Dart 15 Forums

Erling wrote:

Do you think that Jonathan has put a posting bar on any computar in 20ft of Bob, as he has been quietin the last couple of weeks, or has he had another Senior moment and is still sailing in circles around Grafham

Bob replied:

Hi Erling - this is closer to the truth than you could realize. I can only add comments on this chat page intermittently. You and Frank have been saved several barbed comments as a result.

Bob replied:

Since I seem to be able to add comments at the moment - I notice that Golden Goldstone is lieing low at present. I bet that means he is not coming to Beaver.
'Ow Much should be back from the British Virgin Islands too!

Andrew Hannah replied:

This reminds me of the story about a man who won the National Lottery jackpot. One of his friends asked him what he was going to do.

The winner said, "I am going to visit the Canary Islands, because I have have always been interested in canaries".

His friend said, "OK. What will you do next?"

The winner thought for a moment and then said, "Well, I have always wanted to visit the Virgin Islands, because I am interested in...............!"

Andrew.

George replied:

is working his butt off to pay for his new boat.

But he tells me that the need for Saturday working should be reduced in the new year, so he hopes to go to Draycote and Grafham (and sail at Queen Mary of course!)

George

PS Since he got his new boat I think he reckons he can give me a start in the Winter Traveller Series, and still beat me......
PS2 I hope to go to Beaver and do better than I did at Stewartby, but of course I still never know that I'm going to be ok until the last minute.....
PS3 Will Bob get a better result at Beaver than at Stewartby? Is 2002 faster than 1945? Which one will he be selling next year?

Anonymous replied:

I can confirm Bob's alive & kicking, in fact fate took a cruel swipe at us both on Sunday.
First race the old fella was late on the line, I had super start, sailed about 100 yds then my mast came down.
Race two Bob had the good start, I was late on the line then guess who's mast came down !!!

PS. If your 007 does that make Gordon the man with the Golden *****?

Gordon replied:

George is right, and not like Bob said lying low. It's worse than that, I'm laid out!
Not only have I just paid for this new boat, but now I've had to pay for the new kitchen for Mrs G. I'll be lucky if I get any time off for good behaviour before the new year.
I'll be back after Christmas when my credit card has cooled off.

ps. Sorry I can't be there, the weather forecast looks ideal for Saturday,

and Good luck George..

Bob replied:

Gordon, sounds like I was right all along. You were lying low (and not planning to come to Beaver). If you have just bought a new kitchen you must be positively oozing brownie points. I expect you to do lots of sailing in the new year!!
Cheers
Bob

Bob replied:

Yes, I was positively gutted. In the morning race I spent too long putting grippy tape on my boat for Sporting in the morning race & did a Nick Dewhirst and was (many minutes) late for the start. Frank was already being towed in after his forestay broke. I had already concluded that Frank (well know for his heavy demands on the Grafham kitchen staff)would have to give up puddings as his boat can no longer take the strain.
Then in the afternoon blow me - my mast came down at the start od the second race & I spent the afternoon getting the grease off my new sail. So it looks like I will have to give up the puddings too (but I suspect other causes -the forestay shackle was missing).
So not a good day at the office but the boat speed is really good when the nut on the tiller gets it right.

George Stephen replied:

Bob,

Just where on your boat was the grease that got on your sail?

Or was it from the water - contaminated by the grease-balls sailing on it?


George

PS The wind forecast for Beaver is getting lighter each day....

Bob replied:

I grease my mast ball to help mast rotation (like most of the fleet)
Regards
Bob
PS your other comment does not deserve a response

Eamonn Quigley replied:

That must be where I've been going wrong...no grease on my mast ball.

Out of interest, any particular kind recommended? Do you have to take down the mast to apply it?

AndrewHannah replied:

It is best to grease the ball when the mast is down. The important point to remember is that you only need to grease the very top of the ball.

I have seen people grease the ball all over, including down the sides. This is not needed. It is better to use too little than to over-grease. Moreover, if the sides of the ball are greased, you will find the grease will work onto your ropes, and probably onto your sails as well.

The grease should obviously be water resistant, eg as used in the motor trade.

Andrew,
TBYC.

Steve Willis replied:

I use LM grease as used for car and trailer wheel bearings.

One point I slightly disagree with Andrew is only doing the top of the ball. It depends whether there is much wear on the pin or plate on the ball and mast heel respectively - and whether you leave your mast up for the whole season.

I am having to replace the ball and heel on one of our boats which we bought about 18 months ago. It had obviously been left with its mast up and at the same angle to the prevailing winds for a very long time - and without grease. The result is that the heel plate has worn off centre (by about 5mm) and one side of the heel and the ball are worn away.

I would first clean the inside of the heel and the rest of the ball then a small 'dob' on the top of the pin on the ball but also apply a thin layer (smear) of grease around the entire inside of the mast heel. This won't prevent wear altogether but would help reduce it.

A key thing is to make sure is that the internal plate in the mast heel is not worn to the extent that the heel plate and it rivets are in contact with the ball rather than just the central ball pin. If it is then change it.

Bob replied:

Yes, I grease the sides of the ball as well. Most greases are OK - I have used LM in the past.
Cheers
Bob