Bestevaer 49ST

[Seaworthy Lass]

We have a long drive back after having dinner with Dutch cruising friends in Arnhem, so I have a chance to post a few more images.

Our arch for the solar panels is under construction. The end sections will penetrate the deck and will be welded below deck as well:

[Seaworthy Lass]

Our seven hatches are being custom made. This is one of the small ones used in the two wet cells (500 x 250 mm). The position of the staysail "track" limited the size of these. The hatch in the owners's cabin will be 600 x 600 mm and the remaining four are 500 x 500 mm:

[four winds]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I take it that this positive pressure is another advantage of having a day tank. Leaks are more obvious and air is less likely to enter the system.

Yes, I do believe this is a reasonable conclusion.

Of course proper tank venting is still needed, as a blockage there would soon overcome this advantage.

[olaf hart]

Is it possible to bleed the engine from the day tank without manually pumping the lift pump?

[Panope]

Olaf, Panope's main tanks are above the engine with a head height of about 1 foot. The engine will not bleed unless I pump the lever. Engine is a Yanmar 3JH3E.

Steve

[DDabs]

Wow... I cannot wait to see more arch progress!

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by DDabs

Wow... I cannot wait to see more arch progress!

Very happy with how the early stage looks .

The rake back was designed to match that of the stern. The inward rake was balanced by aesthetics (narrower top would have looked better) with the need to support the solar panel frame (wider top would have functioned better).

This is the cross sectional view of the design:

[chemist]

SWL,

did you consider putting a track and car system underneath the arch to hoist up heavy loads, or MOB, from the dinghy unto the boat, in addition to the dinghy attachment points?


Enjoy yourself.

Bas

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by chemist

SWL,

did you consider putting a track and car system underneath the arch to hoist up heavy loads, or MOB, from the dinghy unto the boat, in addition to the dinghy attachment points?


Enjoy yourself.

Bas

Hi Bas
We have an outboard motor lifting point on the arch (the label has been cut off a bit in the drawing posted above). Lifting has not been looked at in detail yet, but I imagine a simple block and tackle system will be employed, maybe taking the line back to a winch for heavier loads.

The fold down swimming platform will make all but the heaviest gear easy to bring on board I think. No need to pass anything up via a boarding ladder.

SWL

[DDabs]

I have 6:1 blocks on my arch and they are primo. Definitely worth having up there to assist with lifting.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Catching up with a few more photos we took.
The bow thruster tube appeared during our last few days at KM. Each visit new things kept popping up .

We really debated with option of a bow thruster. Our initial thought were that we could do without, then we added a tube to the specs figuring it would give us the option of doing so later if we wished. The tube added only a small amount to the cost while the boat was being constructed and if anything, it strengthened the bow area.

We finally went all the way .

We are going for a Sidepower 24V 8kw 10.7 hp SE 170/250 (IP). As it is being fitted in the front locker (eliminating any concern of leaks) corrosion is a concern, so we have gone for a waterproof model. As our front locker is 3m long, there is adequate room to accommodate it.

This tube will be trimmed to size when the 10mm bow plating is installed:

[Pelagic]

I don't think you will regret the thruster, even if you rarely use it as you anchor out a lot.

Bunkering at commercial piers in adverse conditions, the thruster gives you that added control, to take the stress out.

There is a debate about whether you should put a grill on the ends of the tubes.
Personally, I prefer them open, so that debris can easily get swept out the other end, rather than getting stuck between the grills.

Also makes it easier to keep clean

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

There is a debate about whether you should put a grill on the ends of the tubes.
Personally, I prefer them open, so that debris can easily get swept out the other end, rather than getting stuck between the grills.

there seems to be a face stuck in your thruster

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

there seems to be a face stuck in your thruster

I know...."the ghost of deckhands past"

[Seaworthy Lass]

For those awaiting photos, sorry posts are slow. We are back in Greece and in the middle of getting our current boat ready to splash after a few months on the hard. Days are long, but satisfying .

I thought our fuel and water fills in the Bestevaer may be of interest.

Unlike most production boats where the fuel fill is flush with the deck and therefore failure of the "O" ring results in water entering the diesel tank, the fuel fill on our boat stands up several inches above the deck with a screw on cap, meaning water on the deck is very unlikely to make it into the tank:




We specified the water tanks with conventional flush fill caps, as we want the option of collecting deck water. We will have a water maker and 800L freshwater tanks, but deck collection of rainwater is a useful backup and it is worth risking the possibility of salt water contamination, especially as this can be directed to single tank. With our high bulwarks and a simple small sandbag behind the fill point, water collection off the front deck will be easy.

To minimise leaks via the bolts on the flush fitting, thick aluminium backing support ensures there is no deck penetration of the bolts. This philosophy has been followed with all the hardware:



SWL