[bolger] Re: So the Micro Wins!?

Phil Lae asked;

> I have some questions since I have not seen, or examined one (yet).
> What is the rig/setup time from trailer to sail-away?
> Is it designed for laced on sails? If so, how well do they work for quick
> and easy setup?

I also am using metal sail track on the main, and lacing on the
mizzen.

> Can one person step the mainmast? Had a friend who couldn't sail his

This is the only thing I don't care for in the whole procedure. I
would have preferred a tabernacle like on the Long Micro but I have
listened to my betters (everyone on the list that has sailed one) and
stayed with the plans.

> trailerable fiberglass boat because he could never find anyone free on a
> Saturday to help him step the mast -- he ended up selling the boat after two
> seasons.
> What modifications are needed to keep the boat at a slip or a mooring, i.e.,

If you will check the pictures on my web site, you will see the two
hard maple tie points I added just forward of the cabin. (overkill as
usual) I did this for a number of reasons, spring lines being one of
them.

> is the cockpit self-draining? Are both masts in draining wells?

I built my cockpit to be self bailing/draining. The mizzen mast is
in a self draining aft outer motor well, my main mast goes through a
recessed deck and will have a collar and boot to keep the water out.
That deck is self draining.

> How well does this boat move in light winds? Does it make a lot of leeway
> in light winds?

Yes it will, but it will be referred to as motoring.

As to which boat wins? Any Bolger boat, (of the square type) That you
build and enjoy, Has been designed to be the best at what it was
designed to do. No unnecessary frills, chrome strips, or clutter for
looks, just utility of design and function. Check out the owner/
builders, and you will see that the only time anyone has been sorry
about any of these (square boats) is after they get rid of it. Be it an
upgrade or whatever, you will see, "Gee, I'm sorry I don't still have
it".
Be it the most humble pram, to the grandeur of the Loose Moose II,
they all give the owner/ builder the most bang for the buck, of any boat
they could have chosen. Look at any of the other boating lists, and
nowhere will you find the passion for an inanimate object that you find
here, with our square boats!!!
But, don't go by what I say, I'm a fan!

Stan, Snow Goose, In Mo. with 2" of fresh snow, bummer!
http://www.iland.net/~pmuller/

I have built the mizzen and have practiced what it would take to throw
it up on the boat. The main is in progress as we speak. It really
does not seem like brain surgery to step the masts. Since the center
of balance on the tapered spar is well below the mid point, I found
that if I stood at the center of the mizzen and planted the heel that
it would go right up as I walked forward with very little effort. I
suspect the main will be more work, but there is plenty of room for
error with stepping it. Place the heel against the forward frame and
start walking forward. The biggest problem I see is forgetting how
long it is when it is on the trailer. It is almost 10' longer than the
boat. If it is on the roof rack, You might impale someone's windshield
with it! I have designed my sails so that the mizzen is laced on,
however I will attach a block to the top of the mizzen that it can be
raised and lowered as needed. there was a good lacing system in Sail
Magazine (Oct 99?) that should work. It will take a little fiddling to
get the sail taught but the mizzen is not the dirving sail so it is not
that critical. The main on my Micro will be standard track and halyard
so that I can get the luff tension/ draft position quickly.
I do expect that the boat will be about as weatherly as the
standard Cat boat, but without the liability of that enormous boom
hitting the swells downwind. That's how you break a catboat mast.


g carlson <ghart-@...> wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/bolger/?start=2582

> >Micro wins!?
> >I have some questions since I have not seen, or examined one (yet).
> >What is the rig/setup time from trailer to sail-away?
> >Is it designed for laced on sails? If so, how well do they work for

quick

> >and easy setup?
>
> It's all very simple.
>
> The spars are free-standing, so you just put those down the "holes".

I

> left the mizzen laced and rolled up. Unroll the sail and snap/tie the
> sprit boom to the clew. A snotter line on the front of the boom runs
> through a block/eye on the mast and down to a cleat. Tie/snap on the

sheet

> - no purchase.
>
> I use a metal track on the main, so put the sail slides on the mast,

and

> snap tie the end of the main boom and sheet (2:1) to the clew. Lace

the

> main boom snotter to the block/eye and down to a cleat (or, better,

lead

> back to the cockpit). Hoist the main when you're ready.
>
> >Can one person step the mainmast? Had a friend who couldn't sail his
> >trailerable fiberglass boat because he could never find anyone free

on a

> >Saturday to help him step the mast -- he ended up selling the boat

after two

> >seasons.
>
> My main is way too heavy, but I can step it myself. If it was a real
> problem, there is room to devise rollers or whatever to assist.
>
> >What modifications are needed to keep the boat at a slip or a

mooring, i.e.,

> >is the cockpit self-draining? Are both masts in draining wells?
>
> None, the cockpit hatch includes a cover, although some have

preferred to

> build it into a well.
>
> The boat should also have positive floatation.
>
> >How well does this boat move in light winds? Does it make a lot

of leeway

> >in light winds?
>
> You can't pinch that keel esp. in light air, but the boat has plenty

of

> power. The only problem you'll have in light air is motorboat chop -

tough

> with all small boats, but the micro might pound a bit worse.
>
> I used a 2 hp on mine.
>
> If you're worried about it, add a reacher...
>
> Gregg Carlson
>
>
>

>Micro wins!?
>I have some questions since I have not seen, or examined one (yet).
>What is the rig/setup time from trailer to sail-away?
>Is it designed for laced on sails? If so, how well do they work for quick
>and easy setup?

It's all very simple.

The spars are free-standing, so you just put those down the "holes". I
left the mizzen laced and rolled up. Unroll the sail and snap/tie the
sprit boom to the clew. A snotter line on the front of the boom runs
through a block/eye on the mast and down to a cleat. Tie/snap on the sheet
- no purchase.

I use a metal track on the main, so put the sail slides on the mast, and
snap tie the end of the main boom and sheet (2:1) to the clew. Lace the
main boom snotter to the block/eye and down to a cleat (or, better, lead
back to the cockpit). Hoist the main when you're ready.

>Can one person step the mainmast? Had a friend who couldn't sail his
>trailerable fiberglass boat because he could never find anyone free on a
>Saturday to help him step the mast -- he ended up selling the boat after two
>seasons.

My main is way too heavy, but I can step it myself. If it was a real
problem, there is room to devise rollers or whatever to assist.

>What modifications are needed to keep the boat at a slip or a mooring, i.e.,
>is the cockpit self-draining? Are both masts in draining wells?

None, the cockpit hatch includes a cover, although some have preferred to
build it into a well.

The boat should also have positive floatation.

>How well does this boat move in light winds? Does it make a lot of leeway
>in light winds?

You can't pinch that keel esp. in light air, but the boat has plenty of
power. The only problem you'll have in light air is motorboat chop - tough
with all small boats, but the micro might pound a bit worse.

I used a 2 hp on mine.

If you're worried about it, add a reacher...

Gregg Carlson

Micro wins!?
I have some questions since I have not seen, or examined one (yet).
What is the rig/setup time from trailer to sail-away?
Is it designed for laced on sails? If so, how well do they work for quick
and easy setup?
Can one person step the mainmast? Had a friend who couldn't sail his
trailerable fiberglass boat because he could never find anyone free on a
Saturday to help him step the mast -- he ended up selling the boat after two
seasons.
What modifications are needed to keep the boat at a slip or a mooring, i.e.,
is the cockpit self-draining? Are both masts in draining wells?
How well does this boat move in light winds? Does it make a lot of leeway
in light winds?

Phil Lea
Russellville, Arkansas