Nicholson 31 Association Forum

Bill That's very interesting information. I've always wondered why 'R. Ives (Boatbuilders) Ltd' appeared on the Part 1 Registry Document that I inherited when I took over ownership of Swans Way - it appears after 'Name of Builder' on the current Registration Document. Camper and Nicholson must have ...

It seems to me that it is essential to use grinding paste to clean the surfaces of BOTH sections of the seacock. Originally I used a slightly rough paste on both surfaces and fitted the cone back into the seacock and worked it back and forth for at least 40 turns. I cleaned off this paste and used a...

For those who may be interested, I have decided to go for the Hydrovane wind vnae system when I fit vane steering gear - probably this winter. I viewed the product at the Southampton show last week and it is clearly the most robust of the systems I've seen, and much more flexible in terms of positio...

Tony You are right! I had forgotten about electronic failure! As the costs multiply I think one part of my mind seeks false solutions, when at heart I know there is only one way to do it - that is, to do it right! Cuting corners only leads to potential disaster. I wonder what design I will eventuall...

Tony I suppose sailors are not advised to put aesthetics before practicalities, but the more I look at some windvane designs the more I think that the Aries looks much more aesthetically pleasing than any other! The Windpilot and the Hydrovane look a trifle 'gross' on the stern of the Nic 31 - like ...

Tony I had considered the Hydrovane but as it is about 1000 Euro more than the other two - the Windpilot and the Aries, I had more or less pushed it down the shortlist. But your comments really mean I'll have to open up this whole issue again and I think I'll start by reading more closely Peter Fort...

Bill Thanks very much for this information. It gives me the general idea about access to the strut mounting bolts for the Aries. I have been researching the Windpilot system and the cad drawings for those mountings (M5 configuration) would seem to require only 2 access ports either side of the tille...

Bill Thanks very much for your prompt reply with all the info. As it stands I have postponed installation of a windvane until the winter when I can get access to the stern on the hard. I am concerned that you had to put an additional 'bend' in the struts in order to make them horizontal . I think I ...

Gentlemen...Caution!... do not try fixing a windvane to a transom by setting 'screws' into fiberglass, no matter how thick. You will be relying on the screw threads alone (and sealant ?) to carry the sometimes quite heavy (and dynamic) loads imposed over a good period of time (years) Consider cutti...

I'm not sure that this is the best place to post this but here goes. It may be of some interest to members to know that I did not ice-blast my undersides but used a wet sand blasting method similar to the Farrow system. All worked out well and the survey was excellent - no osmosis and the previous B...