TOPIC:

Hi everybody



Let me start by saying that whilst the forum has no censorship (at least not above common curtesay) people should always make sure that if there is an agenda it is realised. I currently have one! To get as good a turn out at next years championships and make sure that if possible people enjoy themselves and take home the right memories.



So "fear Knot" who joined as a forum member in Canada on the 16th of September 2008 is entitled to have his say. Is he a member of the NAA.... unlikely but then as I have not got a clue of his real identity (his privilage) it does not really matter, lots of forum members fall into that category. However the fact that he is in Canada means that he will be looking at the Albacore from a slightly different perspective (at least possibly). I do not know of any UK Club that would buy a brand new Albacore from any supplier to use as a training boat. Indeed I don't know (with one or two exceptions) UK Clubs that have Albacores as training boats, please feel free to put me right! The couple that I know about have been donated when they no longer fit the bill of what they were bought for! My club has two, one donated as repairs to the woodn hull would have been expensive to do by a professional, the other was a discarded hull from a Scout troop. So in the UK the cost/value of a Speed boat is not an issue. In Canada it may not be an issue for private purchasers, but for Community Clubs it may! I note with interest that Chris T suggests approaching Speed to see if a "Schools" package could be arranged! Looking at the boat registry I note that community clubs must have done something like this before as Canadian built Albacores going to one Club can have as many as 20 consecutive numbers and I therefore presume it was a bulk order.



So Chris I don't think there is any negativity for the "product" just that like a "Ferarri" it does not suit everybodies pocket or needs on the water.



Derek Gibbon 7176 & 6852

Derek Gibbon2008-09-20 11:15:06

I found myself near to Speed Sails last week, & took a look over the latest boat & have to say it looks a quality product to me.

All well finished to underside of gunwales & inner decks, nice mouldings to deck knees, things like this should get boats sold.



A modern looking boat that looks class, well done to Ovington & Speeds for their obvious hard work with a great end result.



I like the mast strut with the track on the deck, of course this is the sort of thing you can do in Plastic, can't see many of the woodys going in this direction??







Regards all,



Mark...

Peter wrote:

Are there any pics of the new boat internal layout or is it exactly the same as the speed.



Peter 7993

The internal layout is very similar, the main changes are: - Side tanks run to the transom - the bow tank is full hight and is moved forward to support the strut - The shroud bulkhead runs to deck level to stiffen this area.
Some pics here:
fotoboat.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?...97&pictureid=6936833


fotoboat.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?...97&pictureid=6936813


fotoboat.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?...98&pictureid=6936983

Are there any pics of the new boat internal layout or is it exactly the same as the speed.





Peter 7993

John
Thank you for clarifying that.

Robert,
Epoxy is nothing new in Albacores it is just a different resin in the "P" bit of Glass Reinforced Plastic. Amos boats (and probably others) used epoxy with numbers around 75XX dating from the late 80's. Also many wood boats are coated in epoxy.
So no rule changes required.

JohnW2008-07-31 00:09:25

re Epoxy construction. I thought that epoxy wasn't allowed. Rules (on rya website) say wood or grp, am I mistaken or has there been a rule change?
No complaint in principle as epoxy will make a good strong boat, but just would like clarification.

Re weight. The first boat is always a bit hit or miss. The laminate can be accuratly calculated as can the resin content but the bond cannot be.

With the Albacore there is quite a lot of bonded surfaces unlike a skiff type boat whis is normally only attached by the edges.

Now we have built the first boat we can calculate the bond and up-spec the laminate to meet the weight requirment.

I have spoken to Speeds yesterday and agreed a target bare hull weight allowing for only 5kg of correctors.

Hi



Just in case you missed my edit visit



www.speedsails.co.uk/index.asp?selection=Classes&fleet=Albacore



to se the spec and as John confirms Epoxy ...yes...



Derek

7176

john wrote:

Is the new boat epoxy?

Yes.

Is the new boat epoxy?

Hi David



I raised the question of weight with Speed and they said that 8128 (Jerry's Boat) being the first out of the mould they had an issue with the weight. The next three should have been heavier and the future boats will be more consistant.



Derek Gibbon

7176

A much better finish than the previous Speeds,no sharp edges! I too think we have made a good investment with the deck mould.

Mary proved the boat is very competetive, my only concern remains the continued necessity to bring the plastic boats up to weight.

David Head Honcho 7920

I think the boat looks a quality product. The reinforcement between the mast foot, shrouds and deck is a big improvement. I like the way the controls are set in the thwart but looks uncomfortable for crew's bum. Only concern would be the glare of the sun off that very shiny foredeck. I think we should call this a mark 3 Speed; mine is a mark 1 and the boats with revised shroud exit at deck level are mark 2. If the price is right, this should be the new standard and it supports our decision to invest in the new deck mould, Trevor

I didn't have a close look, but did feel under the side deck, what a difference! It felt really solid, but smooth and "comfortable". With regards to the performance, we want the new boats to be competive against the majority of the fleet. I think last weekend proved that this is the case. I sailed in the vacinity of Mary on a number of occassions, and didn't feel disadvantaged by having a 32 year old boat! (just by having a late 40's body!)