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[Neil C.]

It's been way too cold out in the garage lately for doing laminating jobs on my nomex Barr1 2658. So, my old woodie P4 2631 has been in for yet another rebuild. The idea with this boat has always been to maximise the performance and fun factor, while spending as little cash as possible, preferably none! I seem to have accumulated a lot of sails and stuff over the years, so 2631 is getting an asymmetric conversion, with the idea of bringing her up to '97 Club spec. She is quite pretty in an old woodie kind of way so I'm not doing a snout, wings or gantry as that would ruin her lines. Just a simple off-centre bowsprit, a bigger mast and rags. Pictures to follow this evening.

[Neil C.]

A straightforward off-centre bowsprit conversion is not too difficult. I made up a carbon fibre launch tube from a section of old broken mast from the Flying Trifle (2652). Luckily it's almost the right internal diameter to accomodate the carbon windsurfer mast I'll be using as a bowsprit.

[Neil C.]

Next up was a suitable hole in the topsides for the launch tube. This was a little trickier than it looks, as it has to be very oval to accommodate a round tube passing through the hull at an angle. It also had to be measured to make sure the bowsprit will be far enough off centre to miss the base of the mast when it retracts, but only just!

[Neil C.]

A new bulkhead a short distance from the bow supports the inner end of the launch tube. You can usually get away with a half-bulkhead, but I have intentionally over-engineered this one. I broke a couple of these bulkheads on my first Cherub (2534) a few* years ago. It takes a lot of load from the pole and also from the launch line and blocks. I made up a cardboard template through measurement, trial and error, and then cut out the actual bulkhead in ply. The position of the hole for the inner end of the launch tube is fairly critical, as it determines the angle at which the pole will launch, and also the position of the inner end of the pole when it is retracted. Too low and it will hit the cockpit floor as it comes back in. Too high and it will be a major trip hazard in the boat. Somehow I managed to get it about right!

[Neil C.]

Not quite so spot on was the hole I had to cut in the main bulkhead to allow the pole to pass through. It was out by not just a few millimetres, but, er, more like a few inches! I am a bit concerned about how much strength this has taken out of the bulkhead, particularly since I'll be putting a bigger rig on than the original. There's always the option to add some form of strengthening structure. I better give that one some thought.

[Neil C.]

This is the whole lot in place, but not yet bonded in. Next job is to epoxy the front bulkhead and bog / glass / carbon the bulkhead and launch tube in. I'll also be bonding the outer end of the launch tube to the hardwood stem for extra strength. Oh, and you can also see the new spinnaker chute hole in the foredeck. It's a bit bigger than the old one, and more importantly behind the new bulkhead! The edges will need lining with some form of round tubing. 

[Neil C.]

Next job after that will be a repair to the gunwale. The inner section of the starboard gunwale was basically completely rotted away when I first acquired the boat in 2007 (First 2 pictures). I replaced the whole gunwale structure from the chainplates back to the stern at that time. However, the section in front of the chainplates has had to be cut away as well. Shouldn't be too tricky to cut a new piece and bond it in there.

[Phil Alderson]

Hi Neil, that is a good guide, and set of pictures. Looks like you have been keeping busy.

[graham_bridle]

Fantastic work Neil, so nice to see sapele ply these days, keeping cherubs like this one in good condition and working is so important.

I hope you'll be ready to join the massive 97 rules revival at Pthwellhelilielie in August, would be great to see you and the family there, lots of families going this year !

[Born Slippy]

Neil, I believe you may possibly be needing a 3rd boat to keep all your offspring happy. Shout if needed :-)

[andy_paterson]

Ah yes - I remember it well - special Sapele ply from Reliaply, with the grain running the wrong way !

[JimC]

Ah yes - I remember it well - special Sapele ply from Reliaply, with the grain running the wrong way !

Still better than anything you can get now though I think... I grabbed Dick Jarret's last few sheets, which served Halo for build and first replacement foredeck.

[Neil C.]

Launch tube and bulkhead fitted. New paint job completed.

[Neil C.]

Now sanding deck varnish. Good workout for the arms and shoulders.

[Torchy]

Fantastic...I love the old woodies

With '97 rig on I guess you'll have an overlapping genoa...could be interesting. A snout and a self-tacking jib is good but...is it faster?

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