Ricochet is an early one, hull 26 out of 119 of them from Swarbricks.
Just a bit of useless information. Hull 25 is owned by my younger sisters ex-boyfriend in Port Lincoln!
MB was 119.
MB had a granny seat. I spent a lot of time there fiddling with the Fleming. Not that it needed fiddling with but on long passages it was dry, didn't move around much and gave a great view of the world.
Cisco taken from the granny seat.

Setting up the Fleming from the granny seat as we depart Lord Howe in 2015. The view from the granny seat.
The centre of the island with Mount Lidgbird.

The north of the island.

Balls Pyramid and the edge of Mount Gower.
Ricochet is an early one, hull 26 out of 119 of them from Swarbricks.
Just a bit of useless information. Hull 25 is owned by my younger sisters ex-boyfriend in Port Lincoln!
MB was 119.
It was my understanding that Susurrus was hull 119 and the last polyester S&S 34 hull that Swarbricks made .
Ricochet is an early one, hull 26 out of 119 of them from Swarbricks.
Just a bit of useless information. Hull 25 is owned by my younger sisters ex-boyfriend in Port Lincoln!
MB was 119.
It was my understanding that Susurrus was hull 119 and the last polyester S&S 34 hull that Swarbricks made .
You are correct. MB was known as hull 119 until a few years ago. I had forgotten that they did a bit more research and found that the plug in the moulds when Swarbricks sold them to Maybrook was actually finished and that was 119.
MB was 118 and the last S&S34 finished by Swarbricks. Sussurus was the last hull.
www.ss34.org/index.php/directory/
Ricochet is an early one, hull 26 out of 119 of them from Swarbricks.
Just a bit of useless information. Hull 25 is owned by my younger sisters ex-boyfriend in Port Lincoln!
MB was 119.
It was my understanding that Susurrus was hull 119 and the last polyester S&S 34 hull that Swarbricks made .
You are correct. MB was known as hull 119 until a few years ago. I had forgotten that they did a bit more research and found that the plug in the moulds when Swarbricks sold them to Maybrook was actually finished and that was 119.
MB was 118 and the last S&S34 finished by Swarbricks. Sussurus was the last hull.
www.ss34.org/index.php/directory/
Doesn't make sense,,, how could MB ever have been 119 if it was actually 118. If that was the case an extra hull that never existed would ha been placed somewhere before MB
The hull in the moulds wouldn't have altered the count as it was afterwards.
Cisco taken from the granny seat.

It was bloody beautiful to be able to sit in the shade and watch the flemming do it's work, observe the compass heading and make minor adjustments.
Ricochet is an early one, hull 26 out of 119 of them from Swarbricks.
Just a bit of useless information. Hull 25 is owned by my younger sisters ex-boyfriend in Port Lincoln!
MB was 119.
It was my understanding that Susurrus was hull 119 and the last polyester S&S 34 hull that Swarbricks made .
You are correct. MB was known as hull 119 until a few years ago. I had forgotten that they did a bit more research and found that the plug in the moulds when Swarbricks sold them to Maybrook was actually finished and that was 119.
MB was 118 and the last S&S34 finished by Swarbricks. Sussurus was the last hull.
www.ss34.org/index.php/directory/
Doesn't make sense,,, how could MB ever have been 119 if it was actually 118. If that was the case an extra hull that never existed would ha been placed somewhere before MB
The hull in the moulds wouldn't have altered the count as it was afterwards.
Those numbers have been fluid for many years. Mrs Swarbrick had the records as I recall but they were incomplete. At one stage 10 or 15 years ago I recall they thought MB was 124. It then became 119 but then 118.
MB was the last S&S34 completed by Swarbricks, but how many preceded it is still probably a bit fluid. Some went out as just a hull, some hull and deck and some fitted out. Some came out of the mould as Mk1s and were subsequently modified to Mk11. Some of the hulls were rejected and scrapped. 119 was sold with the moulds I believe and completed in the east.
Swarbricks built wonderful yachts but their record keeping and other business practices might not have been world standard. Why they went broke?
After Swarbricks Maybrooks in Gosford built 10 I believe. I have been onboard one of theirs in Sydney and beautifully fitted out but supposedly built cheaper than Swarbricks did them. One lost its rig near Norah Hd in reasonably light conditions when the chain plate failed. Instead of being one piece it was welded at deck level.
Cottesloe Yachts have built another 3 or so over the past 15 or so years. They used the same moulds but a different technique resulting in a lighter stiffer hull.
None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
Swarbricks didn't keep good records and people like Simon Torvaldsen have tried to go through what is available to find out the details. As they find more they change it in the website.
None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
Swarbricks didn't keep good records and people like Simon Torvaldsen have tried to go through what is available to find out the details. As they find more they change it on the website.
My Christmas present arrived in good time.
Apparently I'm now told I'm getting lazy now I can take pics and video/livefeed from the comfort of my bed this maybe true yes but at least I can start recording if some peanut anchors directly in front!

None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
I was just trying be polite without saying your talking rubbish. I find it funny that you can barely make a post on this forum without constantly reminding us that" MB was the last S&S 34 built by Swarbrick" in some sort of an attempt to try to fool us into believing that it makes MB some how better than all the others or it gives it some sort of unique superman status,,,, then you don't even give or know the correct or published Hull No for it.
None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
I was just trying be polite without saying your talking rubbish. I find it funny that you can barely make a post on this forum without constantly reminding us that" MB was the last S&S 34 built by Swarbrick" in some sort of an attempt to try to fool us into believing that it makes MB some how better than all the others or it gives it some sort of unique superman status,,,, then you don't even give or know the correct or published Hull No for it.
What a strange comment. Are we not allowed to have an interest in our boats? I thought the discussion from MB indicated clearly that there is confusion about his old boat's provenance and he openly discussed that.
As as an aside, I knew MB a million years ago when he flew single engine helicopters at night a long way from Mother. He WAS superman..not his boat!
None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
I was just trying be polite without saying your talking rubbish. I find it funny that you can barely make a post on this forum without constantly reminding us that" MB was the last S&S 34 built by Swarbrick" in some sort of an attempt to try to fool us into believing that it makes MB some how better than all the others or it gives it some sort of unique superman status,,,, then you don't even give or know the correct or published Hull No for it.
What a strange comment. Are we not allowed to have an interest in our boats? I thought the discussion from MB indicated clearly that there is confusion about his old boat's provenance and he openly discussed that.
As as an aside, I knew MB a million years ago when he flew single engine helicopters at night a long way from Mother. He WAS superman..not his boat!
HMAS SYDNEY 1984?? I was on Tracker squadrons before then.
We were just doing the job we were well trained for. As a young bloke it was just an exciting job.
The courageous blokes in my time were the guys working on the flight deck of HMAS MELBOURNE who went for my eight or so years onboard dodging propellers, jet exhausts, lift wells, catapults, arresting gear etc without killing anybody, including us.
None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
I was just trying be polite without saying your talking rubbish. I find it funny that you can barely make a post on this forum without constantly reminding us that" MB was the last S&S 34 built by Swarbrick" in some sort of an attempt to try to fool us into believing that it makes MB some how better than all the others or it gives it some sort of unique superman status,,,, then you don't even give or know the correct or published Hull No for it.
What a strange comment. Are we not allowed to have an interest in our boats? I thought the discussion from MB indicated clearly that there is confusion about his old boat's provenance and he openly discussed that.
As as an aside, I knew MB a million years ago when he flew single engine helicopters at night a long way from Mother. He WAS superman..not his boat!
HMAS SYDNEY 1984?? I was on Tracker squadrons before then.
We were just doing the job we were well trained for. As a young bloke it was just an exciting job.
The courageous blokes in my time were the guys working on the flight deck of HMAS MELBOURNE who went for my eight or so years onboard dodging propellers, jet exhausts, lift wells, catapults, arresting gear etc without killing anybody, including us.
Yep..Sydney...I was your Freddie.. S 162.
What did I do on my boat today? Changed the impeller in my Bukh 10 HP diesel. It seems simple;
1 Remove four screws holding the cover plate
2 Remove cover plate
3 Pull out old impeller
4 Push in new impeller
5 Replace cover plate
6 Replace four screws.
Allow about 2 hours.
1 About 15 minutes finding that the cover plate is down the right hand side in a location that is accessible by one hand only, becoming invisible when hand is at the plate
2 About 15 minutes finding the shortest Philips head screw driver you have and engaging it onto the four screws without being able to see said screws. Add additional time for hot conditions in which your hands become covered with sweat and oil such that everything, screw drivers, screws etc, slips out of your hands into the bilge (I have an old paint tray under the engine, which catches dripping oil and dropped screws nicely)
3 About 5 minutes pulling the old impeller out with thin-nosed pliers, and using the same pliers to put the new one in.
4 About 5 minutes getting some Butyl off the roll to put around the edge of the cover to form a new seal.
This is when the fun really starts
5 About an hour and a half trying to replace the cover and its four screws. Rookie mistake Number 1 - thinking that the screw holes are placed symmetrically around the plate (they are not). Rookie mistake Number 2 - thinking that you can use the writing on the plate to orient the "up" side of the round plate (in the correct orientation, the writing is rotated 90 degrees anti-clockwise). Use choice language when the first two screws go in, but the remainder obstinately refuse to engage into the (wrong location for the) screw hole and regularly drop into paint tray off the end of your screw driver which, of course, you can't actually see. Being stainless, the screws are not magnetic so they don't stick to the end of the screwdriver, but I found a small blob of butyl helped keep them on the end of the screw driver as I poked around blindly trying to find the screw holes.
6 Finally find the right orientation and get the screws in. Promise yourself to buy a decent Phillips head screw driver, and throw out the useless cheap lump with worn flukes that you bought from the Big Green Hardware Store.
7 Decide to clean the water intake filter. My boat has an "Osculum" filter (I think its latin for "kiss"). Get it apart but don't realise that you have to ensure the seal is good when you put it back together again, so that the impeller can suck the water through it. (Yes, I know there is no such thing as "suction" force, so don't flame me here). Turn over engine and witness a disappointing dribble of water and small clouds of steam at the exhaust. Turn off engine.
8 Get a hose and flush out the intake stop-cock with the jet, getting wet in the process. Mop out resulting puddles and find two old cigarette filters that could have been jammed in the pipes. Clean boat grime off Osculum cover and gasket and look admiringly at how transparent the cover has become (you can actually see inside, now)
9 Fire up the engine and stare in wonder, for a gratuitous number of minutes, at the free flow of water through the exhaust.
10 Pack up and go home to a long shower and a glass of Tempranillo (or two).
The photo shows the replaced cover. The wire dangling in front is not fixed and I don't know what it does, apart from partially obscuring the fourth screw.
(PS Maybe the wire attaches to the bare lug in the photo - I had not seen the lug until I looked closely at the photo. Heaven only knows how the engine has been running up to now).

What did I do on my boat today? Changed the impeller in my Bukh 10 HP diesel. It seems simple;
1 Remove four screws holding the cover plate
2 Remove cover plate
3 Pull out old impeller
4 Push in new impeller
5 Replace cover plate
6 Replace four screws.
Allow about 2 hours.
1 About 15 minutes finding that the cover plate is down the right hand side in a location that is accessible by one hand only, becoming invisible when hand is at the plate
2 About 15 minutes finding the shortest Philips head screw driver you have and engaging it onto the four screws without being able to see said screws. Add additional time for hot conditions in which your hands become covered with sweat and oil such that everything, screw drivers, screws etc, slips out of your hands into the bilge (I have an old paint tray under the engine, which catches dripping oil and dropped screws nicely)
3 About 5 minutes pulling the old impeller out with thin-nosed pliers, and using the same pliers to put the new one in.
4 About 5 minutes getting some Butyl off the roll to put around the edge of the cover to form a new seal.
This is when the fun really starts
5 About an hour and a half trying to replace the cover and its four screws. Rookie mistake Number 1 - thinking that the screw holes are placed symmetrically around the plate (they are not). Rookie mistake Number 2 - thinking that you can use the writing on the plate to orient the "up" side of the round plate (in the correct orientation, the writing is rotated 90 degrees anti-clockwise). Use choice language when the first two screws go in, but the remainder obstinately refuse to engage into the (wrong location for the) screw hole and regularly drop into paint tray off the end of your screw driver which, of course, you can't actually see. Being stainless, the screws are not magnetic so they don't stick to the end of the screwdriver, but I found a small blob of butyl helped keep them on the end of the screw driver as I poked around blindly trying to find the screw holes.
6 Finally find the right orientation and get the screws in. Promise yourself to buy a decent Phillips head screw driver, and throw out the useless cheap lump with worn flukes that you bought from the Big Green Hardware Store.
7 Decide to clean the water intake filter. My boat has an "Osculum" filter (I think its latin for "kiss"). Get it apart but don't realise that you have to ensure the seal is good when you put it back together again, so that the impeller can suck the water through it. (Yes, I know there is no such thing as "suction" force, so don't flame me here). Turn over engine and witness a disappointing dribble of water and small clouds of steam at the exhaust. Turn off engine.
8 Get a hose and flush out the intake stop-cock with the jet, getting wet in the process. Mop out resulting puddles and find two old cigarette filters that could have been jammed in the pipes. Clean boat grime off Osculum cover and gasket and look admiringly at how transparent the cover has become (you can actually see inside, now)
9 Fire up the engine and stare in wonder, for a gratuitous number of minutes, at the free flow of water through the exhaust.
10 Pack up and go home to a long shower and a glass of Tempranillo (or two).
The photo shows the replaced cover. The wire dangling in front is not fixed and I don't know what it does, apart from partially obscuring the fourth screw.
(PS Maybe the wire attaches to the bare lug in the photo - I had not seen the lug until I looked closely at the photo. Heaven only knows how the engine has been running up to now).

I replace the Phillips heads on raw water pumps with small (6mm?) bolts. Much easier to slide a ring spanner over em and loosen it. Just be extra careful not to over tighten them when putting it all back together.
What did I do on my boat today? Changed the impeller in my Bukh 10 HP diesel. It seems simple;
1 Remove four screws holding the cover plate
2 Remove cover plate
3 Pull out old impeller
4 Push in new impeller
5 Replace cover plate
6 Replace four screws.
Allow about 2 hours.
1 About 15 minutes finding that the cover plate is down the right hand side in a location that is accessible by one hand only, becoming invisible when hand is at the plate
2 About 15 minutes finding the shortest Philips head screw driver you have and engaging it onto the four screws without being able to see said screws. Add additional time for hot conditions in which your hands become covered with sweat and oil such that everything, screw drivers, screws etc, slips out of your hands into the bilge (I have an old paint tray under the engine, which catches dripping oil and dropped screws nicely)
3 About 5 minutes pulling the old impeller out with thin-nosed pliers, and using the same pliers to put the new one in.
4 About 5 minutes getting some Butyl off the roll to put around the edge of the cover to form a new seal.
This is when the fun really starts
5 About an hour and a half trying to replace the cover and its four screws. Rookie mistake Number 1 - thinking that the screw holes are placed symmetrically around the plate (they are not). Rookie mistake Number 2 - thinking that you can use the writing on the plate to orient the "up" side of the round plate (in the correct orientation, the writing is rotated 90 degrees anti-clockwise). Use choice language when the first two screws go in, but the remainder obstinately refuse to engage into the (wrong location for the) screw hole and regularly drop into paint tray off the end of your screw driver which, of course, you can't actually see. Being stainless, the screws are not magnetic so they don't stick to the end of the screwdriver, but I found a small blob of butyl helped keep them on the end of the screw driver as I poked around blindly trying to find the screw holes.
6 Finally find the right orientation and get the screws in. Promise yourself to buy a decent Phillips head screw driver, and throw out the useless cheap lump with worn flukes that you bought from the Big Green Hardware Store.
7 Decide to clean the water intake filter. My boat has an "Osculum" filter (I think its latin for "kiss"). Get it apart but don't realise that you have to ensure the seal is good when you put it back together again, so that the impeller can suck the water through it. (Yes, I know there is no such thing as "suction" force, so don't flame me here). Turn over engine and witness a disappointing dribble of water and small clouds of steam at the exhaust. Turn off engine.
8 Get a hose and flush out the intake stop-cock with the jet, getting wet in the process. Mop out resulting puddles and find two old cigarette filters that could have been jammed in the pipes. Clean boat grime off Osculum cover and gasket and look admiringly at how transparent the cover has become (you can actually see inside, now)
9 Fire up the engine and stare in wonder, for a gratuitous number of minutes, at the free flow of water through the exhaust.
10 Pack up and go home to a long shower and a glass of Tempranillo (or two).
The photo shows the replaced cover. The wire dangling in front is not fixed and I don't know what it does, apart from partially obscuring the fourth screw.
(PS Maybe the wire attaches to the bare lug in the photo - I had not seen the lug until I looked closely at the photo. Heaven only knows how the engine has been running up to now).

I replace the Phillips heads on raw water pumps with small (6mm?) bolts. Much easier to slide a ring spanner over em and loosen it. Just be extra careful not to over tighten them when putting it all back together.
None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
I was just trying be polite without saying your talking rubbish. I find it funny that you can barely make a post on this forum without constantly reminding us that" MB was the last S&S 34 built by Swarbrick" in some sort of an attempt to try to fool us into believing that it makes MB some how better than all the others or it gives it some sort of unique superman status,,,, then you don't even give or know the correct or published Hull No for it.
What a strange comment. Are we not allowed to have an interest in our boats? I thought the discussion from MB indicated clearly that there is confusion about his old boat's provenance and he openly discussed that.
As as an aside, I knew MB a million years ago when he flew single engine helicopters at night a long way from Mother. He WAS superman..not his boat!
HMAS SYDNEY 1984?? I was on Tracker squadrons before then.
We were just doing the job we were well trained for. As a young bloke it was just an exciting job.
The courageous blokes in my time were the guys working on the flight deck of HMAS MELBOURNE who went for my eight or so years onboard dodging propellers, jet exhausts, lift wells, catapults, arresting gear etc without killing anybody, including us.
Yep..Sydney...I was your Freddie.. S 162.
Hi MEGAMAX
As someone who has never served in the armed forces but has a heap of respect and admiration for those who have I was just wondering what a Freddie is
Regards Don
On the pump on my Yanmar I replaced the Phillips head screws with stainless socket head screws as they will not strip the head when undoing and replacing and will sit on the bit when replacing
Regards Don

What did I do on my boat today? Changed the impeller in my Bukh 10 HP diesel. It seems simple;
1 Remove four screws holding the cover plate
2 Remove cover plate
3 Pull out old impeller
4 Push in new impeller
5 Replace cover plate
6 Replace four screws.
Allow about 2 hours.
1 About 15 minutes finding that the cover plate is down the right hand side in a location that is accessible by one hand only, becoming invisible when hand is at the plate
2 About 15 minutes finding the shortest Philips head screw driver you have and engaging it onto the four screws without being able to see said screws. Add additional time for hot conditions in which your hands become covered with sweat and oil such that everything, screw drivers, screws etc, slips out of your hands into the bilge (I have an old paint tray under the engine, which catches dripping oil and dropped screws nicely)
3 About 5 minutes pulling the old impeller out with thin-nosed pliers, and using the same pliers to put the new one in.
4 About 5 minutes getting some Butyl off the roll to put around the edge of the cover to form a new seal.
This is when the fun really starts
5 About an hour and a half trying to replace the cover and its four screws. Rookie mistake Number 1 - thinking that the screw holes are placed symmetrically around the plate (they are not). Rookie mistake Number 2 - thinking that you can use the writing on the plate to orient the "up" side of the round plate (in the correct orientation, the writing is rotated 90 degrees anti-clockwise). Use choice language when the first two screws go in, but the remainder obstinately refuse to engage into the (wrong location for the) screw hole and regularly drop into paint tray off the end of your screw driver which, of course, you can't actually see. Being stainless, the screws are not magnetic so they don't stick to the end of the screwdriver, but I found a small blob of butyl helped keep them on the end of the screw driver as I poked around blindly trying to find the screw holes.
6 Finally find the right orientation and get the screws in. Promise yourself to buy a decent Phillips head screw driver, and throw out the useless cheap lump with worn flukes that you bought from the Big Green Hardware Store.
7 Decide to clean the water intake filter. My boat has an "Osculum" filter (I think its latin for "kiss"). Get it apart but don't realise that you have to ensure the seal is good when you put it back together again, so that the impeller can suck the water through it. (Yes, I know there is no such thing as "suction" force, so don't flame me here). Turn over engine and witness a disappointing dribble of water and small clouds of steam at the exhaust. Turn off engine.
8 Get a hose and flush out the intake stop-cock with the jet, getting wet in the process. Mop out resulting puddles and find two old cigarette filters that could have been jammed in the pipes. Clean boat grime off Osculum cover and gasket and look admiringly at how transparent the cover has become (you can actually see inside, now)
9 Fire up the engine and stare in wonder, for a gratuitous number of minutes, at the free flow of water through the exhaust.
10 Pack up and go home to a long shower and a glass of Tempranillo (or two).
The photo shows the replaced cover. The wire dangling in front is not fixed and I don't know what it does, apart from partially obscuring the fourth screw.
(PS Maybe the wire attaches to the bare lug in the photo - I had not seen the lug until I looked closely at the photo. Heaven only knows how the engine has been running up to now).

Wow, what an effort.
Well done.
So much to learn there.
Boats will test you
my day is actually the last two days
I went to my sonata 7 T/S on the 28th Plan was to do my 3rd repair to my Outboard bracket in a month i had bought a great lump of Teflon/plastic from an Adelaide chandlery
then if I had time take the boat in put her on her trailer for my first timeso I could fit a Dyneema forestay for banked jibs inside of Furler
as I made a mooring for her as soon as I got her
any way I thought the outboard bracket went well but as I headed for the boat ramp it was flexing savagely although double thickness
got the boat part way on trailer
a lot of dodgy rollers got her stuck tried backing further into the drink still stuck tried winching off with starboard jib winch
one of the strongest fittings on the old girl that didn't work so I drove forward broke the winch
i van laugh now
eventu realised keel was problem
stored boat with mast down
went back yesterday sorted out board bracket sorted bracket and halyard at top of mast
hopefully pre stretched top splice enough
(I'm very very keen to know all I can about Dyneema as I am a diver I love rope)
changed out winch with one from cabin top
replaced bracket I damaged on compression post for locking off keel
replaced chafe plate to protect keel raising wire from chafing
I enjoyed yesterday
hopfully get her back in the sea today and finish off bottom end of for stay then get a chance to try out the smaller jobs that came with her
very windy place the great Australian bight not a great place for a big furling Genoa
the days you destroy stuff can be soul destroying but fixing them can be very satisfying
it all builds character
I can't wait till the surf pumps again I love sailing but not as much as good uncrowded waves I suppose that's why I love sailing Very peaceful
have a great day everyone
None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
I was just trying be polite without saying your talking rubbish. I find it funny that you can barely make a post on this forum without constantly reminding us that" MB was the last S&S 34 built by Swarbrick" in some sort of an attempt to try to fool us into believing that it makes MB some how better than all the others or it gives it some sort of unique superman status,,,, then you don't even give or know the correct or published Hull No for it.
What a strange comment. Are we not allowed to have an interest in our boats? I thought the discussion from MB indicated clearly that there is confusion about his old boat's provenance and he openly discussed that.
As as an aside, I knew MB a million years ago when he flew single engine helicopters at night a long way from Mother. He WAS superman..not his boat!
HMAS SYDNEY 1984?? I was on Tracker squadrons before then.
We were just doing the job we were well trained for. As a young bloke it was just an exciting job.
The courageous blokes in my time were the guys working on the flight deck of HMAS MELBOURNE who went for my eight or so years onboard dodging propellers, jet exhausts, lift wells, catapults, arresting gear etc without killing anybody, including us.
Yep..Sydney...I was your Freddie.. S 162.
Hi MEGAMAX
As someone who has never served in the armed forces but has a heap of respect and admiration for those who have I was just wondering what a Freddie is
Regards Don
Hi Don,
a Freddie is the helicopter controller. Basically an air traffic controller but in a tactical sense, hunting subs using helicopters and fixed wing like the P3 Orions. MB was flying from our ship and I was his controller. In those days we had single engine Squirrels onboard. They did some long over water sorties, sometimes with the ships radar off and this was pre GPS so their nav was DR. Of course the ship moves as well so they had to be sure we didn't move too far from our track as well. I never lost one....! They were very good Navs. S 162 was my number...a long time ago.
its going to be 38 today, in line with this thread, I am off sailing early and next week the mast comes down for a long overdue varnish..or oil really as I use deks ole.I should take some photos.
yours aye
Megamax
Hi Calca
Re: hopefully pre stretched top splice enough
(I'm very very keen to know all I can about Dyneema as I am a diver I love rope)
This bloke has rigged and sailed the distance with dyneema rigging.
Will fill you in on the different ways to handle the stuff.
Boats will test you
my day is actually the last two days
I went to my sonata 7 T/S on the 28th Plan was to do my 3rd repair to my Outboard bracket in a month i had bought a great lump of Teflon/plastic from an Adelaide chandlery
then if I had time take the boat in put her on her trailer for my first timeso I could fit a Dyneema forestay for banked jibs inside of Furler
as I made a mooring for her as soon as I got her
any way I thought the outboard bracket went well but as I headed for the boat ramp it was flexing savagely although double thickness
got the boat part way on trailer
a lot of dodgy rollers got her stuck tried backing further into the drink still stuck tried winching off with starboard jib winch
one of the strongest fittings on the old girl that didn't work so I drove forward broke the winch
i van laugh now
eventu realised keel was problem
stored boat with mast down
went back yesterday sorted out board bracket sorted bracket and halyard at top of mast
hopefully pre stretched top splice enough
(I'm very very keen to know all I can about Dyneema as I am a diver I love rope)
changed out winch with one from cabin top
replaced bracket I damaged on compression post for locking off keel
replaced chafe plate to protect keel raising wire from chafing
I enjoyed yesterday
hopfully get her back in the sea today and finish off bottom end of for stay then get a chance to try out the smaller jobs that came with her
very windy place the great Australian bight not a great place for a big furling Genoa
the days you destroy stuff can be soul destroying but fixing them can be very satisfying
it all builds character
I can't wait till the surf pumps again I love sailing but not as much as good uncrowded waves I suppose that's why I love sailing Very peaceful
have a great day everyone
Great post, thanks for sharing CalcAl, and yes boats do have a habit of testing you!
If you 're into ropes check out this chap. He did a 24 part Youtube series about buying an Open 60 and prepping it to singlehand back to the US..
He has the dubious honour of being the only sailing youtube channel I've actually watched from start to finish as he has an excellent instructional manner in his vids and I learnt a ton from watching his boat prep.
Some great info about ropes as most of an Open 60 uses soft shackles, and with the loads these things go through it is fascinating listening to him dissemble some of the techniques they use.
Check out from 6.30 in the vid if you're time poor. Or have a look at his episode 5 for a bit more stuff for standing rigging.
Cheers!
None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
I was just trying be polite without saying your talking rubbish. I find it funny that you can barely make a post on this forum without constantly reminding us that" MB was the last S&S 34 built by Swarbrick" in some sort of an attempt to try to fool us into believing that it makes MB some how better than all the others or it gives it some sort of unique superman status,,,, then you don't even give or know the correct or published Hull No for it.
What a strange comment. Are we not allowed to have an interest in our boats? I thought the discussion from MB indicated clearly that there is confusion about his old boat's provenance and he openly discussed that.
As as an aside, I knew MB a million years ago when he flew single engine helicopters at night a long way from Mother. He WAS superman..not his boat!
HMAS SYDNEY 1984?? I was on Tracker squadrons before then.
We were just doing the job we were well trained for. As a young bloke it was just an exciting job.
The courageous blokes in my time were the guys working on the flight deck of HMAS MELBOURNE who went for my eight or so years onboard dodging propellers, jet exhausts, lift wells, catapults, arresting gear etc without killing anybody, including us.
Yep..Sydney...I was your Freddie.. S 162.
Hi MEGAMAX
As someone who has never served in the armed forces but has a heap of respect and admiration for those who have I was just wondering what a Freddie is
Regards Don
Hi Don,
a Freddie is the helicopter controller. Basically an air traffic controller but in a tactical sense, hunting subs using helicopters and fixed wing like the P3 Orions. MB was flying from our ship and I was his controller. In those days we had single engine Squirrels onboard. They did some long over water sorties, sometimes with the ships radar off and this was pre GPS so their nav was DR. Of course the ship moves as well so they had to be sure we didn't move too far from our track as well. I never lost one....! They were very good Navs. S 162 was my number...a long time ago.
its going to be 38 today, in line with this thread, I am off sailing early and next week the mast comes down for a long overdue varnish..or oil really as I use deks ole.I should take some photos.
yours aye
Megamax
Hi Megamax
Thanks for the information and it sounds like a fair amount of skill was required by those on the ship and in the air
I had a mate years ago who worked on helicopters and he told me that most fixed wing pilots would never experience an emergency situation in their career but most rotary wing pilots did because the helicopters were a complicated thing with lots of stuff turning and twisting at the same time
I have been on helicopters a couple of times in my life and the pilots make it look easy flying them in all sorts of situations
regards Don
Got down to the boat today & found the fridge not going!!
Checked the fuse & found that was blown!!! Why?? Checked down the line & found the little pump that circulates the fresh water cooling for the fridge unit is fried!! Why?? After installing a spare pump (I have a couple because these go about 12-15 hrs/day everyday) I found the water flow was just a dribble, not the good flow it should be!! Why?? I have a non-return valve on this water feed line & sure enough it was all corroded up & blocked so I replaced it with a plastic non-return valve (also had a spare), not an alloy one which I thought would be alright as it was fresh water!! In it's defence it served me well for probably 4 - 5 years!! The pump is at least 3 years old as well so all new bits should get another few trouble free years!!
I used to run sea water through this system but running my fresh water through is much better with way less maintenance although, in hindsight, I won't use aluminium valves anymore!!

Got down to the boat today & found the fridge not going!!
Checked the fuse & found that was blown!!! Why?? Checked down the line & found the little pump that circulates the fresh water cooling for the fridge unit is fried!! Why?? After installing a spare pump (I have a couple because these go about 12-15 hrs/day everyday) I found the water flow was just a dribble, not the good flow it should be!! Why?? I have a non-return valve on this water feed line & sure enough it was all corroded up & blocked so I replaced it with a plastic non-return valve (also had a spare), not an alloy one which I thought would be alright as it was fresh water!! In it's defence it served me well for probably 4 - 5 years!! The pump is at least 3 years old as well so all new bits should get another few trouble free years!!
I used to run sea water through this system but running my fresh water through is much better with way less maintenance although, in hindsight, I won't use aluminium valves anymore!!

Oh no Lazz, please let us know if your supply of beer and wine survived the fridge fail ????
Nice you have the chain of blame in check ![]()
None of that makes sense
In what way doesn't it make sense? I detect you are just being obtuse.
I was just trying be polite without saying your talking rubbish. I find it funny that you can barely make a post on this forum without constantly reminding us that" MB was the last S&S 34 built by Swarbrick" in some sort of an attempt to try to fool us into believing that it makes MB some how better than all the others or it gives it some sort of unique superman status,,,, then you don't even give or know the correct or published Hull No for it.
What a strange comment. Are we not allowed to have an interest in our boats? I thought the discussion from MB indicated clearly that there is confusion about his old boat's provenance and he openly discussed that.
As as an aside, I knew MB a million years ago when he flew single engine helicopters at night a long way from Mother. He WAS superman..not his boat!
HMAS SYDNEY 1984?? I was on Tracker squadrons before then.
We were just doing the job we were well trained for. As a young bloke it was just an exciting job.
The courageous blokes in my time were the guys working on the flight deck of HMAS MELBOURNE who went for my eight or so years onboard dodging propellers, jet exhausts, lift wells, catapults, arresting gear etc without killing anybody, including us.
Yep..Sydney...I was your Freddie.. S 162.
Hi MEGAMAX
As someone who has never served in the armed forces but has a heap of respect and admiration for those who have I was just wondering what a Freddie is
Regards Don
Hi Don,
a Freddie is the helicopter controller. Basically an air traffic controller but in a tactical sense, hunting subs using helicopters and fixed wing like the P3 Orions. MB was flying from our ship and I was his controller. In those days we had single engine Squirrels onboard. They did some long over water sorties, sometimes with the ships radar off and this was pre GPS so their nav was DR. Of course the ship moves as well so they had to be sure we didn't move too far from our track as well. I never lost one....! They were very good Navs. S 162 was my number...a long time ago.
its going to be 38 today, in line with this thread, I am off sailing early and next week the mast comes down for a long overdue varnish..or oil really as I use deks ole.I should take some photos.
yours aye
Megamax
Hi Megamax
Thanks for the information and it sounds like a fair amount of skill was required by those on the ship and in the air
I had a mate years ago who worked on helicopters and he told me that most fixed wing pilots would never experience an emergency situation in their career but most rotary wing pilots did because the helicopters were a complicated thing with lots of stuff turning and twisting at the same time
I have been on helicopters a couple of times in my life and the pilots make it look easy flying them in all sorts of situations
regards Don
Take your hands off the controls of an airplane and it will continue to fly. Take your hands off the controls of a helicopter and it won't fly.
A helicopter is thousands of parts flying in formation.
I only had two years on helicopters. It was fun at the time.