Boat Blogs
Contributions associated with a particular boat
(e.g. history, photos, cruises, modifications etc.)
Browse a Boat Blog
Enter Sail Number – eg. A178, A89 or A31/4 or F36. If you don’t know the sail number search the Boat Registers to access by boat name.
Forum
Questions and comments not specific to a particular boat. Any subject you want…
Click on ‘AOA Forum’ to browse discussions or use the ‘Search’
Recent Website Activity
Showing Blog-posts and Forum conversations for the last twelve weeks
Boat Blogs and Comments
Recent posts below. Click here to see all blogs
(takes a few seconds to load)
July 30th, 2021 by
Since the mid-1990 I have owned a number of small boats including a Devon Yawl, Cornish Shrimper, Cornish Crabber (Mk 1), Kingfisher 22+ (jink rig), Anderson 26 (lifting keeI), Golden Hind andRead More…
July 24th, 2021 by
To escape the worst of the expected heatwave I thought I would visit what has quickly become my favourite anchorage, and do some relaxed mud listening. After a beat down the StourRead More…
July 16th, 2021 by
Triggered by some recent (unsuccessful) attacks on the site we have updated the way people can request an account. It is now more manual than before. This does not affect existing usersRead More…
July 7th, 2021 by
Very rare Fairey Marine Pixie Tender for sale. Open to reasonable offers. The tender has a deck over one half and has been stored in a garage for forty years. It willRead More…
July 2nd, 2021 by
As reported in Bluster’s last blog post, there was a worrying split in the topsides at the starboard aft end of the cockpit where the aft deck moulding is joined to theRead More…
June 30th, 2021 by
A89 Colchide attended the 2021 Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta over the weekend 25-27 June. This Regatta encourages both motor and sail boats and this year was graced by half a dozenRead More…
June 12th, 2021 by
The hot sunny weather we are having in Scotland at the moment is ideal for wood repairs as the exposed laminates are nice and dry before being sealed in with epoxy. WaterRead More…
Jonathan Great to see the progress on Bluster continuing. I don't envy you the repairs on the starb
Nick, Thanks for the tip on replacing the rubbing strake in two parts. Someone had mentioned this p
June 10th, 2021 by
Aquilo II is in a barn on her trailer near Bridport in Dorset. She is possibly the last ever 26ft Atalanta to be launched, which she was in 1969. She has beenRead More…
May 31st, 2021 by
The AOA ‘Beer & Natter’ at ‘The Two Keels’ on Saturday 22 May 2021 at 6 PM was a great success and 12 members attended: Mike Dixon (Commodore A1), Jane Stearn (Vice-Commodore), Read More…
March 25th, 2021 by
Made a mtg for the python drive from 19mm Ply /Mahogany and 2.5 mm A4 stainless.. A new propshaft from Clements engineering made from Duplex with couplings for conversion from 3/4″to PythonRead More…
A little more Work on Diaphony bearers cut to length and angled for Engine alignment
Forum Topics (shaded) and Replies
Triggered by the Pixie for sale on the site the question has arisen: Do Pixies make good tenders for the Atalanta? Apparently they row very well in flat water. But can theyRead More…
I wanted a way to control Helene’s whipstaff while I was otherwise occupied, and thought about the peg-board and belaying pin system I had seen on a Maurice Griffith Golden Hind. AfterRead More…
I like both these ideas – very neat Jim! Mike
I like the idea of using a portable drill for raising and lowering the keels. Much simpler than converting to hydraulics!
Is there a drawing showing how the two ‘hauling’ wires are threaded and connect to the rudder of an Atalanta ?
Thanks Nick, C24865 did the trick. New Barton blocks just arrived.
Hi Relevant drawings is C24865 – Atalanta 26 Arrangement of rudder uphaul and downhaul. Friction is the enemy. On Helene the wires exit through the transom over a bolt. The bolt hasRead More…
Hi Doug, There probably is a drawing somewhere, but previous owners seem to have spent the intervening years ‘improving’ the arrangements. Dom is on the money as usual – minimise the frictionRead More…
Thanks Dom for excellent advice. Doug
Doug, from memory the wires pas up through rudder head over a couple of pulleys, the down haul sits in a groove on the leading edge of the blade, they then enterRead More…
NEW TOPIC>Vertical crack at forward end of aft deck - thoughts (New Topic)
June 21st, 2021 Nick Phillips
Jonathan provided details of his gunwale repairs in his latest post about A183 Bluster’s restoration. In this post he also provided a photo of a crack between the aft deck and cockpit:Read More…
I am interested to hear what keel bolt seal lubricant, if any, others use. My personal favourite is silicon grease, as used in a new rubber impellor as it will not attackRead More…
I have always thought that lubricant is only really any use wile the pump is dry, after changing. Once there is water flowing that is sufficient. Some kits come with silicon grease.Read More…
Richard, i never bothered but I suppose the deep waters of the Clyde are different from the muddy ditches of East coast, once the keels were down at start of season theyRead More…
The AOA is running short of keel bolt seals, so Nick and I decided to have a look around to see if any new suitable products had come to market since theRead More…
May 13th 2021 by Doug Odgers
Oh dear, I am really sorry to have misled you Doug. Dom is absolutely right. I allowed myself to become confused having just fitted magnesium to a boat on the broads. LookingRead More…
I thought magnesium was for fresh water use I used standard zinc discs on A90 when I had her