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Farr 3.7
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Farr 3.7
    Posted: 10 Nov 11 at 3:49pm
These lightweight building techniques work a treat, build great boats and are very well established in the antipodes. Farr's ply boat building construction details are the best I've ever seen. The only trouble is in the UK they were only really familiar to Moth and Cherub builders. So here's a comment I made on an article on building wooden Cherubs some years ago, the second half of which comes from a previous article by Dick Jarret!

Advice is always helpful, but make sure you understand it completely! Be a bit careful of people who have built 5 Enterprises. They will probably tell you that such and such a bit has to be that thick or glued on that way. It may well end up too heavy and not strong enough! If advice does not seem to add up pay attention to your own inner murmurings. One excellent piece of advice is to have a comfortable 'thinking chair' in which you can put your feet up with a cup of tea - or something else relaxing - and look and think hard about the current problem. Thinking time is rarely wasted - especially if it means you don't have to do something twice!


On the other topic: bearing in mind the amount of time and effort that it will take you to build the boat, is it really worth trying to save a few quid on an off the shelf kite that will *nearly* fit?
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rogue View Drop Down
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Posts: 978 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rogue Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 11 at 3:35pm
Vareo- one of the new flat ones so you can actually use it on a normal race course?
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Bootscooter View Drop Down
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Posts: 1094 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Bootscooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 11 at 3:09pm
Well, I zapped off an email to Peter Kovesi ( http://www.peterkovesi.com/home/farr37/ ) to ask a few questions about self-building a 3.7, so here's my email (to give context) and his reply;
 
Hi Peter,
>
> Forgive me for contacting you like this, but I stumbled over your boat build
> page while researching the Farr 3.7.
>
> There's been quite a bit of chat over here on the Yachts & Yachting forum
> about the 3.7 (
> http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5489&title=farr-37
> ) and one of the guys on there has imported a boat from NZ. Everything I've
> read about the boat has been massively positive and I've now been given
> tacit approval by SWMBO to start building one in the new year..
> Now, I'm no Master Cabinet-Maker and I've never built a boat before, but I
> can swing a hammer and pump a saw when necessary. I've actually just
> finished restoring an old VW Camper from bare metal, and build the interior
> to show-standard from scratch, so I'm reasonably confident of my woodworking
> skills.
> If it's ok, could you answer some questions for me please?
> 1. Is the design suitable for home-build, as a 1st attempt at a boat?
> 2. Roughly how many hours do you think went in to building yours?
>
> With an eye to the UK sailing requirements;
> 3. How difficult would it be to incorporate a retracting pole and spinnaker
> chute?
> 4. If the UK standard became a spinny-fitted boat, would it be
> possible/sensible to try and rig the boat forestay free?
>
> Thanks in advance - if people's talk over here is anything to go by, there
> may be a few 3.7s on the UK circuit next year.
>
> All the best, Bootscooter
 
 
...and his reply;
 
Hi Bootscooter,
Sounds like you are quite handy so I am sure you would be ok building
the boat.  If you are fairly handy you will get there, lack of
experience will only slow you down, not prevent you completing the
project.  However, it would be useful if you have access to someone
who has built a boat for occasional guidance/reassurance motivation
etc.

I think it took me around a year to build, I am not the fastest
builder.  It always takes much longer than you think it will - and
then a bit more.

One thing that can be a bit intimidating is the lightness of the
structure.  You look at many of the bits as you are building it and
ask 'Can this really support the mast?'  'Can this really hold my
weight?'  etc  but when it is all glued up it is very strong.   The
3.7 is a good example of the lightweight plywood construction
techniques from he 70s.  I used to sail 14' Skiffs prior to the rules
being changed to make them meet the I14 rules.  We would build them
out of 1/8" plywood.  We would have bulkheads every 18" and 3/8"x3/4"
stringers 3" apart.  The structure was  *very* strong and light.  We
would build them down to a minimum weight of 140lbs which is lighter
than the I14s are now

Yes, do put on a retracting pole and shute!  That's what I did.
Attached is a zip file of some photos.  Hope you can make out what I
did.  The kite ended up being a bit on the small size at around 8m^2,
it should have been 10, or a bit more.  This makes the boat heaps of
fun.  I did a retrofit a year after I built the boat.  It would be
much easier to build it in in the first place.

I don't think you could rig the boat forestay free because your weight
on the trapeze wire would pull the mast back too much.  The RS100
arrangement works because it does not have a trapeze.  Certainly the
forestay on the 3.7 is a bit of a hassle when gybing the kite.

Cheers
Peter
I'm quite encouraged by this and am now convinced that I'll be starting a build in the New Year.  Can anyone think of an "off the shelf" kite of about 10m that'll do the job?  Big smile 
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Andymac View Drop Down
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Posts: 852 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Andymac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Nov 11 at 1:30pm
I was going to mention the state of your Progrip, but having just caught up with your blog see that you've just sorted it. Well done for sourcing that 'Progrip' at such a nominal price! Nifty idea for applying traction to the minor repair as well Daryl.
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bferry View Drop Down
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Posts: 190 		Post Options Post Options   Quote bferry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Nov 11 at 10:33am
Yes, love the BLUE footstraps...very classy LOL
Bernard
Vareo 249
Miracle 2818
Malta
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G.R.F. View Drop Down
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Posts: 4028 		Post Options Post Options   Quote G.R.F. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Nov 11 at 9:26am
Nice footstraps, brings a touch of class, interesting boat, why did I previously think it had a centreboard?
https://www.ease-distribution.com/
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Andymac View Drop Down
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Posts: 852 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Andymac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Nov 11 at 9:17am
A couple of years back HARKEN gave room on their stand to showcase Dan's Punk, there was definately a lot of people visiting the stand.
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Jack Sparrow View Drop Down
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Posts: 2965 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Jack Sparrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 11 at 11:09pm


it may be a tough call asking Spinlock to provide some stand space! :-)
Farr 3.7 Class Website
Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group
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Andymac View Drop Down
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Posts: 852 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Andymac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 11 at 9:52pm
Originally posted by RS400atC

Your best bet would be one of the fittings manufacturers perhaps?
I was thinking the same, but I can't see 'X' hosting if you're fitted out with 'Y.'
It could be worth a mailshot to non-dinghy class exhibitors.
Maybe even a benevolent magazine could give it some space?
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RS400atC View Drop Down
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Posts: 3011 		Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 11 at 9:14pm
Your best bet would be one of the fittings manufacturers perhaps?
TBH, more interested people will take notice of it if you do all the winter pursuits....
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