Anchor plates screw size.

Submitted by haventaclue on Mon, 08/19/2013 - 14:27

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Hi all
I'm in the process of restoring a Mirror Dinghy,number 21640,1970 I believe.I am at the stage of re-attaching the anchor plates,that's the name I got from the Trident parts site for the eyes to attach the stays.
The screws seem very light to take the strain of the mast and sail on a windy day,not that I will be sailing on very windy days as I haven't sat in a sailing dinghy in over twenty years.And can't remember all/any of the terminology.Are these stainless steel 20mm x #3.5's correct?
Also,could anyone give me the measurements for the distance for the rudder pintal from the top of the transom,as dum dum forgot to measure before removing them or any of the fittings.
As I'm not sure that I have all the necessary bits, if anyone can point me in the direction of good close up pics of the interior fittings and their location,there are no other Mirror dinghy's within a seventy mile radius that I know off,to go and get photos of.Mind you there is one rotting on the sea front at Mumbles in Wales,but I'm not going to be there before end September.Had no camera or tape measure with me last week.
So if anyone can help me out,it would be very much appreciated,

Regards,
Noel

62816inBerlin's picture

62816inBerlin

Mon, 08/19/2013 - 17:58

If that's what you mean, then remember that there are four such screws holding the plates in place. Mine have held in even the toughest of conditions (hours beating upwind in a chop and several unintentional gybes during a rain-squall).
However, if you are re-installing in the original holes, inject a bit of thickened epoxy in the screw holes before replacing the screws (if you think you'll ever have to remove the screws again, wipe some oil on them first to prevent the epoxy sticking to them). This ensures that the threads have a good grip.
More important than the length of the screws is the condition of the wood into which you are screwing them. The mahogany (clear varnished) bits under mine looked perfectly good from outside until one fine day my mast simply fell overboard when I was sailing in a moderate breeze. It turned out that a whole section of the hull and gunwale under the paint and varnish were rotten inside.
If no-one else is faster, I'll try to get you the picture and dimensions by the weekend.
Wishing you success!
Cheers,
Gernot

haventaclue

Mon, 08/19/2013 - 20:28

Thank you for the quick reply.Yes that's what I mean,anchor plates for shrouds and forestay.I'm hoping to have her on the water at least once before my daughter heads for college,might need help to get in and out of the water and see if I can remember any of the stuff I used to know.
I think I'll install the anchor plates as close to the seat/buoyancy tank as possible.And when I get it together,I sincerely hope I'll never have to dismantle anything again
This is a fairly extensive restoration.A wee bit more than I had intended.
This Mirror came to me via a gentleman whose kids were not interested in sailing,more jet-skis etc. Apparently my father assembled it for him in '70.So he give me first refusal,which he didn't get.Hey who passes up a free boat.
Seems the anchor plates were installed sideways,so I won't be using the same holes.The side plates,as I call them,are in good condition.Part of the rebuild,rotten ply cut out,fresh bit fibreglassed in,skimmed with epoxy filler inside and out.I also had to repair a few holes,a fairly big one near the bow,and replace some rotten ply.Not for the purist is this restoration.This poor old boat stood on it's side for a good number of years,or in nautical terms ,it's port gunwale.When I figure how to upload a pic or two I will. Thanks again for the reply

62816inBerlin's picture

62816inBerlin

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 15:21

A quick survey of my repair pictures of 2012 coughed up this picture. Unless you are an accuracy fanatic, I think it is fairly safe to say the chainplates are centred between the deck and the gunwales. I assume a difference of a few microns would not make any difference. The bow fitting is almost at deck level on my boat, as you can see.
stern view .
If you have removed both rudder fittings and cannot find the position any more, I suggest screwing the top one in place as it is flush with the top edge of the transom, then hanging the rudder in it and using the rudder to find the location of the bottom pintle (both fittings have to be centred on the transom laterally of course).
In case anyone reading this is puzzled by the blocks between the shroud positions: these are extra rowlock fittings I added so that it is easier to row the boat (in rowing-boat configuration) with a person sitting on the stern thwart. I put a cushion over the mast-step so that I can sit there to row. The boat is then fairly flat in the water instead of with the bow pointing skywards.
I hope this helps.
Gernot H.

haventaclue

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 21:55

Thank you.Perfect,and I've had a good look at your boat.Do you mind if I copy the photo and save it for future ref? Though I'm afraid mine is never going to look as good as this.And I think I'll copy you by putting a pair of rowlock blocks fwd.Thanks again.Much appreciated.

62816inBerlin's picture

62816inBerlin

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 17:42

Feel free to keep the picture. I'm not too proud of the amateurish lettering on the stern and the fact that the patch at the bottom is quite visible.

It's a pity that there are no other Mirrors in your area. I always assume they were ubiquitous throughout the UK!
Gernot H.

haventaclue

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 11:50

Will save the pic .
Thank you.I thought the writing was fine and I never noticed the patch,and I had a good look.
They are plentiful in the UK but I live in the North West of Ireland where sailing clubs are few and far between and those that are in the County Donegal use Toppers,Lasers,GP14's which I learned to sail in way back in the eighties,anything but Mirror's.Or none that I have seen or anyone that I have spoken to doesn't know of any.
http://www.cmba-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4475 This is where I hang out most of the time and as I haven't worked out how to up load photo's yet,she can be seen here in this forum. I have varnished the "bilge runners"?? Flipped her over and now trying to put everything back where it should be

PuffinInTegel's picture

PuffinInTegel

Mon, 08/26/2013 - 21:33

Sorry but I haven't found the script to help people link pictures, but you can insert the standar html tag
img src = "(your picture's address)" width= "(usually about 70% for most resolutions)" enclosed in pointed brackets < > .
So for size = 70 % your picture at www.cmba-uk.com/forum/download/file.php?id=315 would look like this

Cheers,
Gernot

haventaclue

Thu, 08/29/2013 - 10:58

Ugly isn't she,but a fair bit has changed on her since.I have managed to upload to photobucket,so now to work out how share the link

haventaclue

Thu, 08/29/2013 - 11:05

http://s1004.photobucket.com/user/merc800nut/library/?sort=2&page=1 Ok I'll try this

mirrorpete

Thu, 08/29/2013 - 11:37

Great photos and it looks like you have done an A1 restoration job. Will you be putting in an extra pair of floor battens? It would be a good idea to stiffen up the bottom of the Mirror.

Pete

haventaclue

Thu, 08/29/2013 - 15:54

Have to say it never occurred to me to do that.Though with only 5mm ply on the bottom it would seem a sensible idea and,as I have a plentiful supply of mahogany,I might as well do that.Thank you for the idea and the compliment,I kept as much of the old Mirror as I possibly could. And I stole 62816inBerlin's forward rowlock block idea as well.Well my ever patient better half likes to see where I'm taking her but won't be sailing,leaving that to number three daughter

haventaclue

Tue, 09/10/2013 - 11:25

Well took to the water yesterday.Amazing what is forgotten over twenty five years.Provided lots of laughs for daughter #3 who abandoned ship just as I was about to push off.
Between capsizing,I explained this as practice,and not because I forgot to put down the daggerboard,and been unable to get into the slip,the wind was blowing straight down the slip and had to row the last ten metre in.
Seem to have a leak just at the centerboard housing,slow,so I'll live with that for a couple of weeks until I pack all away for the winter and pass the dark evenings fiddling with it and I'll fit another set of floor battens. Thank you for the advice,very much appreciated.

Noel

P.S. Uploaded a couple of pics to the photobucket link

PuffinInTegel's picture

PuffinInTegel

Tue, 09/17/2013 - 13:17

quote: "
P.S. Uploaded a couple of pics to the photobucket link
"
Good to see your final results:
Mirror 21640

(I think I'll suggest we start an album of members' boats)

Gernot H.

haventaclue

Tue, 09/17/2013 - 13:47

Good idea.
And I'll get a look at other boats to see what improvements I can make and ideas I can steal

curlew's picture

curlew

Fri, 09/20/2013 - 19:27

As I use my boat in rough conditions, I have bolted the anchor plates right through, with stainless screws and Nyloc nuts. I had to drill out the anchor plate holes slightly to get a nice screw size through. I think the screws are M3.
David

curlew's picture

curlew

Fri, 09/20/2013 - 19:28

As I use my boat in rough conditions, I have bolted the anchor plates right through, with stainless screws and Nyloc nuts. I had to drill out the anchor plate holes slightly to get a nice screw size through. I think the screws are M3.
David