A couple of questions about Nicholson 32

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NigelCraig

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I seem to recall an old thread containing a post by a Nic 32 owner that they couldn't be successfully dried out against a wall as it tips forward. Any Nic 32 owners able to comment on this and whether possible to move gear aft to compensate (not likely to be frequent need for this).

Secondly, fittting a bow thruster seems one way of taming the wayward reverse antics - any idea on cost for yard fit? - heard of one on these forums with Side Power 40.
 
NigelCraig said:
I seem to recall an old thread containing a post by a Nic 32 owner that they couldn't be successfully dried out against a wall as it tips forward. Any Nic 32 owners able to comment on this and whether possible to move gear aft to compensate (not likely to be frequent need for this).

Secondly, fittting a bow thruster seems one way of taming the wayward reverse antics - any idea on cost for yard fit? - heard of one on these forums with Side Power 40.
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We have a Nic 32 in our yard and when it's lifted ashore to be put in a cradle, it's natural tendency is to want to sit bow down. Solved by chocking the front of the keel up in the cradle. Perhaps this is a tendency for the boat to sit bow down. There will be significant weight in the bow with the anchor and chain so moving other ballast aft may be fruitless.
 
Our first boat had an extremely swept back keel and dried heavily nose down.
AiryFairydry22-7-89.jpg

In this photo the bow warp is like a bow-string! The previous owner berthed permanently against a jetty that dried completely on every tide. He made up a fitting on the bow that took a scaffolding pole vertically down to the the bottom, which apparently worked perfectly.
 
I feel your pain -
We struggle on the river backing Nic 32's.

So the solution is a 4hp thruster with it's own battery as they draw a fair amount of current.
On the Nic the tube really need to be faired in with long eyebrows or it feels horrible when your sailing.
We fair ours in up to around 9 or 10"
It does work!

The 4hp should be good to counter the prop kick and cross wind to about 14 to 15 knots - above that and you're looking at the 6hp, a bigger tube etc etc.
Cost,
We we did one not so long ago - think the thruster and tube was in the region of £850.
Fitting, fairing, wiring, battery etc would take the total to about £1800.
 
Hi, had a nic 36, which sat down at the bow when dried out against the wall but no real problems, sat down about 8 or 10 degrees. Personally would not consider a bow thruster, heavy, complicated etc. I had some light lines, either 8 or 10mm for spring out astern etc. for tight turns a bit of momentum and a three point turn always worked and when going a few boat lengths backwards did it bit by bit: boat length back, straighten up then another boat length back. Did have a friendly marina that put me in an easier berth though. Wish I still had it.

H
Apply sailing with it.
 
toad_oftoadhall said:
As with many long keelers it leans forward a bit, but nothing to worry about.
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My old boat, with a long keel, would have leaned forward if on a level hard surface. Mostly we dried out in mud so the issue didn't apply. But the two times I parked on hard sand, we actually dried out perfectly level because the sand was an upward-sloping beach :D

Pete
 
The legs on my old Folksong were put well forward to counteract the bow down tendency!

Have to say If I ever dry out or run aground I am pleased it has a hefty "long keel". I don't think my nerves could take a little fin or those twin rudders. They never look strong enough to take the weight of the boat or just look as though they could slip sideways on a slimy concrete harbour base - irrational I know but just looks scary...
 
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I would like to say about the topic.I think its right thing to do while repairing your boats .Scaffolding process provide you an extra care and safety while working and its positive think to do and less expensive as compare to other processes .What is your opinion about it .

http://scaffoldsalesaustralia.com.au
 
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Regarding wayward reverse antics, the simplest and cheapest approach might be to use those antics to advantage. For most sailboats, a short burst of astern power will result in prop walk causing the stern to move to the left. If you put the rudder to the right, and alternate between short bursts of forward and astern power, it's possible to do a standing turn to the right. At least that's the theory.
 
interloper said:
Regarding wayward reverse antics, the simplest and cheapest approach might be to use those antics to advantage. For most sailboats, a short burst of astern power will result in prop walk causing the stern to move to the left. If you put the rudder to the right, and alternate between short bursts of forward and astern power, it's possible to do a standing turn to the right. At least that's the theory.
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You are right - IN THEORY! In practice in a long keel boat you just wait and see what she does. Wind and current have a huge impact.

Single handing most of the time for marina work I have fenders and warps both sides so regardless of the plan I am ready with a back up! Where possible I warp the boat round rather than try and reverse out of a berth and if offered a tight spot I refuse!

On launching on Thursday wind from ahead, was expecting the stern to swing to port as went astern. It didn't went to starboard. Guessing there must have been an eddy under water catch the keel. Had this before in a lock in Holland.
 
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