bow sprit

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kieronriley

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hi i am thinking of fitting a bow sprit to my m.g,30 to solve weather helm,can i fit a fold up one ,if so any ideas on design,or could i go for what may be an easier option and cutter rig it though this would involve a second forstay and maybee new shrouds any ideas or help thanks Kieron
 
I'd check that your sails are okay and the mast has the correct rake before altering the rig design. When was the mainsail last replaced?
 
Not familiar with your boat, but what kind of rudder is she fitted with? Has it been modified at sometime?
 
Is it possible that the mainsail is worn out - try to flatten it with cunnigham, kicker, outhaul and halyard tension to do so. This will depower it and reduce the helm problem.

Also, the mast rake - ie how far forward or aft it leans is of great importance, and a small difference in rake can make a lot of steering difference.

If you've got weather helm you'll be looking to rake the top of the mast further forward. Slacken shrouds and tension forestay.
 
MG 30

Tony Castro design, balanced rudder.

I'd look at that first before modifying the sailplan, increase the area ahead of the pintle centre-line using epoxy filler (I used International's underwater epoxy putty).

Second I'd look at tightening the leech on the main - if the main's got too much fullness, that will give you a hardmouth weather helm.

If you do feel the need to put additional area into the foresail area, use a wishbone pivoting about the bows, with a tackle down to the forefoot, and have made up a genniker (talk to jeremy Robinson of Sobstad).

After destroying a 65mm and then a 110mm cantilevered pole, I had an A made up from 40mm 316 tube with a downhaul at 40˚, which has done 3 seasons successfully flying a 900ft2 genniker.
 
I remember being told (some years ago) that the MG30 (a Morgan Giles design) did carry a lot of weather helm. IIRC she is a longish keel '50's style cruiser/ racer and pretty heavy, in which case she may well have been designed with weather helm as it was very common in those days. In which case, the sort of mod you are looking at could well be the best solution.

If the above description doesn't match your boat, I apologise, there may be more recent designs with the same name as the one I once nearly bought.
 
. I am guessing your problem is weather helm when heeled over and hard pressed. If so it is likely the weather helm is from the asymetrical shape of the hull in the water and the fact that the drive is way to leeward of the drag (hull and keel)
A quick experiment is to reduce jib area when you get the excessive weather helm. You will likely find the heel is less and the boat is more manageable. (yes I know this the opposite to the weather helm theory regarding centres of pressure and resistance.
You can alleviate this problem a little by puting more balance on the rudder leading edge as already described but reducing sail is the immediate answer.

I would suggest youu hold off with the bow sprit and additional jib (is that a yankee jib?) although I like the idea of 2 jibs and being able to reduce sail area by pulling one down rather than change jibs as I do. good luck olewill
 
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