Sea legs

B

Beattie

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Does anyone know of how to go about building sea legs for a keel boat to allow it to stand in a drying mooring? I have seen pictures of these and on the boat we are currently restoring have some rough temporary legs to give extra support while it stands in a cradle. We need to make some that are more reliable and able to be swung up when not in use. The boat is a 20ft North East Coast One Design by Alan Buchanan and originally had sea legs. Any information will be extremely welcome.
 
There is no particular fixed design for legs.and by looking around a few anchorages and yards, you are sure to find a variety, all working well. Some have the upper part of the leg shaped to match the curvature of the hull topsides. and have a large wing-headed bolt through the top, going into a threaded plate fixed to the topsides at the point of maximum beam. Some are timber, others are telescopic aluminium. Nearly all have a large, square foot so that they don't sink into the famous East Coast mud. The foot has to be joined to the leg with a universal joint at the "ankle". It is good to be able to adjust the length of the leg to allow for a transversely sloping bottom.
Peter.
 
Thanks for this
Peter - you mention that it might be possible to see some by looking around a few anchorages. So far I have only spotted one on the river Wansbeck. Have you seen any anywhere so I can get a look at them?
 
be careful !
if your boat is not built to have such legs, it could be dangerous to add some !
There might be a hole (for the screw/bolt) across a strong piece of the hull...
Otherwise, you can find back your legs... and a wreck between them ! (talking about your boat only...)

OK, I know, my english is "so cute"...
Hope you'll understand what I mean.
 
Boats in Jersey have had legs since the YEAR dot!!!Wood GRP YOU, name it, they got them! PS,there is't a boat built to have such legs
 
Hermees - thanks for the proper name for them - where do I find your pics - I'm HOPELESS with these forum things.
bunoL - the boat does inded have the hole and the strenghtening and even a little square of wood at the top of the stern where they were fixed up when not in use - the boat is 40 year old and yes your English is "cute" but easily understandable - thanks to you both
 
I saw an article concerning the making of these recently which I'm fairly sure was in Wooden Boat, possibly issue no.179. This is an excellent publication 'tho very different to CB
Regards Andrew
 
Thanks Andrew - a copy is now winging its way to us.
Thanks to everyone for helping on this - We think we have enough information now to make an attempt at making some beaching legs! Will let you all know how it goes :-)
 
[ QUOTE ]
Boats in Jersey have had legs since the YEAR dot!!!Wood GRP YOU, name it, they got them! PS,there is't a boat built to have such legs

[/ QUOTE ]

I am a little confused by your PS as my Nova has the holes and strengthened back plates in the sides to take legs and it seems that all the Nova's were built with them in. That would indicate that it was built to take legs. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Hello Richard,

Very indifferent reactions from some of the folks here when I said I was putting Ratafia on a fore and aft mooring with legs. All sorts of rubbish being spouted.

After a while I felt it worth pointing out that she ad been on her legs for a least 20 years and I was damned if they were to be her last. They've left me alone since then - wonder why?
 
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