Rustler 36. Kora
Rustler 36. Kora.
Kora is a classic 1992 yacht by Holman & Pye, from the 1980s. Rustlers are heavy, lead ballasted, full-keel yachts having a cutaway forefoot and a gentle sheer. The Rustler 36 is designed for awesome long distance passage making in comfort whilst easy to manage.
New sailing gear for our Rustler 36.
In the process of renewal and restoration, we’ve fitted new sailing gear including standing and running rigging, new sails by Penrose of Falmouth and a new VAX2 Hydrovane.
New Upholstery linings and portlights
We’ve renewed the foam and replaced all the upholstery in blue fabric with contrasting patterned cushions. We’ve re-lined a lot of the interior in new white vinyl applied over double sided adhesive foam. We replaced the portlights and re-seated the hatches.
New electrical distribution for Kora
I re-built the main electrical distribution in tinned copper 35mm and 50mm AMC Oceanflex cable. I crimped and soldered the terminals to avoid corrosion. A new 120A Adverc controlled alternator supplies charge to three battery banks through a triple diode protecting them from mutual discharge. The Adverc has an effective energy monitoring facility keeping me informed of battery charge and available energy.
New Polisher and tank access
I fitted a new polisher in the fuel system to clear out diesel bug. The polisher cleans the diesel fuel as it fills the tank. Alternatively I can used it to re-clean fuel in the tank by circulation. Clearing away the diesel bug using the dip tube is easy through the filler cap.
Restoration
Keeping Kora as original as possible is important to me so I detached the teak strips off the rotted plywood seat and re-set them with glue, thus avoiding the risks of screwing into the base. I then caulked caulked the strips with Sika 290.
Finally, I will apply an all over West Epoxy coat then over coat with varnish for a high gloss.
Moulded a new glassfibre vanity basin for Kora’s heads. 2025.
Moulded a new fibreglass vanity basin to replace the broken vaccuum formed original which had failed.
The surrounding vaccuum form plastic to the sink drain hole was thin and brittle. I was replacing the skin fitting with a new Bronze valve. The plastic surrounding the hole shattered.
I took a ‘plaster cast in situ’ of the basin with a partly reconstructed waste outlet hole, coated it all in Shellac then made a red fibreglass positive from the plaster. This was necessary because I reasoned the plaster mould might only last for one positive. It was necessary to get to a production fibreglass mould – with a life.
Various negative and positive versions later there was a production mould!
Sailing Kora home from Orkney
In late summer we sailed Kora, our Rustler 36, from Orkney through the Pentland Firth to Wick. The journey south via Cromarty took us under the Irvine Bridge to Inverness where we entered the Caledonian Canal.
The Caledonian Canal connects the East and West coasts of Scotland avoiding the longer north passage around Cape Wrath. The most memorable stretch of the canal for us was Laggan Avenue, a magical section past overhanging trees . At Corpach we had enough time to make Corran where we stayed overnight in calm amongst awesome scenery. After an early departure for Oban, we encounterd strong winds gusting gale force with a very lumpy sea. Kora’s behavior throughout was predictably faultless!
From Oban we sailed past Crinan taking the outside route to the Mull of Kintyre. We called at the Isle of Gigha where we had lunch at the Michelin starred Boathouse restaurant. Replete, we spent the afternoon relaxing and planning the next leg of our journey south.
The long Atlantic swell at the Mull, glass calm anchorage at Donaghadee Sound, a clear starlit night sky approaching Peel and impeccable behaviour from Kora all made our voyage memorable. She then came out on the hard for a winter of careful attention and a variety replacements and renewals.