Todays Boating

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Ah, I made a Jasmin.

Len.

Edited By Len Ochiltree on 14/03/2012 17:28:42

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Len, I hope you made a successful recovery afterwards??

I like the barges,, the digger is good. Towing barges adds depth to the shallow vista of a tug on its own..after all, what are tugs for? Trevor has a barge..good man.

Dont see enough tugs..tugging..things. I would make a barge if I was afflicted by the urge to make a tug. I would probably fill one full of bite size Mars bars to sustain me on a hectic Sunday morning`s boating.

Or spare batteries!

Ashley

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Hi Ashley,

The Digger I just made from memory, if it looks right etc..

Len.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Beautiful day today. Pond and park fantastic. Boating by bag/bike again..but this time with the Sailing Top Gear Herald, and the converted RTR Severn.On me own again, sinful on such a nice day) until Ray (minus a boat) turned up for a chat and Mick the sail bought along a Thames sailing barge.Perhaps all you chaps were treating your MUMs to Sunday lunch although it would have been easy to fit in an hour or so`s boating first!

The Severn is a nice little boat, runs on two speed 280 motors and 25mm props and goes very well. The superstructure fits on 4 brass pins and there is an inch upsatand to prevent water ingress. It struck me that it is possibly the first time I have used it since I finished converting it.? To be honest, I really need to sell it, I dont use it and it is taking up space..not sure how much they go for? would include motors and servo.

A man stopped to chat and take pictures of the Herald..he said he knew the STIG (if thats possible) not quite sure what he did, sounded like a roady sort of chap? but said he took some pictures to pass to the STIG to Pass to James May. i said please ask James may why he has not replied to the magazine and letter I sent him.. would have been sure that this would be his sort of thing..still..didnt really expect a reply but it might have been nice, a signed photo for the lad or something..he must get loads of fan mail, but not many chaps making sailing Heralds.

Wind was a bit fitful and so the auxiliary motor was called into play, as it usually is.

May break out some flying boats next week..in fact, I could have a whole boot of them!!

Ashley

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Hi Ashley

Is the pond you use that one in Bushey park? I would like to bring my lad down to show him some boats on the water sometime. I am currently trying to find time to build my little Goblin, hard to find the time recently though.

Andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Andy,

Yup, Bushy Park, near hampton court palace. Sunday AM is the day although the Whitton club (I think ) sail on Saturdays, around bouys etc, racing.

I feel a flying boat day coming up..I will charge some of my small batteries and give the old Sunderland et al an outing. Have put different floats on Berengar`s BFB3 to improve the performance a bit (see album) and I may even pop a couple of better motors on it if I have time.

Ashley

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Is it the little set of ponds next to the new playground?

We may see you there, we have to pop to Teddington High street first.

Andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Er, it is the pond next to the car park off the Diana fountain (the one with the statue, just in case!)

The playground, if you mean the one next to the loo`s and the lion gate entrance, was certainly revamped a while ago, but has been there since before i was a toddy boy.

I have a picture of me, on a blow up li-lo, on the depression on the far side of the heron pond, when I was about 6 or 7 years old. It used to flood regularly and become a second paddling pool..

The ponds were created by Oliver Cromwell, as he had a fondness for fishing, and were stocked with said fishes to be hooked, at the time he was living in the palace.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Boaters. Fantastic beautiful morning this Sunday, and only three boaters awake in the whole of the Surrey area. Bit of a struggle to get out in the morning as lost an hour of course and went to bed finally at 0230 am, after a particularly great gig wi` `t band.

Again only Dave the tug (bouy handling vessel), Mick the sail (fishing boat) and latterly Trevor (PT boat) there. Went round not only the boating pond but the much larger Heron lake, and up the stream. Note to Trevor…get there a bit earlier and you too could go round the lake!!

The two lake circuit is a very nice walk, and today was very calm to start with. The Sunderland has a particularly pleasing triple effect from the body and two floats, and the air prop wash can be seen as the disturbed patch behind the wings. Cant believe it, but I had almost 1 1/2 hrs out of the little 2400 mAhr 7.2v pack in the Sunderland. Those tiny Bristol Centaurus motors certainly just sip the 100 octane.

Away in the IOW next week for a break so wont be able to boat which is a nuisance but what can one do? I hanker to follow the fast cat over with the Fantome..would be fun if allowed.

Ashley

.

What a nice lake..

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Only took down the MTB as had limited time due to other errands !

There was another boater there with a new fast electric but had vibration problems so he went home disappointed.

Next time I should be down with something a little more suited to the long walk – still in the dry dock at the moment for final fit out, you should see it coming from afar though !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Today the Titanic was featured, being the 100th Anniv of its demise. It was a bit nippy, as on the night of, despite the sun being very bright. There were gale force winds however, and the big (or little, perhaps) T was making heavy weather of it. Waves were sweeping the deck. I had to bring it in a few times to check the water ingress to ensure we didnt take the realism a bit too far.

HMS Devastation had the first turn, and was almost continually awash. No water inside, not a drop, but the continued soaking started to get to some fittings and so we had to return to port. One of my smaller boats this, although it is very heavy, it suffers from excessive pitching rolling ans corkscrewing in this sort of weather due to the short length to beam ratio. Note; must fit some large bilge keels!

The Fantome, on the other hand, trying out my 12v 5000 mAhr Nimh battery, didnt notice the waves at all. The cabin area remained bone dry, and so it should as we dont want the Martini`s watered down or the hair do`s ruined. I did have trouble turning mind you, as the boat is very large, and doesnt weigh that much, so had simply to turn the power up a notch to compensate. The lesser weight of the battery and possibly better amp flow capability certainly gave it a bit more speed. I have a bit of vibration now though which wasnt there when first built and suspect one of the props is not quite true after an episode last year involving an underwater log.

Other boats supplied by Trevor, Pete and Chris, we had quite an armada out at one point (two children also boating) and coping with the weather to various degrees . You cant always tell what a boat wil be like in heavy wind and waves.. Trevor had a small police boat for his daughter (Glynn Guest plan) and this was coping manfully, especially when under full throttle!

Retired early. Everyone had frozen fingers.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

What a difference today ! sun and warmth, bit of a breeze not too much.We were a bit miffed as the landing stage has been temp fenced off for..works? of some sort and so we had to de-camp to a portion of low bank, Good job we all had wellies.

Had the "Glorious" out, followed by the Seahawk and finally HMS Manchester.

The seahawk has had a bit of work done on it, as following the purchase of a 12v NiMh battery, the boat is that much lighter and the prop was starting to cavitate, being nearer the surface. I had removed the out-drive thingy and re-drilled the mounting holes and so lowered the prop…result..no cavitating and a fair turn of speed, all at modest revs (MFA 850 motor).

Ray had the Belfast out and his small Thames sailing barge and Pete turned up with a mini cabin cruiser (with doll) and a schooner to sail about a bit.

Tom, a forum poster, bought the subject of his post dwon, an RAF rescue launch for our INCREDIBLY EXPERT opinion (depending on who you asked of course). He had a pair of Graupner ECO 600`s…the lining up of which was the propblem. Mainly, as we saw it, the lumps of wood stuck in the bottom presumably for the old motors. This we thought needed to be removed, with a small chisel, and I suggested the olde "wrap the motors in clingfilm and seat them on a pile of P38 filler" method as getting a pair of cradles for the motors to sit in, when unwrapped of course. A long threaded stud could be glued vertically in between the motors and a bar could have a hole drilled in the middle and this would sit across the motors, with a locknut to apply pressure to hold them still. Easy, ish. See you next Sunday with a working RTTL, eh Tom?

Aircraft carrier and towed T22 I think next week, and something else, Ecranoplan or Sunderland possibly.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Blast! next week I have a brass band contest in Crawley to go to so will not be boating. Never mind, work before play.. or is it play before work?

Reminds me I still need to get some brass props for the carrier!

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Always play before work

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Well, its all work when going boating.

I have to decide in advance what I might to take to the next session, in case any Nimh batteries need charging up, depending what I am doing Saturday night, the boat(s) to be used are prepped (bits stuck back on, check they have the right amount of radio gear in, oil shafts etc) and placed on the table ready for loading (in workshop, the table) get Box of bits, wellies, waders and retrieval pole out. Sort out the batteries for the boats… AND either charge the transmitter batteries up a bit, or leave that for the morning.

Whew! Ashley

[peter ward 6Participant @peterward6]

have checked with royal parks

they are carrying out a fish survey of the heron pond in bushy park

the landing stage are will be cordoned off till end of next week

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Cheers Pete, I am not there this coming week, so the week after should be back to normal?

Ash

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Boaters. Scaffolding gone from the landing stage so back to normal.

I bit chilly out today. Had the TBD going, and after a bit, listening to the usual raucous vibration at speed, |I had a mind to try the 30mm brass prop I bought for it when i was getting materials together. I didnt fit it at the time as it appears to have so amazing pitch on it, far more than normal. Taking the boat out the water revealed a small amount of in/out play, more than I normally adjust for, and so I fitted the prop, had to use a couple of washers to remove the play. What a difference !! still had roughly the same speed, but the vibration had dissapeared!!! quiet at full speed. Amazing. I then tried a 40mm standard (red, unfortunately) plastic 3 blade prop and the boat went even better !!! still without the vibes.Wow. Why didnt i try these props before?? Rubbish reversing now, but the boat is only light so not too much of a problem.

The Invincible (carrier) as second boat (but couldnt be bothered to hitch up the T22 to follow around, too cold on the hands) followed, still on its mismatched black and red 50mm plastic props!

Ray Trevor and Pete were also down, with an assortment of boats, 7 in all , and the rain held off nicely, warm is not a word I would use but the chill had left by about 1030ish.

Too cold or wet elsewhere today or Sat the rest of you?.. plans for tomorrow??

Ashley

[Rick DevonshireParticipant @rickdevonshire]

Hi Ashley,

Can you explin to me the location of your sailing water as I think I will be I the vacinity when visiting our son during June and we would like to bring some of our boats along (if you don't mind) for a sailing session or two.

Rick.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Rick. Google "bushy park", near Hampton court, surrey. Entrance to the North of the park opposite Hampton court palace (Lion gate). main car park, Boating pond at far end of the car park, obvious when you get there. Sundays, I get there at about 10 past 9 or so.

Its not a club so all more than welcome. Its such a great pond, and there must be a few more boaters within easy reach..but?

Bring a boot ful of boats.., I normally bring at least three, for variety.

if theres anything you would like to see (of the models I bleat on about), let me know when you might be down and I will bung it in! I warn you that they are all "working" models rather than exhibition items.. A number of my craft now have Nimh batteries and so I have to plan what batteries to charge up depending what I fancy taking.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Great boating Sunday 13th.. I had to dash quick at 1030 for a band job, so only took the Type 22 and HMS Midge, both small boats.

It was a fantastic morning, and then… loads of boaters, some new, turned up !! 5 or more (quite a crowd for Bushy (despite being a great pond to boat on). there was quite a fleet both on the bank and in the water. Casualty Mr.T…after we had corrected a small reciever plug in error, and reversed one motor… it was going ok, but then there was a plaintive cry of " the boat is circling on its own in the middle of the pond" despite the transmitter being off?? after recovery, we found the ESC had melted… on reflection, although just about adequate for the speed 600`s fitted, it was on the limit and getting hot in a boat with little ventilation. At least it didnt catch light! More work needed.

Star of the show was a work-in-progress Graupner Virgin atlantic challenger… jet drive and brushless. Man having trouble getting all the bits working right, but what a beast.. and ridiculously fast (11v LiPo batteries.)

i am going to have to bring it large down next week (brass band contest alowing)

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 14/05/2012 11:16:14

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Blast!! another "be there by mid-day" contest, so boating will have to be a quick hour or so from 0900 on Sunday. I may therefore take the Seahawk and the Ecranoplan, for something speedy, weather permitting.

The seahawk ESC was getting moderately hot last time, although at 10 ish amps from the 850, should be well within the 25A of the ESC. I did havve the esc in a pocket and have put it back on its spike, but I have thought of a way to make a water cooled plate to strap to the thing and cool it down.

This would consist of a thickish brass square plate, with 4 or more long brass tubes soldered to one side, and connected together by inlet/outlet pipe and short silicone tube bends, for the cooling water to flow through. Sounds like a plan? I have cut out the fake vents on the rear engine deck to actually allow air in, in any event.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Jolly cold on the pond, AND we went round the big lake to boot.

Quick zoom around the pond with the seahawk, running very nicely. Cant beat a largish boat with a relativly low revving motor and big prop for pacy unhurried noise free speed. (850 on 12v). No overheating seen, and I shoudnt think so either as it was J cold.

THEN the Sunderland was trotted out, as Chris and Dave arrived (supply boat and Orange tug), so we went for a quick troll around the lake and 1/2 way up the stream. This was not a good idea, as that horrible bright green cotton wool sort of weed is starting to make its appearance. Sunderland mostly unaffected (apart for the rudder), but it was windy and I could not hold it to any sort of course in the narrow confines so gave up. Ray turned up at the end with a sailing boat…just as we left (Sorry ray). I had to shoot, Entertainment contest wi` `t brass band to go to.

The Sunderland, although only a few years old is starting to split and crack, it is very light and the lightness of build is beginning to tell. The wing roots are split, not to the detriment of strength (as the wings have a large balsa spar running through them), however this should be easy enough to cure with a filler fillet (and subsequent repaint of the camo). Underneath I may have to Eze-Kote and glass tissue the grey bits to firm them up. The inside was fibreglassed so I shouldnt have any sinking going on, but…..

Ashley Ecranoplan in reserve.. but too windy. Doesnt stop it running at speed, just means you cant steer properly!!

 

Edited By ashley needham on 20/05/2012 19:20:28

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Took along the tug and barge combo for me and the police boat for daughter (now sporting flashing blue LED roof light.

Connected the light to the ESC output so when just pottering about it is off, from 1/4 to 3/4 throttle it is on and above that it starts flashing – shame there was nobody around to be impressed.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor. Sorry about that.. we will be impressed next time!

The early bird gets the trip around the lake though….are you man enough?? can`t say you are a Bushy park boater unless you have been around the big lake. Test of stamina and sea-keeping etc etc (spare batteries required for those boats short on endurance)

Wont last forever as the fishermen will soon be back and that will be that. Get up a bit early next week!

Ashley

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