Nymph sailing report
Took my 7-year nymph (which maybe should be named "Lucky 7" since it took 7
years to build a 7' boat which was launched on 7/7) for its 2nd sail
yesterday. Bypassed the powerboat-busy local lake and tried out the
mountain lake about 1/2 hour further out. Beautiful afternoon, clear
mountain lake,10-15 mph winds ... life can be good ...
Anyhow, a sailing report: It works well. I'm still using the salvaged
oversized mast/sail (50sq ft vs 40) and was nervous about what a gust would
do. Granted, 15 mph is pretty gentle but this is my first really small
boat, 12' being my previous smallest and most of my time spent over 20', and
I didn't know what to expect. Ignorance is apparently bliss -- the little
thing cooks right along. The upside of trying to move my 210 lbs around a
<8' boat is that I don't have to hike much at all. A gust just meant I had
to lean a little to windward. Nothing happened too quickly. Cool. I
expect that my sons will have to use their agility to offset their lack of
mass.
I was pleased with how it pointed. I appeared to be tacking through about
90 degrees and there was no problem getting back to the landing which was,
of course, at the upwind end of the lake. On a reach it produced a
satisfying bow wave with that sailing sound that always warms my heart. I
left the clamp-on lee board on the port side and didn't see a significant
difference one tack to another. A finer hand could probably sense it but I
couldn't.
A couple of design comments:
The tiller, as draw, is much too long for me. When the boat is balanced,
I'm sitting way too far aft for the 2'11" tiller. I shortened it to 18" and
was pleased with the result.
This boat was originally meant to be a tender (I didn't realize a pun was
intended). I don't think it would be a good choice - a flat bottomed boat
would be much safer. You need to be careful getting in and out. Once
aboard, it's just fine but my canoe is more stable for loading than the
Nymph.
I need to add a sheet horse or block on the tiller (as discussed lately on
the list). The plan's boom ends well aft of the helmsman and my long boom
is even worse. With the lengthwise seat you can't sit sideways easily and
end up holding the sheet behind you - awkward when the sail pulls. I'm
going to lash a block to the tiller and see how it works.
So, finishing this thing looks like it was a good idea. And, you'all with
the Nymphs, throw a sail on it, it's fun.
I've got some pictures ready to be developed so I hope to get them scanned
and out on the web for anyone that might be interested.
Larry, in Talent, Oregon where the sun is shining, the wind is blowing and
the boss is making me go to work.
years to build a 7' boat which was launched on 7/7) for its 2nd sail
yesterday. Bypassed the powerboat-busy local lake and tried out the
mountain lake about 1/2 hour further out. Beautiful afternoon, clear
mountain lake,10-15 mph winds ... life can be good ...
Anyhow, a sailing report: It works well. I'm still using the salvaged
oversized mast/sail (50sq ft vs 40) and was nervous about what a gust would
do. Granted, 15 mph is pretty gentle but this is my first really small
boat, 12' being my previous smallest and most of my time spent over 20', and
I didn't know what to expect. Ignorance is apparently bliss -- the little
thing cooks right along. The upside of trying to move my 210 lbs around a
<8' boat is that I don't have to hike much at all. A gust just meant I had
to lean a little to windward. Nothing happened too quickly. Cool. I
expect that my sons will have to use their agility to offset their lack of
mass.
I was pleased with how it pointed. I appeared to be tacking through about
90 degrees and there was no problem getting back to the landing which was,
of course, at the upwind end of the lake. On a reach it produced a
satisfying bow wave with that sailing sound that always warms my heart. I
left the clamp-on lee board on the port side and didn't see a significant
difference one tack to another. A finer hand could probably sense it but I
couldn't.
A couple of design comments:
The tiller, as draw, is much too long for me. When the boat is balanced,
I'm sitting way too far aft for the 2'11" tiller. I shortened it to 18" and
was pleased with the result.
This boat was originally meant to be a tender (I didn't realize a pun was
intended). I don't think it would be a good choice - a flat bottomed boat
would be much safer. You need to be careful getting in and out. Once
aboard, it's just fine but my canoe is more stable for loading than the
Nymph.
I need to add a sheet horse or block on the tiller (as discussed lately on
the list). The plan's boom ends well aft of the helmsman and my long boom
is even worse. With the lengthwise seat you can't sit sideways easily and
end up holding the sheet behind you - awkward when the sail pulls. I'm
going to lash a block to the tiller and see how it works.
So, finishing this thing looks like it was a good idea. And, you'all with
the Nymphs, throw a sail on it, it's fun.
I've got some pictures ready to be developed so I hope to get them scanned
and out on the web for anyone that might be interested.
Larry, in Talent, Oregon where the sun is shining, the wind is blowing and
the boss is making me go to work.