Specification

Standard specification from 1st September 1979.

Part 2.

Spars and Rigging.
The masthead rig sailplan is based on an anodised Proctor mast and boom fitted with "through mast" roller reefing for the mainsail. Stainless steel standing rigging is of 5mm. diameter for the forestay, backstay and cap shrouds and 4mm. for the lower shrouds; they are swaged onto stainless steel bottlescrews.

The bottlescrews are fastened direct to the "U" bolts that form the chainplates and thus render toggles unnecessary. Terylene halyards are led internally down the mast to emerge from the base of the mast and are then brought back to the cockpit. A powerful kicking strap is fitted on a boom claw ring, retained by a compression strut. An adjustable backstay tensioner is also fitted. Terylene genoa sheets and multi-purchase main sheet with cam cleat on lower block are standard. An adjustable outhaul is fitted to the boom.

Spinnaker Equipment.
All spinnaker equipment is fitted except sheets, downhaul and spinnaker pole.

Ground tackle.
A 14 3/4 lb. anchor is supplied with suitable chain and 30 meters of 1 1/4 in. Nylon anchor warp.

Engine.
While an inboard engine can be fitted, we feel that an outboard engine is more in keeping with Achilles. To this end we provide, as standard, an outboard well in the cockpit to keep the propeller as close to the centre of the boat as possible. Two outboard well plugs are included; one to fair off the bottom of the hull when the engine is not in use, and the other plug carries the engine within the well, minimises any upsurge of water into the cockpit and remains attached to the engine when stowed.

The cockpit drains through the outboard well and in extreme emergency the plugs can be removed for massive cockpit drainage.

Under most circumstances a 5 hp engine will be more than sufficient to propel Achilles, but room is available for an 8 hp motor. The engine may be stowed beneath the cockpit sole. Should an inboard engine be required we recommend the water-cooled Volvo Saildrive, 7 1/2 hp petrol, twin cylinder, four-stroke.

Standard Safety Equipment.
Double row lifelines made from plastic covered 4mm diameter 1 x 19 stainless steel wire are carried by eight tapered alloy stanchions. The stanchion bases are moulded into the hull. The lifeline wires are swaged at the aft end into stainless steel bottlescrews and at the forward end to stainless steel fork terminals. Stainless steel forward and aft pulpits are fitted and securely through bolted to the deck.

Two fire extinguishers are fitted, positioned such that they can be reached from the cockpit or the galley. A heavy duty Henderson Mk V bilge pump is fitted in the stern locker and is operated from the cockpit without removing the hatch via a handle fitting into a deck gland. The self-draining cockpit empties through a large diameter drain.

Standard Deck Fittings.
Only top grade deck hardware is fitted. Where aluminium alloy is used it is of anodised marine grade. Other materials are Tuphnol, Nylon and Stainless Steel. Solid teak is used for the gunwhales, handrails and companionway framing, while the lockable companionway drop boards are of teak veneered ply. Sockets are moulded onto all fin keel hulls for the attachment of Mooring Legs.

Note - This specification has only two small differences from the otherwise identical specification from the 1st of January 1977. They are the standard hull colours which were then Medici blue or white with the deck in mist grey only, and the recomended inboard engine was the water cooled 12hp RCA Dolphin twin.

Continue to Mast Rake and Rigging Tension....

Achilles 24