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I think you;re referring to the new lower rudder bearing that I fitted over the winter. In order to check if it lines up you need to feed the rudder into the 2 bearings and you can;t do that onl the trailer, even if you move the rudder slot back to clear the trailer. I "think" its about right as there are guides in the fibreglass to set the bearing in. but until I test it you don't know! I couldn't do that today as I couldn't get Lulu into the water, but next week we do!

That doesn;'t surprise me. I fyou look all aorund the world, heat and rian fall records are constantly being broken right now. It's not good is it?

Yes I agree on the mental health, us older guys need to talk about it more and also health issues. Not soldier on as we tend to do. Hopefully thge water wont be as bad as last season. I remember missing 2 weeks of sailing for holidays and then another 2-3 due to the water being super high!

All good now though, so hopefully going to feel a lot better this season

Definitely not. I hate the dark, the cold and the cold at the best of times!!! Cheers for the comment

CHeers Marc, yes very nice to be near the water again!

Cheers Tommo. Yes a bit bleak this time of year but hopefully will start to get magical soon!

Many thank Joe, will do!

Many thanks Helen!

Haha, Yes only a small garage really and my "worshop" is really a glorified shed so space os tight!!

Cheers Jago, Yes definitely a lot better thankyou. We get sailing soon!

Cheers Fibber. Yes I feel a lot better now, it was good to finally understand what was making me struggle so much to be honest

Yes and it's fluctuating far this year than it ever has. In fact I checked th cameras yesterday, after the big flooding incedent this week, and its almost up to the clubhouse! Good job all the boats have gone.

Cheers for the comment. It took 2 or 3 attempts but got there in the end!! Works very well now.

Yes, very good advice and in fact in later videos you will see the remedy!! Why I didn't fit an electric pump before is anyones guess!!

I agree. If you like to feather, as I do, or point in to the wind when beating in gusts, then the Mizzen will get you into irons quite quickly. I find myself these days furling it entirely when beating. It seems to not make any difference at all to speed. The only time I keep it flying when beating is if i'm on a course where i'm not too close to the wind, say on the sea or in lighter airs where the extra sail area may help a little bit.

Yes, crazy sometimes here, you get a bore wave on springs

Yes thats the way I think

Yes, its always nice to get down to the lake and actually do some sailing, espeically after this long hard winter!

Yes, I think it just might, also it will rub, so I do have a plan! Watch this space!

Cheers Phil. Hopefully we'll get going soon! Lot sif new things to add to the boat.

Well yes, it certainly does open up a world of opportunities!!

Hmm, thats interestibng as I have always used a Larks Knot on my Mirror and thought I had on the Lugger, but on this video it doesn't look that way does it!? Correct me if i'm wrong here. Larks head I have been told is an easy way to get the sheets the same length and also very easy to attach and lightweight at the Clew. Bowline, still good knot, heavier on the clew but is easier to probably undo if you need to change the sail which is not an issue on the Lugger but you see it more on bigger yachts. I'm not sure what knot is on here!!!

He's probably too busy making his own frocks😜 I am kidding.

@@fibber2u Who told you!!! ;-0

@@SailingWithDave I recognized the signs: who do think makes mine. 🤫

Yes, I thnk the key is that and being methodical. I'm not the most patient person in the world so these kind of tasks are hard for me!!!

Yes they are and have a rich history too. I was just back at the boatyard last week and it's still there! I hope someone picks her up and sorts her out, but it will be a big job.

Cheers Marc, yes so close to Season 4 now!!!

@@fat_tommo_goes_boating let's hope so tommo. That tent looks a bit low but there sonly one way to find out!

@@anotherangleUK good point on that. Hmm!!!

A bit of an anticlimax don't you think? I mean because of the time delay in posting videos we know he actually survives it.

@@roberteastwood9886 haha. Yes me too, although not so sure about sleeping on those floorboards. Very tight.

Many thanks for the comment, hope it helps you. Later in Season 4 (coming soon!) I do decide to make a new one that irons out all the niggles on this one, but it's largely the same design. Works quite well!

Far from nonchalant!! A lot of thought and pain went into that, but I figured better to some some screws in the wood than holes in the fibregalss. I'm quite good with wood and can repair those screw holes easily.

@@SailingWithDave yes, I'm sure. I was teasing you a bit ;-)

At any rate I love that you're trying to find ways to modify lulu to make her more seaworthy.... I also am trying to make some modifications to my lugger... you almost inspire me to try and make a video

@@benjaminblakely3421 Well thankyou very much for that. I think the Lugger makes for a very customizable boat. She's very basic at heart but you can tinker and do all kinds if htings with her. I do wonder if getting her to go a bit faster in lighter airs is a flawed activity though! Maybe time to look for another boat!!!

@@SailingWithDave I'm looking at investing in some new sails. Apparently it's quite possible to increase sail area by 25% How old are your sails? have you considered the batten-roached main ?

Hi Benjamin. Wise words indeed! In fact I don't think I really want any kind of boat that requires a mooring or pontoon. The amount of boats, including small ones in good condition, that sit on moorings all year not selling scares me away from them. I wouldn't want to get stuck paying fees not able to sell a boat. I think for me the best next boat is probably something on a trailer thats easy to launch and store at home if needed. Basically a Lugger thats faster, has a cabin and is still quite light to launch solo.

@@SailingWithDave Ahaha, yes. You're looking for the best of all possible worlds in fact ;-) But I quite understand. Have you considered the Drascombe coaster ? I don't know how much of a cabin you're looking for, and I don't know if it is any faster either.... I myself have settled on the lugger. I spent quite a few years of my life working (and living aboard) much bigger, obviously much faster, classic sailboats and when it came time to settle down and buy my own boat I decided that I wanted something I could handle by myself easily enough, both while my kids are still around and also once they grow up and I find myself older and alone. But I wasn't able to get my lugger in the water this year, instead have spent the spring, summer and fall sanding and varnishing, making new parts, working on repairs, cutting a new centerplate and trying to design a new rudder that sits further aft without getting in the way of the mizzen or outboard. One of the things that I like about the lugger - besides it's simplicity and versatility, is all the room for tweaking or just improvement. I don't know if I am going to get it to sail much faster, or more comfortably, but I'm going to try. In the meantime I'm watching your videos with envy....

@@benjaminblakely3421 When I bought Lulu, I was actually looking for Coasters mainly due to the cabin. But in a way i'm glad I went for the Lugger as she's been a perfect stepping stone from the Mirror. Still light enough to man handle and like you say, she's just so easy to sail and play and tinker with. What I think is that i'm still quite young in sailing years and I don't think i've found my feet yet with the perfect boat. Whilst I love the Lugger a few things are missing for me, such as a cabin and i'd like something with a little more sailing ability, especially in lighter airs. That would open up the weather a bit more to me sailing on the sea. As much as I love the boat, I don;t think my sailing journey will end here.....you'll need to watch this space I guess!

Haha! By that time I could sew them to order the way i'm learning right now!!!

I remember them, you could also roll them up for ventilation I seem to remember!!

That might work. Would be quite wear resistant.

For sure. I'm not so sure about sleeping in the tight little gap on the floorboards but until i've given it a go, I won;t really know!!

Yep that LED flare is definitely something Ithat makes me feel safer. Having a bright light =flashing away for hours should be very useful but hopefully never needed.

Hi There, yes they're coming. these are the last of the Winter videos now, and season 4 starts soon.

I was told you can set off old falres on bonfire night, but I don't think i'd like to try that myself!! It is an issue though not only getting rid if them but also having to buuy them every few years.

In the USA electronic flares are now accepted under the SOLAS rules, but alas in the UK not just yet. I'm not sure about Europe but imagine they still require the std flares. At least with both, you have the best chance of getting found. I like the fact that the LED one can be used, even if you're in the water, which is a dinghy sailors nightmare!!

Oh thats cool. I htink it will make for a really good signal to find you once within range and I like the fact it stays on for hours, not a few seconds like a normal flare. I also have a VHF radio but think the little PLB I have is far more useful should I get thrown into the water.

Yeah me too, I have the 100AH in the camper van and its much better than the lead acid that never got through a winter!!

Slowly but surely!!

Well, I wonder too, best way is to test it. I do like just being able to use an existing mooring line and not having to carry another pole. I don't think the boom or gaff reach!!