Sea trials

fisherman

fisherman

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2 Dec 2005
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Far S. Cornwall
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https://imgur.com/BG3HrnP

Goes like a train, sails itself on a reach, but upwind is a trial. Also with the long keel, going about involves rowing the stern round. Steering oar useful for that. Sometimes will come about but only just. I'm thinking of moving the mast back about a foot, as you can see the bulk of the sail area is well for'd. ???
Very tender but once over on one ear becomes quite stable.

https://imgur.com/gyhRWW5
https://imgur.com/fiZFW1Q
 
I managed to link a video: I have since shifted the mast step aft a foot, will it help with upwind performance?
To be honest, this is the boat I wanted when I was twelve, taken til seventy to get it, and I'm just doing all the things I would have done sixty years ago.
However, it can be seen how easily driven it is. I may fit the rudder next.
bhttps://imgur.com/CxmiXLG
Ah, no vid now, will try again.
 
Moving the mast foot will change weather or lee helm but wont improve the drive much. Seems fairly neutral from your video. Failing to come around might indicate too much lee not enough weather but I think probably not.

Pretty craft :)
 
oldmanofthehills said:
Moving the mast foot will change weather or lee helm but wont improve the drive much. Seems fairly neutral from your video. Failing to come around might indicate too much lee not enough weather but I think probably not.

Pretty craft :)
Click to expand...
Neutral is the word I think: let go the tiller, she just carried on, could be coaxed slightly upwind but not much with sail trim alone. Travel hopefully rather than arrive....
 
Looks like not enough ballast especially at the sharp end, to me.. She's rolling over onto her quarters and lifting the bow and that's doing funny things to the CLR.

The mast looks way too far for'd, but until you fit the rudder (is it counterbalanced ?) it will be difficult to tell if the sail layout is right for the boat.


Pretty looking craft and when you get the stick in the right place , she looks as if she will give you a lot of fun and be really rapid.
 
I wonder if OP is familair with the concept of backing the jib to aid in tacking. When you put the helm over to tack leave the jib cleated. It will luff then shape itself in side out pulling the bow around. Once the main sail is filling on the new tack then release and swap over the jib. I do this on my handy TS with fin keel. ie just hold the jib on until the bow has gone past head to wind. It is hard to get the enthusiastic new crew to just hold off a bit. I also use this technique to depart from my swing mooring. A backed jib has a lot of turning power which you can harness. Another exercise I was taught was to operate the boat ie tack and gybe without touching the rudder. Sail balance boat heel and backing the jib make it all possible. However I would suggest you try the boat with a proper rudder. Hopefully somewhat balanced which will make sailing a lot easier for OP and with jib backing should make a tack easy andf also aid windward performance. ol'will
 
Never really got far enough about to back the jib, because she won't come up before she stops. If I reeve the jibsheets down to the rail midships that will improve the possibility, at the moment they are loose. Also being in the fairly narrow river you tend to go about near the banks where you lose the wind.
Yes of course having a rudder will give some grip, although leeway isn't apparent. Even when rowing turning is a problem.
Someone in Falmouth sails a similar boat, I will see him sometime.
Today I swapped the main for one off a Mirror, which is a little fuller in the leech, plus moved the mast. leaves just enough room for me to stand behind the boom. Not expecting miracles, but another excuse for fiddling about on the river.
 
Moving your weight to the leeward side when tacking will cause the additional submerged curvature of the hull to contribute to the change of direction. Make sure the main is well sheeted in.
The change to a mainsail with a bigger roach is a good move, as the extra leverage around the mast will also help.
 
You definitely need to sheet the jib to the rail, and add a kicker for the main (or rearrange the mainsheet). At the moment there is far too much twist in both sails to be able to go to windward.

It may be hard with the oar but sitting down on the weather side would make a huge difference to the balance of the boat.
 
Looking at the vid, the peak of the main is pinching, must have been a little upwind at that point.
Appreciate the point about a kicker.
I had the mainsheet running on the aft thwart as a horse, but buoyancy jammed under it got in the way. Mainsheet doubled down to the rail either side would help...???
Wansworth said:
Why bermudian rig and not a standing lug
Click to expand...
It's what I have lying about, but I had an exchange with NPMR on here about a dipping lug, a standing lug would be apt....more efficient?
I have the main off a Hornet I can cut and repurpose.
 
fisherman said:
Looking at the vid, the peak of the main is pinching, must have been a little upwind at that point.
Appreciate the point about a kicker.
I had the mainsheet running on the aft thwart as a horse, but buoyancy jammed under it got in the way. Mainsheet doubled down to the rail either side would help...???

It's what I have lying about, but I had an exchange with NPMR on here about a dipping lug, a standing lug would be apt....more efficient?
I have the main off a Hornet I can cut and repurpose.
Click to expand...
My experience with standing lug was it was very efficient,simple,fitted in the boats length and didn’t have a boom wafting about
 
fisherman said:
Never really got far enough about to back the jib, because she won't come up before she stops.
Click to expand...

Go faster. I had a small bilge keel yacht which wouldn't easily go about. Piling-in at speed and jib-backing just about managed it.
I'd get a rudder as soon as. My back wouldn't let me stand like that!

I also thought a kicking strap would be a big help. Cheap fix.

Looks great fun.
 
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