Building Ardent

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Pleased to say that 'Ardent' is nearing completion. I am not happy with my brush painting as I have not managed to eliminate the brush marks but it will have to do for the time being – I will consider a serious rubbing down and spray painting for next year as I have checked and found that Halfords rattle cans do not react with the paint I have used.. A test tank run this morning and I have found that the lead ballast encapsulated in the keel is almost enough and I will only require 620 grams of lead added. I think that, for trial sails, I will use it as internal ballast and then consider whether to make moulds to add it to the keel. I find that the additional ballast needs to be at a point where it is over the forward end of the keel to get the bows down to the waterline. Total weight will work out at about 7Kgs. Here are a few photos –

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi. Derek, Nice to hear from you again, your Ardent is looking good, I like the lines of the cabin. I had to add around 400 grams to the stern of mine.

If you have used the Craftmaster paints you can rub that down with 1200 or 1800 grit wet and dry until all the brush marks have gone then rub over with metal polish and finish with a car polish and it should come up with a nice sheen.

Looking forward to seeing it on the water.

Regards Eddie.

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Thanks, Eddie. The cabin/coach roof was just built as I went along – I did not bother with the plans at that point. The only other thing that strikes me as being slightly out is that the cockpit coamings look too high but, again, I will see whether it needs any lowering as I get used to the boat.

Derek.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

I have had another look at the photos and I think the coamings are about right, if you lower them I think they will unbalance the look. The only place that mine ships water is over the coamings into the cockpit, but it has to be a good blow!.

Eddie.

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