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Improvements made
to Omega
By Nick Vass
The following are modifications that I have made over
the past 12 years to improve or repair Omega. Some are trivial;
some for short-handed sailing others are structural.
The main areas of deficiency on a H24/70 (in my opinion)
are mast compression, lack of storage space and visibility forward
when helming sat down.
These days there is so much more kit that one has
to have in order to sail as safely as one would like but there is
little space to stash it aboard a Hurley. However, I strip her bare
for the winter and leave a lot of the stuff at home in the spring
as I never use it. Too much stuff and clutter can be a danger in
itself.
I once managed to stow an outboard and a petrol generator
for a whole season. Didn’t use either once and don’t
like having too much fuel aboard or having Petrol, Diesel and Gas.
These days I tend to use water taxis. I know they
are expensive but blowing up the dinghy and lowering down the motor
is such a pain. Not to mention worrying if some prat has pinched
it; getting it swamped by a drunk Hooray Henry in Salcombe or squashed
when a novice in a brand new Beneteau tries to raft along side;
filled with empty wine bottles by unemployable Guppies again in
Salcombe or just got a leak in it! All of the above have happened
to me, all in Salcombe though. I like the place really.
- Pillar of teak on starboard side front bulkhead
to stop mast compression. The plywood bulkhead was not man enough.
I fabricated a 4” square post and raised the roof by using
a hydraulic car body ram between the keel and the mast tabernacle.
(taking down the mast firstly to reduce tension). Bolted in place.
Boat made some strange noises but has worked well, no movement
since 1995.
- Chart table on starboard side quarter birth, sits
on the cushion and stows beneath. Made to fit snugly under cushion
and will take a half-folded chat very well. I did intend to fit
the table above, level with the cooker and worktop but would he
been unstable in a sea. Kneeling down to use the table is comfortable
safe and solid, things don’t have far to fall if they roll
down and it’s an ideal position to shout headings to the
helm and to be able to read the compass’s from inside or
the GPS.
- Fuel tank. Specially made for me to make best
use of the lazerette. Easy to fill, doesn’t leak when healed
over (through breather or filler cap) and easy to see how much
fuel you have left.
- Small table in saloon on the port side. Doesn’t
need folding away, makes making coffee easy, very solid to grab
hold of, protects fire extinguisher from kicks (stowed underneath)
and has a hole cut out for a wine bottle to stand upright, will
not spill.
- Side slot lockers in saloon have been enlarged.
Holes were too small and things became lost inside.
- Seed trays used to make fold down locker insides.
Very safe, will not tip contents out. Plywood fronts made. For
flares and first aid kit.
- Stainless bracket frame made for pushpit. Keeps
aerials (emergency VHF, FM and GPS) and forgen from the cockpit.
- Two steering compasses. Plastimo Contest. One
each side of the companion way. Makes helming easy because you
can view the compass straight on form both sides of the cockpit.
The illumination gives a nice gentle glow at night and provides
just enough red (night sight safe) light to be able to read the
charts down bellow. Compasses can be read from inside.
- Template of card kept at home so that a new, exact
fitting bit of carpet can be cut for each season. Also handy for
when someone spills milk on the floor. (It stinks after a week).
- Ropes last years fender ropes neatly tied so that
the springs do not get trapped between the fenders and the pontoon.
Wears out springs very quickly if you don’t.
- New fender rope each season. Looks nice and doesn’t
cost too much.
- Fenders tied in place permanently and stowed between
the side shroud and coachroof. This works well as stowing fenders
below or in the lazerette is a pain. Your crew will always bung
them on your berth or in the heads. If in the lazerette they will
usually get smeared in diesel. Spare fenders for rafting and for
harbour walls can be stowed under front V berths.
- Half height dodgers. This makes the Hurley look
slightly longer and enables you to be able to see over them if
not heeling over. Still keeps wing of neck and provides a big
enough space for boats name. Big dodgers make H24/70 look stumpy.
- Forgen wind generator fitted to cockpit bracket.
Work superbly, silent, safe and keeps battery at peak power. Also
solar panel.
- Duel set of Nav lights. Tri colour at top of mast
to save power on long passages and pulpit lights because they
look nice. Deck light and steaming light fitted.
- Snorkel and face mask to untangle prop.
- Extra long, lightweight spinnaker pole made to
hold out Genoa when running.
- Caravan battery charger and electric cool box
for use in marinas. Loads of freezer blocks.
- Small cartons of longlife milk.
- Cheap pottery plates, plastic ones are horrible
and expensive.
- Colour coded, zip top bags to hold life jacket,
harnesses wet weather gear and wetsuits.
- Good tool kit. In solid box. Several spare impellers,
hose clips, cable ties, shackle and fixings.
- Long lengths of good rope (10m, 20m, 30m) for
towing, mooring and spare sheets.
- Tiller cover. So that varnish does not crack and
to prevent wear from rope.
- Loads of fire extinguishers.
- Cockpit harness safety line. Hook onto whilst
still in saloon.
- Loads of spare matches and batteries.
- Stow charts, folded once, in an A1 size plastic
art portfolio wallet. Under berth cushion.
- Buy old sofa beds, use the 4” foam to replace
old 2”, have covers made from cloth.
- Spare battery with good quality switch.
- Anti siphon tube on raw water seacock.
- Extra cleats on deck. With large backing
plates and washers to prevent cracking.
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