Re: [bolger] My tackless brick
> I don't think that the length of the tiller wouldI believe it does, indirectly.
> have any effect on the boat's willingness to tack
The length of the tiller definately affects where I sit in the boat, which
affects the trim, which affects the weather/lee helm, which likely affects the
tackability. (is that a word?)
> I think you'll find you have much less weather helm with the rudder downI don't doubt, for a second, that things would work much better with
> where it belongs.
the rudder in the water where bolger designed it. (:
>Where abouts in MN?
> Ciao for Niao,
> Bill in MN
I'm in MN, also.
I live in the 'burbs of Minneapolis, and my Brick lives near the shores of
Lake Mille Lacs.
> I finally gave up, beached it about 1/8 mile downwind from whereOne thing to try (if no oars), is remove the sprit and use it to pole
> I launched, and walked it back. Try walking any distance in knee deep water
> some time. What a workout.
your way back. Might not be faster, but would be more fun.
> A bad day boating is still better than a good day at work, and this was farThat is the spirit!! Can't wait for the next installment of your
> from being a bad day.
brick's evolution. Go gettem Darus!
Shorty
http://www.shortypen.com/boats/brick/
In a message dated 9/5/01 4:38:36 PM Central Daylight Time,darus@...
writes:
Kick-up rudders are great, but they only work when they are down. In the
water. Where they belong.
If I had been in your shoes, I don't think I even would have tried sailing it
until I got the rudder "fixed" in position by one expedient or another. I
like long tillers to: 1) get my CG farther forward; and 2) to ameliorate my
spasmodic steering input. I don't think that the length of the tiller would
have any effect on the boat's willingness to tack and I think you'll find you
have much less weather helm with the rudder down where it belongs.
Good luck. Keep us posted. (Remember, you can't call yourself a sailor until
you really and truely make a serious and scary "cock-up" of something.)
Ciao for Niao,
Bill in MN
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
> I neglected toI believe that this may be the key "variable" that gave you difficulty.
> install the bungee cord, so the rudder blade stuck straight out behind,
>
Kick-up rudders are great, but they only work when they are down. In the
water. Where they belong.
If I had been in your shoes, I don't think I even would have tried sailing it
until I got the rudder "fixed" in position by one expedient or another. I
like long tillers to: 1) get my CG farther forward; and 2) to ameliorate my
spasmodic steering input. I don't think that the length of the tiller would
have any effect on the boat's willingness to tack and I think you'll find you
have much less weather helm with the rudder down where it belongs.
Good luck. Keep us posted. (Remember, you can't call yourself a sailor until
you really and truely make a serious and scary "cock-up" of something.)
Ciao for Niao,
Bill in MN
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I had my Brick, Li'l Spud in the water for the third time, on Monday.
It was my first time out solo. This was also my first time out with my
kickup rudder. Unfortunately, I forgot part. The rudder blade is not
weighted, I designed it to use a bungee cord as a downhaul. I neglected to
install the bungee cord, so the rudder blade stuck straight out behind,
rather than projecting down into the water. I also shortened my tiller
significantly. The combination of these two made the effort required on the
tiller rather high. The short tiller also forced me to sit too far back,
which I think messed up my trim. It seemed at times that I had severe
weather helm that overpowered my rudder.
I think I spent about half of my time on the water in irons. I was having a
terrible time getting Li'l Spud to tack. I mostly resorted to careful and
deliberate jibes. Still, I never did manage to make any progress to
windward. I finally gave up, beached it about 1/8 mile downwind from where
I launched, and walked it back. Try walking any distance in knee deep water
some time. What a workout.
I will not blame my dificulties on the design. I had a number of things
wrong with my setup, all of them my own fault. I had never sailed before
in my life, until I climbed into Li'l Spud earlier this summer. Learning to
sail and doing it on my own, in a home made boat sure introduces a lot of
variables. I expect it to take some time to get it all worked out.
A bad day boating is still better than a good day at work, and this was far
from being a bad day.
I also have to tell about the amusing thing I saw taking place on the lake
while I was out sailing. There was a 20+ foot plastic sailboat, with no
canvas flying, pretending to be a motorboat and towing what appeard to be
a person on a sailboard, also with no canvas. Someone REALLY bought the
WRONG boat(s) for their needs.
It was my first time out solo. This was also my first time out with my
kickup rudder. Unfortunately, I forgot part. The rudder blade is not
weighted, I designed it to use a bungee cord as a downhaul. I neglected to
install the bungee cord, so the rudder blade stuck straight out behind,
rather than projecting down into the water. I also shortened my tiller
significantly. The combination of these two made the effort required on the
tiller rather high. The short tiller also forced me to sit too far back,
which I think messed up my trim. It seemed at times that I had severe
weather helm that overpowered my rudder.
I think I spent about half of my time on the water in irons. I was having a
terrible time getting Li'l Spud to tack. I mostly resorted to careful and
deliberate jibes. Still, I never did manage to make any progress to
windward. I finally gave up, beached it about 1/8 mile downwind from where
I launched, and walked it back. Try walking any distance in knee deep water
some time. What a workout.
I will not blame my dificulties on the design. I had a number of things
wrong with my setup, all of them my own fault. I had never sailed before
in my life, until I climbed into Li'l Spud earlier this summer. Learning to
sail and doing it on my own, in a home made boat sure introduces a lot of
variables. I expect it to take some time to get it all worked out.
A bad day boating is still better than a good day at work, and this was far
from being a bad day.
I also have to tell about the amusing thing I saw taking place on the lake
while I was out sailing. There was a 20+ foot plastic sailboat, with no
canvas flying, pretending to be a motorboat and towing what appeard to be
a person on a sailboard, also with no canvas. Someone REALLY bought the
WRONG boat(s) for their needs.