Posted by Administrator on 2010 Aug 21
The new high-torque winch servo is 44x22mm instead of the standard 40x20mm, so we made a new radio-plate for it today. The new plate has a bigger cut-out for the new servo, and is slightly wider. The boat will sail again next weekend so we will hear how the new servo works then.
Posted by Administrator on 2010 May 3
CNC-turned from stainless steel, this is a 400mm long and 38mm diameter IOM keel bulb. A slot will be milled in the middle for the keel fin. Unlike a lead-bulb this one will require no surface filler/sanding/painting. But the density (compared to water) of stainless steel is 8 at most, while lead bulbs can be [...]
Posted by Administrator on 2009 Dec 26
We’ve moulded the first PIKANTO hull! This is a bit of a prototype since it’s some time since Jari or myself moulded a boat, and also because these are brand new moulds and we have never made a boat in one-go like this before: closed mould with the hull, deck, mast/finbox, and ruddertube all attached [...]
Posted by Administrator on 2009 Dec 21
The PIKANTO moulds were polished first with “Oskar’s buffing and polishing compund M-50″ and then with “Norpol Rubbing R-10″, both from Terpol (www.terpol.fi) in Turku.
Posted by Administrator on 2009 Dec 19
After sanding with 1200-grit and a 10-15um particle-size fine paper it is time for polishing. We have two grades of polishing-compound. These pics show the coarse type which is polished with a spinning soft disk on a power-drill. After polishing follows release agents: first Frekote and then wax. It’s still possible we will mould a [...]
Posted by Administrator on 2009 Dec 13
Jari cnc-milled rudder moulds for the Pikanto IOM this weekend. The design is similar to the Sails ETC rudder, but slightly larger and with a NACA 0006 airfoil profile, and a slot for a 4mm rudder stock.
Posted by Administrator on 2009 Dec 6
When not shopping online for lathe-electronics/parts I have been busy sanding the Pikanto moulds. First the last bits of 180-grit today, then all over with 240 grit, and finally started with 400 grit which I will have to continue with next in the next session. The flat bits and large gently curved areas of the [...]
Posted by Administrator on 2009 Nov 29
Our three-piece hull/deck-moulds for the Pikanto IOM (designed by Graham Bantock) are now ready. The next step is to sand the surface smooth and polish the moulds. We hope to mould a prototype hull before the new year.
Posted by Administrator on 2009 Nov 8
Posted by Administrator on 2009 Nov 2
Grzegorz from Poland sent me these pictures of his home-built Laerke IOM.