WINDVANE self steering mounted

the self steering has been fitted and it just remains for the blocks and line to be fitted

rudder and trimtab in the back of the Hilux

rudder and trimtab on the back of Cagarro

turret, vane and mount

The bearings on the rudder for the trimtab, I made from Delrin

and the bearings on the vane I made from PTFE teflon - there are delrin black "keepers"on the horizontal surface on the aft of the rotating turret and also an Afezelia hardwood lock with inox wingnut on the front - between the rotating turret and the mount is a large UHMWPE washer cut from a 20 litre can so that the turret rotates without binding and wearing the epoxy glass on the mating surfaces - 

below you can see the teflon bearing and the inox shaft

all installed minus control lines and blocks

The above solution is my modification to suit the Setka A of the Wave Rover Mk3 windvane from Alan Mulholland - see below pictures taken of his setup during his visit to Horta

 Battery dangers explained

 The reason I am sticking with lead acid batteries

the reason these things explode and burn is because of cost cutting in their production cheap BMS cheap cells etc etc IMHO.

Maybe having a battery that is at the top of the price range will reduce the chances of this but I am still sticking with lead acid - i could not think of anything worse than this happening out at sea

UPDATE

What is the holdup? - Why no sea trials?

Well, for all those following, here is the update - Everything was set for leaving, sails bent on, and I try start the outboard to leave the marina, a 2hp Honda that normally starts second pull and after 10 pulls things were not right- so, check fuel level and there is nothing, it had a full tank, so all the fuel leaked out. Now this engine  is from  the year 2000, so 25 years old, which is not a problem, my lawnmower is a Honda and it is from the same timespan super reliable and it also starts 2nd pull, so I brought it home and removed the carb, checked and cleaned everything, and then it would not start at all. I rebuilt the carb a short while ago as well and it started and ran well - so I do not understand why it suddenly developed these issues. In addition it has an oil leak which I have an idea why it does this, it is a known 2hp honda problem, so it needs some open heart surgery - I will repair it - . they are great simple motors.

The Honda - now, not inspiring reliability  and the fact that I live on a volcanic island with sharp rocks etc etc and also being summer, with the Azores high and the certain possibility of very light to no wind conditions - this is not a great scenario, so I ordered a 3.5hp Tohatsu NEW in the box, flown in from Lisbon and we will see how this plays out.

stay tuned for what follows.

In the interim the the TAK-C is progressing really well

 And some more pictures

Closing the companionway always makes me smile the cat sticks its tongue out
and then it gets a "tongue piercing" - maybe I will make a video

From left gennaker halyard - jib halyard  - main halyard -  jibsheet jammer
then on the lo profile dodger - topping lift -  kicker - reefs ,2,3,1 that work the reef tack - boom brake - extra cleat and  then jib sheet jammer - main halyard - jib halyard-  gennaker halyard. However - the extra main halyard can be used as a topping lift and then there will be 2 extra cleats available on the lo profile dodger that can be repurposed for other jobs that I have in mind.

the boom has an outhaul and reef cleats for the clew cringles -  as I am running a 2 line reefing system with all boom reefing done on the outside of the boom  - simple,  less rope and less chance of jams and line snarls inside the boom and also the boom can be lighter. All of course IMHO.

Inside looking forward main and jib on port bunk with one of the twin mainsheets . All the reefing lines for the boom on the bunk insert/ chart table - shackles and lo friction rings on handrails along with Rosie and Jim the hardworking crew, under the bunk insert chart table are the spare split companionway hatch covers , starboard berth with yoga mat, foam fenders, daggerboards, the floor has thick close cell foam for kneeling, note that the mast bulkhead has the collision door removed at the moment.
under the bunks are rope, spares, clothes, extra blocks and fittings, tools, crocs, foul language weather gear, sea boots, harness etc etc

On the left hand side we have the yoga mat, the removable roving  50 W solar panel lives on the yoga mat at the back , mainsail battens - and the daggerboards and 
below the companionway - cooker box, and step   
and on RHS -  2nd jib - gennaker - storm jib  - zenbivy sleep system , thermarest inflatable mattress - and a very big beanbag for sleeping on the floor or anywhere else and a real pillow.

Bow compartment -  battery on the left, lifejackets, anchor, chain, warp, bucket, fire extinguisher still needs to be fitted once decided where, flares and safety stuff in container, 10 ltrs water foam fenders, and some other bits

so basically add food water and maybe some other safety bits and ready to go. Oh and also the windvane

A new project in the workshop

 Viking Anchor Arrived

I am very impressed with the professionalism of this company , the anchor arrived , and in a plywood box that secures it for shipping and the box is so well constructed and designed that I am going to round the corners and coat it so that it can be used to store the anchor, when it is not used for long passages. Now I know what cats experience when a box arrives.

and of course the anchor is super immpressive.

Thank you https://Vikinganchors.com (click link to open a new window for more info) and the Viking team for a superb product.
I look forward to giving a user review at a later stage.  

If you are in Horta marina (or wherever you see Cagarro) and would like to see the viking anchor in person, stop by for a viewing and chat.

 And the mast is up

it all went smoothly. and there us a video to see as well

 Launch Day

Launch day has finally happened, 2nd June 2025 - cagarro was taken to the Porto by Cesar Silva, He masterfully managed to position his truck so that the ramp was inside the workshop, and pulled Cagarro safely onto his truck, and after a restful drive to Horta unloaded his cargo at the port.

With the help of Greg and Tanya and Rueben from Clube Naval da Horta, Cagarro was lifted and placed onto pallets so that the keel and bulbs could be fitted. and then Cagarro was lifted into the sea. 

Many thanks to Greg Fortin for all his help, Ruben for being patient and helpful through the whole process and to Cesar Silva for safely transporting Cagarro, Disiderio Machado for the support and supports - and of course Tanya for her organizational skills, having power handy when it was needed, organizing tools and us and for all her support, ideas, solutions and insights throughout the build

 Todays picture

 It has been a grey colour day, priming , antifouling and some rigging splicing

The hull was primed and antifouled, the keel had previously had a spray zinc coating and now it has 2 coats of  Cin C-Poxy mastic, a special epoxy coating for corrosion protection of steel bridges and other steel structures that may be immersed. C-Poxy can be used as a final topcoat, intermediate or as a primer, but I also added an antifouling primer tiecoat and antifouling to the keel.

The companionway hatch previously had its locking system installed, (I forgot to show it) and also in the picture you can see the 316 inox bimini fitting that does double duty, holding the dodger to the cockpit seats as well as the pivot for the sprayhood frame.

I had previously made some inox chafe plates for the bow cleat that has not been shown before, either.

And standing rigging has been spliced from Lanex Dyneema,