Lemon Tree Passage, NSW AU
6 May 2005
Cracker Box update
Attached, hopefully, is a photo of my boat the "Red Dwarfe". The stripes are Australian red gum and hoop pine. The motor plans have changed and now will be 350chev and an outboard rudder.
Peter Randall
14 Dec 2005
The boat is again the right way up after painting and boring of the shaft hole. The sides have proven a nightmare to get smooth after putting a coating of dynel on. The paint is Northane 2-pack fleet red and gloss black. Norglass is an Australian company and is brilliant. There is still a bit of work to do, but that will be done after the deck is laid and the fitout completed. I can say with some pride that all the work is mine... even the mistakes. The stern took 2 days and the rudder bracket was a pain all the way to the finish. The exhaust ports are 65 mm and the flanges are laser cut, the fuel tank is 304 stainless steel and around 55 litres. Again my work. As for the trailer, which is coming, I left that to a local manufacturer who promises a proper job.
Have fun everyone.
Love, Light & Peace.
Peter
24 Feb 2006
Just added shiny bits... the boat looks ok. Still saving for the engine and other go fast gear.
Love, Light & Peace.
Peter
10 Jun 2006
Here's some more of my boat. Just had to float it to shut up a few doubting persons at work... That's the missis casting an approving eye. All I now have to do is save for the engine. The guages on the dash are from Moon Industries in the US.
2 August 2007
Some of the latest pictures of my Crackerbox. You can see the engine oil cooler, which is fed engine engine coolant, not raw water. The heat exchanger and the Argo Z-Drive. All raw water inlet piping is stainless steel, as will be the exhaust.
Well, it's finished well enough to power along with only minor interior finishes to do. The boat goes really well about 40 mph at 2000 rpm with an 8% step up in the gear box and a 12x15 three blade prop. She rides quite flat, so a little has been taken off the cavitation plate and she is a little skaty at hgher speeds, so the rudder has been trimmed and reshaped a little. Also I'm removing the tension springs from the steering and replacing them with turn buckles to try and stop the rudder fluttering. All in all I couldn't be happier. Now the red tape begins to register it. Thanks all at Glen-L. (Thanks to you Peter, for a great looking boat!--Gayle, Glen-L)
26 November 2007
I had to send this photo of my boat taking part in a sail past and blessing of the fleet near my home town. The crew is my 13 year old daughter Elizabeth. I also have to tell you about all the positive comments about the boat. Well done again Glen-L.
ps: I know of one other Crackerbox in Sydney and possibly two more somewhere in Australia being constructed. Seems I've started a trend towards classic boats.
LOVE,LIGHT & PEACE.PETER.