Category Archives: Uncategorized
Deck maintenance part 1
The experiences of David Parsons and F24 ‘Gypsy’. I am writing this article to pass on experiences and tips that I have learned from maintaining the decks of Gypsy, my Finesse 24. I do not profess to be any sort … Continue reading
Sand legs and sand pipes
The underwater hull of the Finesse shows a collection of parts that are important for things like stability, tracking and- last but not least- comfort. Much has been written about the long keel, bilge stubs and the deep bilge keels, whether or not in combination with a … Continue reading
Cockpit side rails
This short article describes a suggested modification for those of us who like to grab hold of the chains from the pushpit to the aft stanchion for a bit of security. We used them a lot, but wished that they … Continue reading
Centre plates and winches
Centre Plates & Winches on Finesse Craft. Finesse 21 Centre Plates: Early models of the Finesse 21 had a rectangular plate that sat in a slot within the keel assembly and a low box within the cabin. On later boats … Continue reading
Twelve gadgets for your Finesse
All tried and tested on a Finesse! From the inexpensive to the rather less inexpensive- gadgets to treat your boat (or for someone else to treat you!) Wallets at the ready… Thermometer and humidity meter Available unmounted from www.weather-station-products.co.uk, these … Continue reading
Bilge keels and the loss of Liberty
Liberty, the F24 that sailed this year (2020) after 4 years of restoration, was deemed by marine insurance surveyors to be beyond economic repair following damage to her starboard frames and planking. The injuries were caused through a bilge keel … Continue reading
Rudder design
It’s obvious that we use the rudder when we wish to change the direction of travel. However, the interplay between the centre of effort of the sails and the centre of lateral resistance of the hull give the boat a … Continue reading
Interior design of the Finesse range
During the time Alan Platt was building his range of Finesse yachts, he had a set idea about how the cabins would be laid out. However, he often deviated for various owners. During the ‘early days’ one vessel at least … Continue reading
Gaff vs Bermudan
There are 43 examples of the Finesse 24 on the Group boat list, and only 5 are listed as gaff cutters (with one more in the process of conversion). That’s just 14% of the total. Finesse 21s don’t fare much … Continue reading
Build a chest of drawers in a Finesse
If you look for long enough, you can find space that isn’t used quite as much as it should. Space that isn’t pulling it’s weight. If you have separate bunks (as we do in our Finesse24) then the narrowing area between the … Continue reading