Legs

[chart5011]

Am making some new legs for my gaffer (Heard 28) and was wondering what the consensus of opinion is on how far up from the keel the bottom of the leg should be?
I am thinking 3 inches would be about right, the old legs only had about 2 inches.
Thanks.

 

[Chrusty1]

Legs!!!!!!! you can't come in here talking about LEGS!!!!

You'll be wanting to talk about stockings, and suspenders, and.....and.....and.....


2 or 3 inches would be about right methinks? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JesseLoynes]

Depends what surface you'll b e standing on... mud, shingle or something solid?

I actually have a couple of different holes in the legs to suit each surface. On a solid surface, I see no problem with having a close fit, and then using chocks to keep her steady, on a softer surface, 3 inches or so is good t omake sure you don't put too much loading on the legs as the keel sinks in to the surface.

 

[old_salt]

Make them adjustable. Job done.

 

[cliffordpope]

I have never used them, but the difficulty I imagine must be knowing precisely how soft he ground under the keel is going to be, and also of course how soft at precisely the point where the leg is going to stand.

3" of lean suddenly starts to put an awfu lot of pressure on the leg - I remember vividly an anxious moment ashore for repainting and thinking I could easily move the rather rudimentary oil drum props a bit, and suddenly finding I was holding the whole boat because the wooden wedge had slipped.

Once the leg starts to sink in a bit and the boat leans, the pressure will increase so it will sink further. Then beyond a certain point the leg buckles or the fixing or hull give way.
Or the opposite scenario - the keel sinks , but the leg hits a buried rock and stops.
I know lots of people use them without mishap, but the thought gives me nightmares.

 

[Peterduck]

I think that you'd really need to sound the bottom with your bo'hook before she actually touches bottom. A confidence of where your bottom is, how it lies and how firm it is, will give you peace of mind. Mind you, you'll need a nice long bo'hook, longer than from sheer to keel, not one of those plastic abominations that the swindleries sell. Plenty of distance between the ends, or middle, is a blessing in a bo'hook. Often too short, but rarely too long!
Peter.

 

[Roach1948]

Indeed, and a nice little trick that I use on Roach's 8ft pole is to paint a large mark around it for her draft and foot graduations above that. Makes for a very useful sounding pole.

 

[Scarboroughsloop]

[ QUOTE ]
Indeed, and a nice little trick that I use on Roach's 8ft pole is to paint a large mark around it for her draft and foot graduations above that. Makes for a very useful sounding pole.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a good idea - consider it borrowed /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[pyrojames]

Old sea dog!

 

[fisherman]

On fishing boats the legs are 2" or so short, so if the boat is ranging about before landing the legs don't get broken. For the same reason we only have one bolt, as low as possible. I dry every tide, 12 tons, my legs are 5x5" douglas fir, with a cheek so they can't rotate far.

The only time I got in trouble, the mud was too soft, and the leg drove down several feet til the boat was on the bilge. Had to drive the bolt out, seen a similar boat held down and sunk like that. It would be easy to have a foot plate for that situation.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

If the old legs were original I'd copy them ... I'm sure Martin Heard had it right!

 

[FWB]

PM sent.

 

[Roach1948]

It's becuase I am not an old sea dog that I decided to mark my pole. On my first trip to Snape I realized that casting a lead single-handed up a meandering channel is quite an art. The pole is much quicker and easier, but do paint the last foot of the pole white (and attach a long lanyard with a float on the end)...... and I wont tell you how I learnt that tip!

 

[Niander]

i want to make some legs out of aluminium tubing with a plate welded to the bottom....pity i cannot stick weld it up myself....will have a series of bolt holes for adjustment...thats the idea ....much prefer to lean against a nice solid wall!
would they work in soft mud ya recon?....

 

[chart5011]

Thanks for all your thoughts and ideas, have settled on 2 inches. Liked the adjustable idea but not practical on my boat due to shaping to hull and rubbing strake. When I've finished the legs I'll start making a sounding pole!

 

[rich]

Hermees has been on legs since 1963, with no problems.

 

[Chrusty1]

Great legs!.......Shame about her face! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif