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Raven's refit

 

Raven in the Crinan Canal

 

Raven in the Crinan Canal after her 18 month refit

 

Ian and Nan Gray have been members of the association since June 2006, when they announced they had bought a Victoria 34 in a fairly sorry state and were going to comprehensively restore and refit her.

Ian also said he would document and photograph much of the work and make any lessons learnt during the refit available to other members of the association. This was documented on the original web page for "Raven", which may still be seen on our website.

Ian has been as good as his word and recently sent both a letter and a summary of the work he has completed. Rather than attempt any further explanation myself, I will reproduce both the letter and the summary of work below along with Ian's contact details.

 

EDINBURGH
23 February 2010

 

VICTORIA 34STC "RAVEN"
As you will see from my entry on the “our boats” page on the association website in 2006, I took on the restoration of “Katey Dedalus II”, the sail training version of the V34. She had been laid up ashore in yard at Malahide Marina north of Dublin for 8 or 9 years. She had been bought new in 1992 along with a V26 and V30 to set up the Ulysses Sailing School in Dublin. This did not take off and the owner laid up the V34 as the most expensive boat to run.
I surveyed her and found her in exceptionally good structural condition and good cosmetically under the layers of grime, but all mechanical, electrical and electronic systems would require renewal and sail handling systems would require revision for short handed sailing. This gave me the opportunity to have a boat that was almost as new and with systems of my own choosing. The mechanicals were in such poor order that it was agreed that she be delivered to the Clyde before payment was made. This was the best decision I ever made!
Anyway, she was delivered to the Clyde and we spent a month in the water just cleaning her up and figuring out where we were going with the refit. She was then hauled out and work began. Needless to say things escalated and it would be another year before she was in the water and still with things to be done. At the time I said I would write up the work (I did all the work myself) as advice to other owners. When we did complete the work we were so glad to be sailing again that for the last two years any write up has been on the back burner. We have done so much that to write it up would not necessarily be pertinent to individual requirements and I would suggest I merely make a short précis of each category and I can go into more detail if an owner has a problem I might have a solution to. I have already replied to a couple of requests. I attach this summary as a separate document and also attach a photo of Raven in the Crinan canal on our way back to our Dunstaffnage mooring from the Clyde, refit complete, to update our webpage.
Yours sincerely
Signature
Ian Gray

 

Summary of Work carried out on Victoria 34STC “Raven” starting from bow and working aft.
I am not a marine professional and I take no responsibility for advice given. It is up to the individual boat owner how he interprets it and whether he accepts it.
HULL AND INTERIOR
  1. New stem fitting made to carry a Delta anchor snugly and incorporating a tang for emergency inner forestay. I can provide photos and CAD drawing to enable laser cutting of stainless steel components.
  2. New longer tang fitting for forestay kept separate rather than incorporated as on original.
  3. I was not satisfied with the chain locker draining into the boat and carried out modifications to drain it overboard, I like to keep salt water outside. I can expand on this.
  4. Fitted Lofrans Tigres windlass. I can supply CAD drawing for moulded plinth and wiring installation.
  5. Re-glazed crazed Lewmar portlights. Can give advice.
  6. Recovered head lining panels under sidedecks. Can give advice.
  7. Blakes Lavac toilet installation. Can supply advice / photos.
  8. The toilet installation also involved a diverter valve from the seawater inlet to a deckwash pump which was also installed below the basin and quick connect on the side deck. Can provide advice on installation, wiring etc.
  9. Completely rewired the boat using tinned cable, can provide wiring diagram advice / photos.
  10. Modifications to diesel tank to allow cleaning of tank, taking sample off bottom to check for water and pipework and filter to suit new engine installation.
  11. Re-engining – Raven was fitted with a Volvo 2003 which was a requirement of the Joint Services STCs. This had a 7º down angle gearbox but most boats will be fitted with a Yanmar but the principles are the same. I wanted to fit an Aquadrive or Pythondrive CV coupling as Cutless bearing wear was rapid. I did CAD overlays of several engines with this setup and the only possibilities were Beta 25 or Yanmar 20. I settled for the Beta 25. I can provide photos, CAD drawings and advice.
  12. Feathering prop – I did CAD overlays of several props and the only one which would fit without dropping the rudder at the time I was making my decision was a Variprop but now the Darglow Featherstream would appear to be suitable and it is British made. A disc type ropecutter was used as there is not enough room for the preferable scissors type. I can provide photos, CAD drawings, and advice.
  13. Rudder bearings – “Raven” is tiller steered and these comments do not necessarily refer to wheel steered. The rudder stock had dropped so far that the tiller head was sitting on the top bearing and had caused substantial damage to this bearing. I could only assume that there must have been some sort of thrust washer sitting on top of the heel fitting which had worn away. When I removed the heel fitting there was evidence of dezincification of this. I therefore had a bronze bearing made to lift the rudder and at the same time this would provide electrical continuity with the bonding system to the anode to prevent this dezincification. I also intend to fit a small anode to the heel fitting. I can provide details of this modification.
  14. Tiller head – the standard lifting tiller fitting is not substantial and showed considerable wear. I designed and had made a new stainless steel tiller head. Having removed the top bearing and had the top surface skimmed in the lathe to a level surface, this was designed to sit on a nylon washer (which also incorporated an O ring to prevent water getting down below) which shared the load on the heel fitting bearing. This is a very substantial fitting and provides beautifully precise steering with absolutely no play. I can provide CAD drawings, photos and advice.
  15. Mikuni diesel fired heating – I completely stripped down the heater and rebuilt it with new gaskets , etc. I also replaced the corroded paper and aluminium foil ducting with a superior plastic, wire reinforced variety which is available from Mikuni at very little greater cost. I can provide advice.
RIG, SELDEN MAST
  1. I can provide drawings of stackpack / lazyjacks which work well.
  2. Setting up mast and chocking.
  3. Fitting extra halyard exit slots.

 

My email address on my Association web page and in the handbook is ian.gray@bigfoot.com .... my new address is ian_r_gray@o2.co.uk that is .... ian(underscore)r(underscore)gray@o(oscar)2.co.uk. I'm afraid I saddled myself with an address which is easily misinterpreted but so many people now have this address it would be difficult to change. The bigfoot address is still active but very slow, mails sometimes taking several days.
Regards
Ian Gray

Or, just click on the link below:
Ian Gray

 
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