Swallow Boats Forum

Boat finally totally finished and launched today. Wind at 15 knots gusting to 25 directly onshore so we had an exciting hour during which the wind got stronger and we finally admitted defeat!!

But floats OK and seems to sail fine. Will try in the next lot of lighter winds we get and try to get some pictures in sail

Bob - congratulations - she looks really well put together, and dauntingly smart!
I\\\'ve just finished constructing my storm 15  hull- lots of cleaning up and sanding to do - and am making rudder and tiller etc. Won\\\'t finish till December, I reckon. Also has the straight bow. Have added some \\\"extras\\\", with cruising in mind.
Look forward to more of your sailing photos.
Best wishes,

Ian Crockatt

Thanks - what extras are you adding as once I can sail better I want to do some \\\'inshore cruising\\\'

Regs
Bob

Hi Bob,  extras include bronze cleat on foredeck - bolted through the kingplank, with backing plate, before fitting the deck - and fairleads, so I can anchor or tie up in harbour.  Will also be fitting brass keelband to protect the keel and stem. I also fitted rubbing strakes - or colour breaks as Matt calls them - along the top chine as additional protection, and also because I like the look of them. These are all features the Storm 17 has, and apart from the rubbing strake I\\\'ve been used to them on previous bought boats. I put glass cloth on the bottom too, to increase resistance to abrasion - I found that tricky and haven\\\'t made a very good job of it. I\\\'m not a skilled woodworker and it\\\'s going to be a workmanlike rather than craftsmanlike finish. I certainly didn\\\'t get an accurate fit with the outer gunnels as you did....

Happy sailing!

Ian

Thanks - I took her out again today and managed to scrape some paint off the stem and keel so I will add the same protection as you will I think. Is there a proprietory product or do you make your own brass strip? I have also ordered faileads and and kingplank cleat to fit this winter - great minds...

Another picture

Hi Bob - I got brass strip - half inch width - via Classic Marine, which is where Swallow boats get their brass gudgeons, etc. It comes in 10ft lengths. Order brass screws at the same time. If you got your fairleads etc locally they may also have brass strip. Classic marine will drill holes, at a cost; I\\\'m doing my own.
Yes, great minds - I also chose tan sails - your second picture looks good - do you find the boat reasonably stable?
Ian

First couple of outings showed how sensitive she is to the \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'human ballast\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' positon for trim and balance. But last few times we got far more confident. Running downwind with cb up in gusty conditions needs watching but I guess any small sail boat is similar.

2 more pics

Bob,
she looks super, congrats, well done!

With regards to a keel band, I also retrofitted one on my boat, a very sensible move for more carefree beaching. I drilled the band myself, no big deal at all. But I only fitted the band from the stem to where the centreboard slit starts. I think that suffices, as i had found no scratches further back.

You are right to have chosen a tan sail. My present boat has off-white (cream) sails, but I find they stain too easily especially from fishblood, being trampled on and from being thrown about while trailering. In a gaff or gunter rig boat you often have gaff and mainsail sail lying down on the cockpit floor, for that a tan colour sail is much more forgiving.
My next boat will have tan sails again.

Claus Riepe

Thanks - am about to fit the keel band. I did wonder if tan sails were OK before seeing them up - now I\\\'m convinced they are correct esp having trampled on them myself a few times!

Best regs

Bob