Sail's now fitted to the mast, and battens made from resin coated 1.5mm ply. The mainsheet hauler is now sorted also. Managed to find a suitable small Li-ion 7.4v 1500mah 2s battery for the boat, from a large Chinese owned model shop - https://hobbystation.co.nz/ (one of very few shops left) as they must have the biggest range of batteries in NZ, (to fit the dozens of different RC vehicles, tanks, diggers etc they sell) I've managed to find all sorts of batteries there for various projects (eg modifying TXs to last for numerous outings and doing away with the AA batteries in my FSi6 and 10x TXs)- very good service and prices there as well.

Did an 88 mile round trip to buy the batteries, so as not to risk couriers losing them, but well worth it as it solves a bit of a problem with hiding the battery in the boat. On that, - I've now managed to fit the new battery by cutting another bay in the port side of the cockpit, and tunneling out the foam. Because the battery is 7.4 v, I've used a cheap voltage regulator (Ali Express) to set the output to 6v for the winch and RX. The VR sits in front of the battery in the cutout in a plastic bag to hopefully keep moisture out, and has a JST plug so the battery can be removed for charging.

I have another waterproof cover to make for the battery pocket like the RX on the other side. The rudder servo has been silicone sealed, screwed in place and sealed in its' pocket with white exterior sealer. The foam pockets have been painted with acrylic artists paint to keep any water from penetrating the foam and getting behind the cockpit ply lining. Shouldn't get too much water in, as the covers will have EVA foam seals.

The boom vang has a nylon spacer captured by a clamp above it, and can rotate with the boom. Luff is tensioned with clamps top and bottom, and the foot is tensioned with a boom clamp. I've made a couple of pulleys for the mainsheet as well. Splash cover for the winch is a cut down scoop from a set of 3 for $4. Still to be painted and fitted.

JB

99% done now, finished after a 12hr stint on Sunday afternoon. The RX and battery covers are done as well as the c/board spacers, c/board case top trim, winch splash cover, wiring secured and hidden as much as possible, and a few other minor bits and pieces. The 1% is for if it sails. I was hoping to try it today, but the weather changed from fine for a week to wind and rain, so will have to wait for the next fine day with light winds for testing. Keen to see if it's going to need a periscope😀

JB

Finally got to wet the moth after picking up my racing dinghy from the boat festival in the city. Wind had died down and was just right for a test. It went quite well but needs more adding to the c/board leading edge, as it wouldn't tack at first, with the c/board 20mm back from the front of the c/board case. Spaced fully forward it was slightly better, but I ended up reversing the c/board so the 20mm trailing edge was forward, and it was spot on.

Will be modding the c/board with 40mm on the leading edge (had the same problem with my catamaran) Unfortunately couldn't build the case any further forward because of the winch position. Boat's a bit nose heavy so will need some rear ballast. At present I'm making a tiller and a water diverting coaming for the deck. Only shipped a spoonful or 2 of water on the test, but the electrics stayed dry which was the main thing. A few mods and I'll give it another go.

JB

After the successful first outing, I've added a few more bits which I left off in case it turned out to be a total failure. I've added a tiller, cast some small 110g weights for the stern (to try and level the boat under sail), fitted foredeck coamings, and made a spring supported mainsheet block to prevent the block becoming tangled in the mainsheet hauler line (previously the block was on a cord.)

It's now on an eye in the floor, and the spring keeps it upright out of the way (same idea as a full sized stand up block) but still flexible. I've also painted and mounted the 2 lead weights on the rear cockpit sides. Ready for round 2.

JB

I've now made a new keel for the moth. It's 700g lighter but still has the same righting ability, as the weight is now on a slightly shorter skeg, but now as a bulb, rather than previously distributed over the length of the original c/board in a milled out center, (done for more scale aesthetics) The original only added weight, and a lot of it was wasted in the upper side and not doing much toward righting ability.

I made a new mould, and cast 2 weights using and equal number of lead ball sinkers. These were epoxied onto the skeg and bolted through with brass bolts for security. The skeg has a 20mm hardwood leading edge added, which is f/glassed on to correct the center of balance.

Managed to get a 2nd test sail after waiting for some bad weather to pass, and the boat now sails a lot better with the reduced keel weight and the 200g of weight in the rear of the cockpit
Sits with the hull level now, not as prone to 'duck shoveling'.

JB

Forgot I hadn't updated this blog sorry, (a lot's been happening lately,) but now the Moth is sailing well with the new keel.
JB