Stuart Badger's Connaught

[marinemole]

As the incredibly lucky new owner of Stuart Badger's magnificent Connaught I thought I'd start a new thread to record the life of the model post build. (Eddy, if you think it fits in the original build thread or the Paddler Day thread better feel free to move the post)

I've been away recently and have come back to some horrendous weather but will hopefully sail her on Loch Lomond soon.

In the meantime here are some pictures and a video from her debut outing at Darlington with the man himself featured extensively.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bo8IEJQlvA

[Eddy Matthews]

Some magnificent photos Andy!

Sadly I was too busy running around sorting this and that to get any time to take photos myself, which isn't unusual....

I also have to thank Stuart for giving me the opportunity to be the first person to sail the model, apart from it's short initial testing in Greece. It really made my day!

Everyone I spoke to thought it was a fantastic sight, and it deservedly won the prize for "best model on the water". It just looked so much like the real thing that it was uncanny!

Regards
Eddy

[djcf]

Looks fantastic on the water...nice to see so much of the paddlewheels visible, when under way. 

Clark

[Stuart Badger]

Thanks for all the appreciative comments guys!!! It was a pleasure to sail her and meet every one. I'm still recovering from the trip to the U.K. then I shall start work on 'Hercules' again!

All the best

Stuart

[marinemole]

A momentous and long overdue day today! Lachie phoned around lunchtime to say the forecast was good, the Loch calm and the entrails of the chicken propitious. Question was, would Connaught fit in his car? In preparation removed door to back bedroom from its hinges which certainly assisted in getting the model out. Round the right angle at the top of the stairs and ever so cautiously down the staircase. So far so good. Out the front door and down the outside steps. Result! Into the waiting car AND, with the bowsprit removed, it fitted into to his Mazda! Just!!!

Very little damage other than some of the the lifeboats coming off their falls and small portion of keel removed.

Down to Lomond Shores and put her into the water at the Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway. I knew Duncan and am sure he would have approved.

What can I say. A Lady, a Thoroughbred and a credit to her builder. She sails beautifully. Wash from power boats and jet skis? No problem! She shrugged it all off with the hauteur of an Irish beauty.

Is this post completely OTT? Probably! I'm still on a high, reinforced by a bottle of not bad Lehmann Wildcard Shiraz.

The bedroom door? Think I'll leave it off them hinges till one of my darling Daughters decides to visit.

Video to follow.

A very excited and elated

Andy

[Eddy Matthews]

Absolutely magnificent Andy! I'm so pleased you have eventually got to sail her on Loch Lomond.... I'm sure Stuart will be delighted when he reads your post!

Regards
Eddy

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....go back & view the image DSCF0667........the spread of water from her bow through to her paddle ...& to her stern on both port & stdb is simply majestic........a brillant build Stuart.....& a lucky owner Andy..... ....Derek

[Talisman]

Well Done Andy,
Good to know that she is being used as intended.
Having had the Privilege of sailing her i know she is a fantastic model in terms of appearance and on water ability .... Please show her off as much as possible!
A credit to her builder and owner!
Regards,
Kim

[Stuart Badger]

Well - what can I say. Thank you SO much. That post REALLY cheered me up after a truly S####y day!. I have some of the fall cord I can post to you. I am SO pleased you are enjoying her.

All the best

Stuart

[ancoaster78]

Awesome, just looks soooo good on the water. Nothing else to say, just awesome 

Congratulations to all involved!

[marinemole]

And now the video. Still too excited, and somewhat inebriated, to edit properly. But just had to get it on to YouTube.

Andy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqHPnqjIR50

[Sandy]

Magnificent 

Now that I can see the whole video, the low angle 'paddle-bys' are just awesome.

[marinemole]

As reported in the 'weather' thread, Lachie arrived up today to transport Connaught to Lomond Shores. Hull loaded without incident into the Mazda whilst I took superstructure, batteries etc. in the Celica.

Lachie left first and I made a last minute check to see if I had forgotten anything. 65 onwards is a dangerous age. Noticed vertical blinds in sitting room thrashing about.....the Robin which checks for titbits every time I dig the car out had followed me into the house, becoming trapped between the blinds and the window. How can it take ten minutes to trap one tiny bird?

Out to the car, reversed out of drive into snow drift. Another 15 minutes down. Arrived at Lomond Shores only to remember I had forgotten lead ballast. Back to house and couldn't find b&**@% things. How can you lose half a ton of lead? Enlightenment! Abortive trip to sail Connaught last week. They were in the car all the time. I did say 65 on was a dangerous age.

Back to Lomond shores. Another 20/25 minutes down.

Connaught finally in water, batteries connected and only dratted ballast and superstructure to go. 'Mind the rim of ice at the water's edge' cries Lachie as my wellies shoot skyward. Fortunately I stopped sliding before going into the water and only bruised and wet bum not to mention dented ego. What did I say about 65?

Finally! Triumph! The lady cruises effortlessly up the the slipway canal to her true home, the waters of Loch Lomond. Several visiting tourists and photo buffs snapping away merrily. Grand plan is to eventually pose Connaught and Lachie's Maid in front of the real Maid for a grand photo opportunity. But first some fun. Back into the canal and practice 5 point turns, it is relatively narrow. No problem, getting used to handling the boat. Back out into the bay and crossed the wake of the Park Ranger inflatable coming in to moor. Handled like a ballerina on a ballroom floor, a lady from stem to stern. Out across the bay and turn down the side of the Maid, the real one that is.

Disaster

No steerage way. The Lady drifts into the towering side of the steamer. First reactions are Radio? The steel hull blanking out 2.4 transmissions? But been there before with no problems. As the model drifts back out notice that rudder is still working. Blown speed controller?

Lachie didn't take a tug today and the only rescue craft available are his Maid and my my Micky Mouse Seaport Work Boat conversion. Limited success with the Maid but as we all know paddlers aren't the most manoeuvrable of craft. Eventually manage to hook the Micky Mouse tug just behind the Cats head and make painful progress towards safety. Problem Connaughts rudder is still active, and powerful, and is set up the opposite way to the Workboat on the transmitter! This causes problems but has the unexpected benefit of pushing both vessels together. Eventually however Connaught prevails and the two are going where I don't want them to go. Disengage tug and retire to a safe distance, stopping motor, and use Connaught's rudder to work her broadside on to the the end of the Jetty. Fire up the tug again and this time nudge Connaught broadside on to safety.

Attach a tow line and tow her back to the end of the canal.

The problem? Connaught's drive train is belt between motors and an intermediate shaft then chain to the Paddle shaft. The split pin securing the belt pulley to the intermediate shaft had sheared and dropped out. Motors were rotating away but of course no paddle rotation. I can only guess at debris fouling a paddle but perhaps Stuart could advise.

An eventful day but fun nonetheless. Bitterly cold but sunny and flat calm. A good day in spite of 65 and the snow.

Sorry about the OTT post but in this weather we need to try something to cheer us up.

Andy

[marinemole]

PS

The jetty was closed today for safety reasons, heavy snow on the pontoon. The footprints in the snow aren't ours. Honest Injun

[Eddy Matthews]

I'm glad to hear it was a relatively minor problem in the end Andy.... Magnificent photos!

Regards
Eddy