Arwen's meanderings

Hi everyone and welcome to my dinghy cruising blog about my John Welsford designed 'navigator' named Arwen. Built over three years, Arwen was launched in August 2007. She is a standing lug yawl 14' 6" in length. This blog records our dinghy cruising voyages together around the coastal waters of SW England.
Arwen has an associated YouTube channel so visit www.YouTube.com/c/plymouthwelshboy to find our most recent cruises and click subscribe.
On this blog you will find posts about dinghy cruising locations, accounts of our voyages, maintenance tips and 'How to's' ranging from rigging standing lug sails and building galley boxes to using 'anchor buddies' and creating 'pilotage notes'. I hope you find something that inspires you to get out on the water in your boat. Drop us a comment and happy sailing.
Steve and Arwen

Sunday, 21 February 2016

Trailer maintenance

well, a new winch and strap. The other had corroded badly over seven years. New bearings fitted and greased well. The others had lasted very well given they are dipped in salt water at every launch. The tyre rims are showing rust and flaking but if we cover them in a smearing of grease they will last a little longer. A roller on the rear has broken and I have the replacement but haven't yet got there. I ran out of steam on other bits and pieces and the guy who did my bearings for me also forgot.

The trailer gets washed down after every launch but that rust gets everywhere. The actual galvanised frame is showing no rust externally or internally so that is pretty good. Anyway, should be good to go for another seven years!!!

Meanwhile, I have to sort out new fittings on the forward bulkhead hatch so the under deck locker is more accessible. I want to take off the two circular hatches on the vertical front thwart wall and put them into the seat tops. I will cut two large pieces of circular 4mm ply and stick those over the holes and then paint them several coats of undercoat and then three of white Toplac top coat. That should then solve the problem of leaking water.

All the holes on the boom and yard, where I have moved fixings around have been filled, sanded and sealed, so that job is done.

If it would only stop raining I could sand and undercoat all the hull dents and dings and sand down the rub rails and revarnish all of them. The mast also needs a good varnish before this season.
However, British weather is against me!
Roll on spring time!

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