Re: [bolger] Martha Jane modification question

Hi Don - I have the sponsons, new rudders and extra ballast on my boat - Mike
has the high house and sponsons - but not the extra ballast or the new
rudders. That makes comparisons difficult right? We did not add the high
house because we wondered about increased windage - and didn't really need
the extra headroom. We also wanted greater visibility from the cockpit. If we
were going to go on long cruises I would probably like the extra room. Also
- as I read the stability curves ( graphs) It seemed to me that the boat with
the lower cabin has slighty greater initial stability - until the boat
reached the point where that highhouse was in the water, of course.

Since our fateful knockdown ( before adding more ballast) - we have still
tended to be a bit tentative on windy days - and certainly reef early and
close the hatch early. But in 25 mph winds we have had no problem (now that
we've added ballast). The boat has a much better feel to it now and without a
doubt can handle rough conditions better. Have you checked out the
magnificent Martha Jane Website and link to the "New Martha Jane Website"?
It's still a work in progress - marthajane.homestead.com/marthajane.html

Steve Anderson - MJ Landroval

In a message dated 6/3/2001 4:53:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dbaldnz@...writes:

<< I do have one serious question. Has anyone done a "before and after"
sailing comparison on one of these boats? I ask because I was
brought up to the extreme of avoiding external mast fittings to
minimize windage. How does this glass conservatory penthouse on a
block of flats approach affect sailing performance? >>
I spent some time drooling over Mike Stockstills modified MJ site,
admiring Bolgers audacity, and Mikes for trustingly hacking into his
near completed hull!
I do have one serious question. Has anyone done a "before and after"
sailing comparison on one of these boats? I ask because I was
brought up to the extreme of avoiding external mast fittings to
minimize windage. How does this glass conservatory penthouse on a
block of flats approach affect sailing performance? I am thinking of
a good sailing breeze of 15-20knots and a medium chop. All the
photographs I have seen of Bolger and similar Michalak craft seem to
be sitting on millponds. I guess it is more difficult to arrange
full-blooded sailing pictures. Do they go to windward in fresh
conditions, or motorsail? Are flocks of migrating birds sucked from
the sky into the trailing vortex?
DonB