aus230 said...

New wheel fitted to aus23o have to clean up around the bearing
Cheers
aus230

Great looking wheel. Tell us about it , how it was made and why did you change from your fibergass wheel? just trying somening new? and thanks for the instructions on how to make the wheels , very helpful Im seriously thinking about building a set now.

Make the hole a bit under size so it is still a tight fit and only about half way through the urethane so it still puts a bit of pressure against the metal tube.

The new steering (rod) worked great, the skipping of the front wheel has gone and the steering felt very positive even in the strong winds last weekend. I also stood the mast up to 12% and this made a huge diffence to the handeling (back of the yacht stoped washing out) I am happy now that it handles in 25+kph winds.
Cheers
aus230

Clem
Not a lot of difference to how you did your mini except that I have used a bolt through the tube inside of the yacht. Looks a bit rough at the moment I am going to clean it up now that I know that it works.
Cheers
vic

Now I need some advice from more experienced people than me. The center of my mast post 1.430 in front of the center of my rear axle, my problem is that I had to stand my mast up vertical last weekend to balance the yacht in strong winds. I was thinking that my mast post is to far back as I think the mast should rake at lease 10% to get the best out of the sail. (it was very quick with the vertical setting) I guess what I am asking. Should I move the mast post further forward, if so how much.
Cheers
aus230

aus230 said...

I have just changed aus230 to a rod steering system, I have used a flexible Nolathane rod joiner, I am a bit nervous about this system, has anyone had any problems with the material and does it fatigue over time.
cheers
aus230

Options for this are; Windsurfer mast base, I have even used Nylex garden hose over the outside of tubes, and just kept an eye on it. It doesn't carry much load in real terms. Keep a spare in the parts bag in the car and replace it when it shows the signs (I have never replaced one before selling the yacht on!)

Thanks Guys
I brought a ronson 70 ratchet yesterday and changed to 12m rope and larger blocks as I had a lot of trouble down hauling on the weekend, I will see how it goes before making any more frame changes.
Cheers
Vic
This is another pic from the weekend, the bend does not look to bad

Looking at that picture above I would say you definitely have to sheet that thing in much harder Vic! I tie the tail end of the rope back down on to the floor to give me one more purchase, and perhaps you could try it without that rowlock again. It would allow the foot of the sail to twist out a bit. You can always pull it in by boom wrangling. It becomes much easier if the pulleys are close together on the boom. Try it in a lightish wind to get the hang of it.

Chook.
I use the wind indercator a lot in low wind conditions it gives me good information of wind shifts and apparent wind direction. The extract copy below may explain it better and maybe some other sailors can comment.
cheers
vic

The swiveling wind indicator that many sailors mount on the masthead of their boats—is really just a reference point that lets you know where the wind is coming from relative to the heading of your boat. It confirms visually what you should eventually be able to sense otherwise.

The best way to utilize a wind indicator is to look up at it from time to time and relate its direction to your boat's heading. Basically a wind indicator is designed so that it points into the wind. Remember that the wind at the masthead is likely to be slightly stronger and fractionally different in angle than the wind you're feeling on the deck, so what the indicator tells you shouldn't be taken as absolute, just relative. Also, once your boat is under way, the arrow atop your mast is giving you an apparent wind direction reading, not a true-wind direction.

If your boat points well upwind, you'll be able to sail close to the angle of the wind indicator. If your boat sails better on a slightly lower course, keep in mind that you shouldn't try to get your course too close the direction of the wind arrow when sailing upwind or the boat will slow down and the sails will eventually stall. After all, the wind arrow up top is just a reference.

You can also benefit by using the wind indicator on the boats around you to see what the wind is doing there and to determine if you're sailing in another vessel's wind shadow.

I hope this helps answer your query.

Here Chook chook chookeee,




I have made a couple of Wind vanes for both The Cat and The Razor from Broken Arrows. No you Fool I didn't Cry Out "Broken Arrow" I was unlucky enough for the Wind to throw a Target over with some very expensive Arrows in it. I salvaged them for another Day. That arrived hence the Wind Vanes. All of what aus 230 says is true And more when used in conjunction with a Highly Visible Wind Sock. They will show Correct Wind Direction, virtual Wind Direction as Well as your crafts direction. A lot of sailors also use Tell Tails mounted at strategic positions on the Sail, these can be pieces of Wool 6 or 7 inches long knotted at the end sewn through the sail and re-knotted against the other side and a Sail Cloth Dot glued over to retain the Tell tail these can also give good feed back as to what is happening and where.

Ron

Hi guys
We at CDHS use crow feathers....a glue gun, some drip tube, wire and cable ties or good 'ol duct tape.
First you have to catch your crow....ever seen a dead one? They don't exist! The troops sneak around and creep up on unwary crows and pluck the most suitable flight feathers....straight ones, with a good aerodynamic shape....you don't need many as they seem to last for ages.
Glue togeter as shown and bend the wire at the bottom. You glue/ cable tie/ duct tape some drip tube to your land yacht's frame ......wherever seems best and slip the bent wire bit in place. You can even have multipe wind indicators. As such they can be removed for transport and decorate the dashboard of your car.
They are extremely lite and super-responsive to the slightest bit of wind. They are tough....bent out of shape they are easily put right. We have one really "munted" one that is years old.

tassiefubar said...

Hi guys
First you have to catch your crow....ever seen a dead one? They don't exist!

Drove over one once (yes really!) on the highway going to Lake Lefroy. After the trailer passed over it the bugger just casually flew away!

Well that did not work, Should have adjusted my seating position after the mast step change, Checked the weight on the front wheel after yesterdays racing and it came in at almost 20kg no wonder I could not get going when the wind dropped, lesson to be learnt, need to check everything when a change is made. Big change this week, cut the whole thing of at the Y frame and in the process of building a new front end from that point.

The weight that I was referring to was with me in the yacht and fully sheeted the weight on the front wheel was about 10kg heaver than it should be . I have to get my body weight back to that to get that
cheers
aus230

Trying to get the thing going in strong winds, Played around and stuffed everything up, Hope I have fixed it now including adding adjustable steering
Cheers
Vic
Hows Leroy going for water.