Re: Micro keel with swinging plate
Mason,
Thanks for the info. That's the type of empirical, hard-fact data this list needs more of. A five degree improvement on one tack is impressive, and would improve the tacking angles on my LM to 47-55 degrees off the wind (CMG via GPS). I won't be hanging any centerboards off Pugnacious's keel, but your observations are still useful. Thanks again.
Bill, in Texas (where we keep the troll food locked away TIGHT because we just don't feed them trolls).
Thanks for the info. That's the type of empirical, hard-fact data this list needs more of. A five degree improvement on one tack is impressive, and would improve the tacking angles on my LM to 47-55 degrees off the wind (CMG via GPS). I won't be hanging any centerboards off Pugnacious's keel, but your observations are still useful. Thanks again.
Bill, in Texas (where we keep the troll food locked away TIGHT because we just don't feed them trolls).
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "adkgoodboat" <masonsmith@...> wrote:
>
> For what it is worth, I go on experimenting with this brass plate "centerboard" on my Micro's keel. It's 1/4" plate swinging on a bolt through the keel about under the canter of lateral resistance and is shaped so as to fit within the shadow of the keel when up. Held up by a steel wire pendant turning through a cheek block close under the hull bottom, led aft to a little roller and up through the stern well, to turn again and be belayed on the rudder's upper bearing piece. It is probably not a great idea, because of the problems that would ensue if it got bent or came adrift, or got forgotten and damaged in launch or retrieval, but it seems to work rather well, improving the boat's speed and pointing in light air and maybe in stronger winds too. Here's my latest discovery, from an overnighter last weekend on Lake Champlain. Boat sailing herself on a close reach, 4 or 5 knot wind. I lower the plate, and immediately see a zig in the wake: we're sailing about 5 degrees higher. I raise the board and she zags right back. I wonder, is it just that we make less leeway (which I think is the board's great advantage in light airs, also in quite strong wind)? I do the tests again reading the course from my compass. 6 degree zig and zag, with the board up and down. What's happening? I did not change the set of the sails. And I did not think to turn on the GPS and see if there was any speed change.
> Whatever happened I think it's to the good. Micro as usual very pleasurable. Maybe it isn't for sale again after all. Sailed over to Burlington and did a fly-by of the waterfront. While she sailed herself, sat in a folding chair and read. Oh by the way if my Davis wind-speed doodad is any good, the boat sails 4 mph in 4+ knots of wind, on a close reach.
>
For what it is worth, I go on experimenting with this brass plate "centerboard" on my Micro's keel. It's 1/4" plate swinging on a bolt through the keel about under the canter of lateral resistance and is shaped so as to fit within the shadow of the keel when up. Held up by a steel wire pendant turning through a cheek block close under the hull bottom, led aft to a little roller and up through the stern well, to turn again and be belayed on the rudder's upper bearing piece. It is probably not a great idea, because of the problems that would ensue if it got bent or came adrift, or got forgotten and damaged in launch or retrieval, but it seems to work rather well, improving the boat's speed and pointing in light air and maybe in stronger winds too. Here's my latest discovery, from an overnighter last weekend on Lake Champlain. Boat sailing herself on a close reach, 4 or 5 knot wind. I lower the plate, and immediately see a zig in the wake: we're sailing about 5 degrees higher. I raise the board and she zags right back. I wonder, is it just that we make less leeway (which I think is the board's great advantage in light airs, also in quite strong wind)? I do the tests again reading the course from my compass. 6 degree zig and zag, with the board up and down. What's happening? I did not change the set of the sails. And I did not think to turn on the GPS and see if there was any speed change.
Whatever happened I think it's to the good. Micro as usual very pleasurable. Maybe it isn't for sale again after all. Sailed over to Burlington and did a fly-by of the waterfront. While she sailed herself, sat in a folding chair and read. Oh by the way if my Davis wind-speed doodad is any good, the boat sails 4 mph in 4+ knots of wind, on a close reach.
Whatever happened I think it's to the good. Micro as usual very pleasurable. Maybe it isn't for sale again after all. Sailed over to Burlington and did a fly-by of the waterfront. While she sailed herself, sat in a folding chair and read. Oh by the way if my Davis wind-speed doodad is any good, the boat sails 4 mph in 4+ knots of wind, on a close reach.