A-228 - GEOFF's AUSSIE PHOTO GALLERY

[Bill]

We introduced Geoff Fyldes in the winter newsletter.  He lives near Brisbane, Australia and owns an Ariel - #228 UHURU.  Geoff was not responsible for getting the boat to Australia, but as its third Aussie owner, he's making some major upgrades.   As with Ebb and his upgrades, we've agreed to post Geoff's photos with his comments.  

We begin with photo #1, a shot of the UHURU's stern as she sits on the hard.  Geoff comments: "A before shot with canvas dodger, which I never folded down (well, only once, but never again).  So I decided to build a permanent dodger along similar lines."

[Bill]

Photo #2 shows Geoff hard at work on UHURU

[Bill]

Photo #3 shows the transom after realignment.  Geoff comments: "Transom faired. A fair bit of bog in the middle, did our best with car jacks and wedges.  Starboard quarter was 2 inches lower than portside, but not now."

[Bill]

Photo #4 is the lazarette.  Geoff notes: "Huge block glassed in to take backstay chainplate, bolt holes evident.  Fore and aft bulkhead glassed in place.  Divides a huge locker into two and strengthens the transom.  It won?t move now."

[Bill]

Photo #5 is a view of the hard dodger looking aft from the bow.  "Garage for companionway hatch under construction.  Opening ports will be installed as windows looking forward in the doghouse.  Non-opening windows in the sides."

[Bill]

Photo #6 is the hard dodger from the stern.  "Inside doghouse, laminated beams will become a feature.  I intend to build a dashboard the full width of the doghouse and the forward end and mount all instruments there, compass on centerline."

[Bill]

Photo #7 is outside view of chain locker.  "Panel will be screwed on to act as inspection port."

[Bill]

Photo #8 is view of head.  "The toilet is actually under the bed.  It will have a lifting top.  The space under the toilet is glassed, two layers cloth and totally water proof.  When the law dictates that we have to collect our waste for disposal ashore, it will become a holding tank.  But for now, it will be for the pump house and house a water pump supplying fresh water to the galley and cockpit handheld shower."

[Bill]

Photo #9 another view of head.  "You can just see the outlet on the starboard water tank.  The plumbing for the toilet will come throught he panel behind the toilet.  It?s a push button job, no hand pumps."

[Bill]

Photo #10 shows the top of the starboard water tank.  "There used to be a vanity unit there."

[Bill]

Photo #11 shows the top of the port water tank.  "The toilet used to be here."

[Bill]

Photo #12 /13 (similar, only 13 posted) views the portside sink.  "Sink with fridge under.  Sink drain elbow is pointing the wrong way.  It will go directly forward to the main bulkhead, then down the main bulkhead on an angle to exit the hull just below the waterline.  The whole drain will be encased in the fridge insulation.  There will be a seacock at the sink end, doing away with the need for a sink plug.  It would have to be turned off when hard pressed on a starboard tack to stop water climbing up into the sink."

[Bill]

Photo #14 is of the portside bunk.  "Notice I have cut a section of the bulkhead out and shifted ti aft.  What was once cockpit locker is now saloon space.  When I installed the galley, the saloon settee berths were a bit short, so I fixed it.  The shelves along the hull form six lockers each side.  The seat back is being made by a shipwright.  Each locker will have its own door with a brass ring catch, done in Tasmanian oak with teak trim.  No back squab, just a few cushions."

[Bill]

Photo #15 is of the stove.  Gimbaled gas cooker, 2-burner gas with oven.  "I don't know where the gas bottles are going yet, up on deck somewhere, I suppose."

[Bill]

Photo #16 looking aft on portside.