Modernizing a Prout Elite 37ft

[Talbot]

Looking good.
I cant remember how old a model your boat is. The reason I comment is that after 1996 there was a major change in the masts and their chainplates for the shrouds. The rigging changed to a diamond rig which gave better support to the mast laterally, but more importantly, the chainplates for the shrouds moved from the cabin roof to a much stronger fitting on the hull/deck join. The earlier version had caused some lifting of the cabin roof, especially as just below the fitting was an ideal location for a window for the aft cabin, and if this was fitted it weakened the structure.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Talbot

Looking good.
I cant remember how old a model your boat is. The reason I comment is that after 1996 there was a major change in the masts and their chainplates for the shrouds. The rigging changed to a diamond rig which gave better support to the mast laterally, but more importantly, the chainplates for the shrouds moved from the cabin roof to a much stronger fitting on the hull/deck join. The earlier version had caused some lifting of the cabin roof, especially as just below the fitting was an ideal location for a window for the aft cabin, and if this was fitted it weakened the structure.

hi yes this will be my next project,i have fitted chainplates on the outer hull for a diamond rig as well as chain plates on the bridge deck for a conventional rig with spreaders and shrouds.

the mast i have is a fairly large section so it would probably be suffecient to be free standing without spreaders or diamond rig saving quite a bit of weight if i rig it this way.

still undecided at the moment

[sailorcherry]

Amazing Atoll!

[atoll]

Originally Posted by sailorcherry

Amazing Atoll!

thank you it has been a journey!,starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,i would never consider building a boat to such a high standard again!

[Buzzman]

LOL. You won't ever need to!

Fabulous workmanship and inspiring dedication!

I bumps me forehead on the deck, arms outstretched.

As Aretha might have said: R.E.S.P.E.C.T

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

LOL. You won't ever need to!

Fabulous workmanship and inspiring dedication!

I bumps me forehead on the deck, arms outstretched.

As Aretha might have said: R.E.S.P.E.C.T

here is a before and after comparison shot of the stb aft cabin

[Tayana42]

Atoll, you have my most sincere admiration. Such courage it requires to take on such a project and such skill it takes to carry it out so beautifully. You have done a very good thing for that wonderful and now happy boat. May she and you have sweet sailing together.

[Taichungman]

Originally Posted by atoll

thank you it has been a journey!,starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,i would never consider building a boat to such a high standard again!

__________________________________________________ ___


Hi Atoll, I have been lurking and following your journey for the past few years. Congratulations on, "A Job Well Done" as they say. I commend you not so much for your craftsmanship, which is very good but on the courage that it takes, not to just begin a project so great, but to stay the course and finish it.
Keep up the good work; you are an inspiration to us all.

[atoll]

seasons greetings to my fellow boat yoga victims

it has been a while since i last posted on this thread,due to lots of hard work finishing up the trim on all the inside panels,laminating the panels for the dodger and putting the wiring looms and switch panels together.
none of which make for very interesting photos.

however here are a few photos of the current progress inside and outside to the dodger , ceilings and my new(to me) singer in mint condition from 1951 which i picked up for £20!.
sew's perfectly through 10 layers of sunbrella with heavy 120 needle and 1mm sailmakers thread.
this i will be using to make up the dodger enclosure and inside cushion covers etc.

my mother also sent us an early Xmas present which paid for a 24v 20A sterling smart charger,a 24/12v 12amp alfatronic smart battery to battery charger,2x 150w solar panels and controller and 2 more matching 110A AGM battery's which now completes the electrical system ,giving about 665AH storage in the battery banks and 950W of solar.

[Buzzman]

Nothing like a bit of PV bling for Xmas! Looking good, atoll. Here's hoping that next Xmas you'll actually be sailing her. It must be getting close....

Anyway, all the best for Christmas and the festive season.

[sailorcherry]

You're the man, favorite thread on CF!

[atoll]

another dollar another day!

bling fund is rapidly diminishing again,but the good news is i now have all the components for a type 3 linear drive hydraulic auto pilot with all new components plus joystick so the hydraulic system can complement the dyneema cable steering system if the cables fail.

so effectively the cat now has 3 steering systems,2 autopilots and 3 emergency tillers.....not something you will find on many boats..and 3 rudders if you include the steerable drive leg!

plus i was going through some stuff i was given from a boat my daughter was working on when they renewed all their nav system looking for some extra seatalk cables and discovered a brand new raymarine i60 wind and direction display,plus the transducer which needed repair.

a bit of googling later i discovered the transducer can be repaired ,£120 and a new cable is £110,so i now also have a basically new raymarine wind system for £230 that would have cost in the region of £1100!

will post updates on that in the future.

in the meantime my singer sewing machine ,purchased for £20 has done a wonderful job of building the new cockpit enclosure,all the sunbrella came off a sail cover from a superyacht mainsail cover which had almost no wear and was free!
zips cost £100 but are enough to do the cockpit cover and a lazy bag for the boom and a baby sail cover.

i added the extra 2 matched agm batteries to the other 2,so now have 220AH at 24 volts which means i can work all day with 220v power tools and never see less than 80% SOC

this was complemented by a brand new sterling pro charge 20A 24v charger ,end of line from sterling for £100 as the new pro charge ultra ,which basicallly does the same thing but would have cost about £580!

the unit happily runs off the 2k inverter genset

which in turn will charge the 2X t105 trojans at 12v.12A through the airtronix 24/12 v charger yet to be installed.

i also installed a sailor 24v/12v 8A power supply that came off another refit boat i skippered and got for free which is there if i need to run 12v systems off of the 24v bank.

custom switch panels are installed but still need to go round and fit all the led lights before finishishing up all the wiring to the panels.

a few photos
ps: it is like a green house in the cockpit now midwinter, might have to install hydraponics system,can anybody think of a good cash crop of herbs that i could grow in there

[Buzzman]

Great work as always, atol, and a bargain on that wind pilot if it can be repaired!

Like your Singer. Want one.....

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

Great work as always, atol, and a bargain on that wind pilot if it can be repaired!

Like your Singer. Want one.....

it is repaired now,i could have bought the bearings,seals , new cups and feather for £65 and attempted to repair it myself but its tested, repaired with a special press to push out the corroded bearings and guarenteed for a year,so in that respect i would rather pay a pro with plenty of spares to fix it even if he buggered it up in a first attempt,as it is a discontinued transducer and replacing it would have cost £380 ,plus the £65 wasted for the bits that would be no use on the newstyle ST50/60,i60/70 transducers.

the singer is sweet as,must have seen very little use even though it is older than i am!
quite happily sews through 6 layers of sunbrella,only broke one needle when trying to go through 10 layers on a double over layed seam with pvc reinforcing

best £20 pounds i have spent on the whole project and will probably do all the cushion covers for the interior without missing a beat

[weavis]

Looking good Alex.

A teknikal question. I note you have tinted windows from the steering position, Do you think this will cause vision issues at night?