Re: [bolger] Digest Number 2723
> Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2005 22:59:14 -0000Well, John, that's exciting! I've sailed the Black Skimmer on Floriday Bay
> From: "bluebirdfitz" <bluebirdfitz@...>
> Subject: What to know about Black Skimmer
>
> I just took the plunge and bought a Black Skimmer. Many years ago I
> owned a New Haven Sharpie. I'm just wondering what I should know about
> sailing the boat, as well as trailering the boat. She comes with both
> rigs. Has anybody used an electric motor for an auxillary?
(the late, lamented Florida Bay Shoal Water Cruises out of Key Largo. The
boat was surprisingly easy to sail, especially in gusty conditions (up to
25kts). We had the original rig. I would prefer it for sailing, but the
other rig for trailering. That's one damn big stick, though.
We found that the boat took care of herself, more or less. There was the
business of raising the weather leeboard, but if we were busy or lazy, we
ignored it. As the wind raises, so does busyness, and the need to lower
wetted surface and turbulence decreases, so it's OK.
Our biggest problem with the boat was that we found the totally flat cabin
difficult to get comfortable sitting up in. We would have really liked a
small footwell or some such thing in the cabin, to bend our knees.
The mizzen sail was fixed to the boat, so that a very good sailcover was
required--esp. given that we were in Florida Bay.
I think that the Black Skimmer is beamier than a typical New Haven
Sharpie, and thus better behaved in most conditions, although a bit slower
as a result.
We really enjoyed our sail, and would love to be able to do it again.
Alas, a few hurricanes too many.
Chris Crandallcrandall@...(785) 864-4131
Department of Psychology University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66045
I have data convincingly disconfirming the Duhem-Quine hypothesis.