doing hatches, and have found that if you want it to stay put you must follow the instructions exactly.

Finished hatch

Note how it sticks up? that is because we put 3mm spacers underneath it to provide the specified joint thickness. This plastic will expand up to 3mm for a 1 meter piece and without the proper joint thickness the Sika may break.

Other projects continue, here Judy checks and cleans the dingy

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Saturday, August 13, 2011

Test Sail-Out of Richard's Bay


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wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Sailing

wingssail images-judy jensen
Fred

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Sailor Girl

That Was Close!



wingssail images-judy jensen

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