What would you change?

[Bama5150]

I would like to start a thread for people who have already built their CH21.  What would you do differently if you started over?

Thanks!

JEremy

[Ron Jesche CH21' Sealion']

Hi Jeremy, I have only had 'Sealion' on the water for a few weeks now but have spent  7 days sailing. as you have probably seen in earlier posts, I have made a few modifications. The biggest change was fitting the diesel engine. I am very happy with the diesel, but it does add a lot of extra cost, and planning the engine beds, sterntube and instalation requires substantial work. The problem with modifications is that one change can usually not be made in isolation, and you need to be aware of what else it might affect before you build yourself into a corner.I can discuss the engine instalation further if anyone is interested, as it did lead to quite a few small modifications along the way.

I also made my sliding hatch quite substantial so it could be walked on. I see that Michael of "Slough Coot' had also recently built a very nice new hatch. I am able to stand on the hatch and raise the mast single handed, as I don't have to step up from the cockpit to the cabin top.

Another variation I made was to make a composite centreboard. My boat will spend most of it's life on a marina in salt water, and the steel centreboard would require much more maintenance. My board is made up of 4 layers of 9mm plywood, with most of the centre 2 pieces removed. and replaced with 100kg of lead. The board has then been glassed with 3 layers of 450g double bias cloth, and a hardwood leading edge.This also makes the board a little thicker enabling a better foil shape.

I have found everything on the drawings to be detailed and accurate. The fittings work perfectly as they have been drawn, and so far I can't see anything I would change. I have sailed in almost no wind, the boat keeps going when almost everyone else has stopped, and last weekend took her out in 25knot winds with 1.5m seas. I had the staysail and one reef in the main. We were sailing at upto 6 knots and the boat was easy to handle and I have complete confidence in her. I was pleasantly surprised at how dry the boat was and also that we never slammed or pounded going into the waves. Those garboardplanks are a bugger to fit but the end result is fantastic.Ron

[Bama5150]

Ron,

   Thank you for the reply. Your boat is beautiful and very much inspiration for my own build. I really like how you were able to fit the diesel and access to it. I haven't yet made that decision one way or another yet. Having the outboard out of the way is very appealing to me, but then theirs the simplicity of the outboard. Sooo many decisions :)

[pablobesser]

thanks for the ideas....i am very at the begining of my build process but also took some detours from the original plans...i raised the cabin deck 6 cm so some frames i added a strip of 6 cm wood to raise the interior and make a little bigger inside, but took care to keep the shape of the boat.also the bulkheads and thicker...12 mm instead only 9 but this was because is normal exterior grade plywood so also i fiberglassed both side with 200 gr fiberglass.

the centerboard will be too a wooden and lead one because dont like to work with metal...to noisy.

i had severals small changes in my mind but will keep the general shape and design with some personal choices.