I agree with those above
You need to have the ski axles clamped to something solid that goes right across the tub in my opinion

Hi Guys,

Just some images of the stearing pivot point. Its a ball joint constrained between two ali plates. I described the stearing in a previous post (i could hear the singgering even here in the UK) Its got two chances :-)







What do people think of the rigging plan? i think its relatively conventional but please comment. The boom is ali 45 OD with a 1.6mm wall. As the main purchase is at the aft end of the boom I wasn't going to put a doublerin the middel as i have seen in some of the other designs with the sheet taken from the center of the boom.


All the best

Dave

I agree with Wok I think what he is referring to has been named a "Crockett down haul" in the forums. Works great

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the comments. I looked up the Crockett down haul and i can see its advantages. I'd like to incorporate it but I'll wait and see what space is like when i get the mast and sail up. I think the tub may get in the way of it working properly.

Ill add on a doubler to the boom as you suggest. Like you say, im sure half the fun of these things is tinkering with set up and the like. Always engjoyed that when i was dingy racing.

Progress from the weekend is below. Got both of the runners on the cart. Hopfully you can see what im going for on the stearing if it wasnt all that clear from before. Next step is to finalise the clamping of the skis. Then its on to the excitment of fitting the mast step and the decks!!

Hope everyone is keeping well

All the best

Dave

Got a pic of it out of the garage last night.

Now to crack on with the stearing

I think in the end you will have to suck it an see as your calcs may not give what you expect when you sail. Being able to adjust the rake helps balance a rig to suit a particular sail size, wind and surface. You can cope if the back end is a bit twitchy but too much lift on the front end and you may loose steering.

I agree.
Just get your bum in it and sail it.

That's the fantastic thing about mini's, there are no restrictive/expensive constraints. Just the 4 rules that you need to comply with.

I'm loving your design and workmanship. Cant wait to see how it sails.

Hi Guys,

Now that we have sun and light evenings (and the daughter is going to bed and to sleep 9 times out of 10) I have been getting out in the garage.

I have sorted the stearing out, its all a bit tight under there but i have foot stearing :-). I have a boom sorted out now (ali and from a moth)

All the main pannels are on apart from the foredeck to glue and a hatch in the aft deck to allow access to the ski clamps.

But next stop is prepping for painting. Then its almost ready to test and brake :-)

Dave

You have a steering bar, how is it going to work from there? Going back to your mast rake on my yacht 10deg is the starting point,a bit more upright in light winds, dropping it back in high winds. I still worry that you are putting so much effort into a design that will be difficult to chop and change if it does not sail, try it as soon as can.

looking at your steering pics i think the yacht wont even turn in your yard . you are going to need alot more turning circle than that

Hi Guys,

Thanks again for all of your comments.

Before i took it apart to make a start on the paint and varnish i pushed it around the drive and it seemed to turn within about 3 times its length. I wasnt sure weather that was good or bad at the time. I have taken the consept for the stearing from the Vector plans I am working from. At the time of shoving it around I must admit to thinking that as it was close to the original it was probably ok.

I have got a "get out of jaile" that i can use to increase the amout of stearing angle if when i try it out the turning is truly "diabolical". if i pack the ash supports away from the tub ill increase the gap and give the wheel more room to trun before skuffing the runners.

I have made a quick sketch of the stearing arrangment. the tub and ash runners are slotted to allow the axil and stearing bar to slide back and forward.

Im really trying to push on with the build now as its been a long time in the makeing. its amazing how little you can acheave in an hour!!

Almost at the stage of painting the tub so it shouldnt be to long before i can test it. I want to get a coat of paint on the wood before hitting the beach to give it some protection from the elements. i dont have a space localy to try it out in "the dry"

One lesson i have lernt from all this is to never use plywood from the builders merchance to do anything like this. its the worst grade of material i think i could have bought!

Thanks again for takeing the time to read and comments.

All the best

Dave

Rubbish Tp1............

He has more that enough steering if it will complete a circle in 3 times it's own length.

You only need more turning ability when parking. You don't ever build a yacht to park.
I reckon mine would really struggle to turn that sharp Westward. I'll check it for you tomorrow.

I am sure i dont know what you mean

Hiko said..
I am wondering like team wally about the offset pivot on the steering Wont that have a bias to the right all the time?
Great for one foot steering I suppose

Yeh I'm keen to find that out as well.

I am not wondering at all, I have a fairly good idea of what is going to happen. The easiest way I can try to explain it is by suggesting you imagine your conventional steering set up but with the centre line of the tyre offset from the centre line of the steering head by 6-8 inches with a set of offset forks to accommodate it.

Then imagine your conventional steering with zero steering head rake and subsequently zero trail or castor, neither positive or negative.

Then combine the characteristics of the two.

This is essentially what this set up entails.

It will steer at low speed but will be diabolical at anything much above a fast jog.

It will be doubly diabolical when on two wheels.