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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:03-06-2007 9:36 AM |
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G'day all,
Just bought Flying Ant 553 which I intend to refurbish before next season. I have quite a bit of work to do, so some assistance on rigging would be appreciated.
The sheeting system has been taken from the boat and it appears to me that there was some sort of traveller system which goes over the tiller at the stern of the boat.
1. Is this a cord system, wire system, or a fixed bar system?
2. Are there any photos on the website of this system?
3. What ratio of sheeting system is generally used on the boat? (eg 4:1, 5:1, 6:1 etc)
4. It appears as though the main sheeting was done at the aft end of the boom with the sheet then being fed forward along the boom then down to the deck. Would this be right?
5. Are there any photos on the website of boat lay outs?
If anyone can assist it would with info that would be great.
Col.
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:02-07-2007 7:43 PM |
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Geee this is a rockin' forum.
1 month and NO replies.
Now I know why classes die and disappear! When new members cannot get assistance when they request it, and interested parties don't get responded to. Think about it - If you're getting ignored would YOU want to hang around or get involved. I think not.
Lucky I have sailing experience and can wing it but others may not be so fortunate.
Is this class dead already and I'm flogging a dead horse, just sitting here typing to myself. That is a possiblity!?!
Oh well, I'll do up the boat the way I want to and my boys will have a good time on the Flying Ant, even if it is the last one.
Col.
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:02-08-2007 1:33 PM |
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Hello!
Is there anyone there? Anyone at all???
Col.
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Matthew Weston
Posts:1
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Posted:16-08-2007 5:43 PM |
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colmc,
Recently bought an ant for the kids myself. Similar number to yours.
If you wish I can email some pictures of the rig, PM your address if interested.
They don't appear that popular in Victoria as compared to NSW or WA but we are only looking at some fun sailing and the kids are a bit big for a sabot.
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:02-09-2007 5:17 PM |
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G'day Wagm,
Thank you for replying, sorry it's taken me some time to get back, I've been on holiday buying another boat (For me this time). MORE work to do before the season.
I'm not sure how to PM from this forum, but I'll give it a go. If I can't get it to work, I'll put my address on my profile. Would be good to see how some of the rigging works.
Cheers
Col.
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:24-09-2007 3:03 PM |
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Hi to all the interested readers out there,
The refurbishment of Ant 553 continues.
Her hull has been cleaned, cut and polished - Looks pretty good but has a few scratches.
She now has a downhaul (Main & Jib).
She now has a boom vang.
She has new trapeze wires with adjusters.
She has a cordage bridle/traveller over the rudder.
I don't think I can post photos on this forum so I'll just have to keep waffling.
To do before the start of our sailing season:
Check the hull for leaks!
Mainsheet.
Outhaul.
Rudder - Fix Rudder blade, Fix Rudder box and tiller, get new tiller extension.
Centreboard - Doesn't fit slot - Have to make it fit.
Mast Rack for box trailer so we can cart the Ant around solo and adjust my boat trailer so we can take the Ant with my boat.
Get name put on boat "Envy"
Future:
Full Spinaker set up (Spinaker/sheet/halyard/cleats/blocks etc)
New sails - We'll sail with the old ones this season and see how we go.
More Updates later.
Col.
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Daryl Stone
Posts:28
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Posted:28-10-2007 7:44 PM |
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Col,
I have just purchased a Flying Ant 425. It needs a lot of work all the gear has been taken off the top deck needs replacing but the hull is fibreglass and seems to be in good nic. Do you have pics of your Ants finished so I can get an Ideaa of what you have done.
cheers
Daryl
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:30-10-2007 6:05 PM |
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G'day Daryl and readers,
Daryl - Welcome to the Flying Ant Rebuilders Team (f.a.r.t. for short). I would love to send you photos of our finished Ant however she's not quite finished yet.
She now has a main sheet system, a repaired rudder box and tiller with a new tiller extension. I've conducted an intial pressure test of the hull and blocked up as many leaks as I can find. I just have to do a follow up pressure test to make sure I've sealed the hull properly. I have sanded down the centreboard and made it fit the centre board slot. I have repaired the rudder and had had both the centreboard and rudder sheathed in fibreglass. The outhaul has been fixed with a trial system, which I'll see how it works.
To Do:
Sand down and paint rudder and centreboard.
Line centreboard case.
Get name put on boat.
Test sail.
I went up to Illawarra Yacht Club on the weekend and visited a big Ant's Nest there. I would like to thank the members there for their hospitality. Big Thank you to Tegan who took my son Jack out for a sail on "Speed Demon". He hasn't stopped talking about how good of time he had and can't wait to get his own boat on the water. I went out on a 16 foot skiff and have the bruises to prove it (Thanks to Wade and Angus). Daryl I took some photo's at Illawarra of the Ant's there, I'll try to email them to you.
Col.
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Daryl Stone
Posts:28
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Posted:31-10-2007 5:50 AM |
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Col,
My e-mail address is dmstone@westnet.com.au.
Thanks we will have to catch up sometime.
regards
Daryl
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:14-11-2007 6:25 PM |
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The time has come!!
The centreboard and rudder have been glassed and sanded.
The centreboard case has been lined.
The centreboard and rudder still need painting but we can't wait to take the boat for a test sail. So the plan is to take her out to Cairn Curran Friday 16/11 and see how she performs.
We'll see whether we put the name on or scuttle her.
Report back after test sail.
Col.
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:17-11-2007 11:47 AM |
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She floats!!!
(always a good thing for a boat)
We took her out to Cairn Curran, the wind was light varying between about 0 & 8 knots and about 120 degrees in direction. After rigging we headed out with me as crew and Campbell on the helm. Even with about 100 kg on board she was still lively to sail and cruised briskly across the lake. I suppose about 100 kg would be the weight of 2 X young teenagers anyway. Beautiful boat to sail.
We came back in near the shore and conducted capsize drill on both sides and boys managed to get back aboard without assistance.
Jack and I then went for a sail.
Pleased to say we only had about half a dessert spoon of water in the hull.
Some minor things to fix, jib cleats need loobed and need tighted to the hull. Other than that all's good.
Can anyone tell me if these boats are prone to turtling when capsized? It appears from our play in the shallows that the mast wanted to head straight for the bottom.
Hope to get my boat on the water this week, too.
Cheers
Col
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Daryl Stone
Posts:28
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Posted:24-11-2007 5:52 PM |
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Col,
It seems that they do turtle all the time(yes we do have enough water in Lake Hume). But my kids capsized last weekend in about 15knts and got it back up easily. They had there first race on the weekend and did quite well they love it and the challenges it brings.
cheers
Daryl
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:28-04-2008 3:18 PM |
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Just an update.
Went to Lake Mulwala on the weekend.
Thanks to Daryl we have a spinnaker to use, I patched an old one so I have a back up.
I managed to get the spinnaker rigged before the weekend and sailed under spinnaker for the first time on the Ant.
She is now in a fully operational state.
Still needs the name put on her and the foils aren't painted but they are operational.
Time to start replacing worn out bits as $ allows.
May not be a serious racing machine yet but good to sail
See you on the water.
Col.
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:01-09-2008 9:34 PM |
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Name is on the side!
"Envy"
Col.
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Tim Fountain
Posts:1
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Posted:08-01-2009 1:34 PM |
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Hi Col,
Sounds like you have had quite a journey though the refurb process. I'm the original owner of Flying Ant 553 "With Envy". I herd that it was sitting at Black Rock Yacht Club in need of some attention and thought I would do a bit of google search to see if I could locate it and possibly buy it back after all these years. Seems you may have beaten me to it. If ever you do want to sell, send me an email at fountain26@bigpond.com
Happy sailing
Tim
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John Raven
Posts:4
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Posted:30-01-2010 9:38 AM |
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I liked your comment about the Association possibly being moribund as you received nil responses. I emailed 3 clubs about needing used sails on 17 Jan and no reply to date.
Yep F.A.R.T. sounds very appropriate, especially for a 65yr old retired one like me!
Well done with that rebuild! Id like to know how you found out the way to go about the refurbishment, eg. advice on what paint was used before, buoyancy testing, etc. So far I have had difficulty finding where to get replacement boat parts and finding a used boat trailer. I didnt want a Laser and it was hard to find a large enough boat for solo use.
I am the proud owner of Flying Ant 830 (now called "White Ant", (no, termites are one thing that isnt wrong with the boat!)
I will be sailing solo (similar to my previous Heron) as no other family members like sailing. I also need to re-furbish my small boat trailer (picking it up tomorrow). This being the easiest way to launch it solo from a boat ramp into the Paramatta River or Pittwater.
See my notice about used sails. I have 2 Spinnakers (I may never use) but need a new Main (to replace original) and possibly a Jib, as mine are both crap.
See you all on the water if I ever get this thing finished in my limited lifetime!! John
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Colin McEWAN
Posts:28
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Posted:05-02-2010 2:03 PM |
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G'day John,
Lake Illawarrra seems to be where most of the NSW Ants sail. Parramatta River sounds NSW ish. You could try calling someone from the NSW association as this forum doesn't seem to be the best method of contacting people.
Interesting choice for a solo boat. Must confess to enjoying sailing the Ant Solo, good fun.
My boys took turns going out on the Ant with me today. We were sailing on Waranga Basin, near Rushworth, Vic. Wind was a steady 15 knot SE. If the wind was a bit less I'd have let them go out together but they're not quite up to that yet. However both learnt that they need to be hooked on to the trapeze wire before they go out on trapeze. It won't be long until they're out there sailing in this sort of wind by themselves and loving it (I hope).
I was hoping I might be able to pick up some second hand sails as well, as the one's I have are also not so good (more patch than sail). The boat works with the one's I have so not urgent.
Good luck with your new Ant.
Col.
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