Category Archives: Uncategorized

The keel bolts- for the ballast keel, the centre plate and the bilge keels- were all originally manufactured in imperial sizes. Can replacements be readily obtained? Choosing the material Stainless steel should not be used. It contains chromium, which forms … Continue reading →

Finesse Rally 2022 Information Date: 11-12 June 2022 Location: Queenborough Harbour Please note that the date is two weeks earlier than previously suggested. We have reserved 2 of the large visitors’ buoys, each of which can accommodate up to 6 … Continue reading →

This article concerns the spring-loaded actuator that connects the clutch operation cable to the clutch shift lever on the side of the gearbox. The gearboxes that use this connection are the Kanzaki KM2A, KM2C and KM3A units. These are fitted … Continue reading →

Ade Chapmanlaw’s description of the replacement of the stern gland, prop tube and cutlass bearing on Tig (F24) during the Spring of 2021: The stern gland on Tig was leaking a lot after our rough trip out to Studland. It … Continue reading →

For those of us who are using Yanmar engines, here are three different manuals. They cover the 1GM, 2GM, 3GM and 3HM family. Yanmar Operation Manual. A handbook which may have come as a hard copy with your engine, covering … Continue reading →

Finesse 24 Pinta, sail number 33 (renamed Quo Vardis and now Blue Bonnet), was photographed at an early stage during her construction in the late 1970s. In this first picture the keel timber is supported by trestles. Below this picture is the same … Continue reading →

A gaff cutter rig was an option on a new Finesse. However, the majority of F24 gaff cutters sailing today are conversions. Since there are no class rules to dictate (or recommend) the rig dimensions, designs can differ significantly. It … Continue reading →

The removal of Enfys’ keel bolts is described in  here. In this article, Bill Dowell continues the story by describing the installation of the bolts and the re-building of the keel case. On the underside of the ballast keel the … Continue reading →

‘Enfys’ needed some fairly major maintenance and this had been in the planning for about a year. She had a busy 2018 sailing season with Bill Dowell- about twenty five separate trips and short voyages. But with concerns about the … Continue reading →

The structural elements that enclose a Finesse swing keel provide many routes for unwelcome leaks. (A) Ballast keel bolts. The external ballast keel is held on by 13 bolts which necessarily pass through from the wet side to the inside of … Continue reading →