[Public-list] Weighty Issues

[Gordon Laco]

Sorry about the blank return - I hit the wrong button...

Here are a few observations...

That is a lot of gear on your stern!  Trimming down by the stern has very
little or no effect on weather helm - that only happens in vessels with long
straight keels with no cut-away forward; yacht-shaped boats like ours are
not steered by fore and aft trim like sailing ships.  Your weather helm is
almost certainly caused by either a worn out mainsail (too much draught
spoiling the balance) or too much rake in the mast. Try removing rake first
- adjusting the turnbuckles is cheaper than buying a new mainsail!

What all that weight in the stern will do is exacerbate the 'hobby-horsing'
tendency boats with bow and stern overhangs can suffer from.  I am sure we
have all experienced situations where in light airs you have finally got the
boat gliding along until a wake starts the boat pitching...and she bobs up
and down several times - and stops.

A30's are narrow sterned and cannot put up with the gear that 'fat' sterned
yachts pile up back there and still sail well.  I'd do some head scratching
about how to remove gear from the stern - the result will be a much much
sweeter sailing boat.  I always preach that setting your boat up so she will
sail well is a safety issue.  If a boat is dragged down by the stern to the
point where she is incapable of sailing to windward in a chop, then she is
much more likely to fail her owners if she is ever in a situation where she
has to claw off a lee shore.  Yes, your engine could save the day - but it
is not good seamanship to count on that.

Moving your batteries up 18" will have a measurable negative effect on your
boat's stiffness and ability to carry sail - but her ultimate stability
curve will be virtually unchanged so ultimate safety will not be materially
diminished.  

This spring I cleaned out our stern locker, which for the last several years
has been the place we store line.  I removed over 100lbs of rope - and
enjoyed a dramatic improvement in both trim and sailing performance.


Gord #426 Surprise




> Hi - 
>  
> Caprice #388 sits around 3 inches below the boot stripe in the stern and the
> same 3 inches out of the water in the bow.  I think that this in part is
> giving me the significant weather helm I incur when beating or on a close
> reach.  The most significant rear weight stuff that I've added includes a wind
> generator mounted on a pole behind the lazerrette hatch, and a 28lb dinghy
> motor, a 5lb propane cylinder, barbacue grill all mounted on the stern rail.
> Also, I refit her with three group 31 batteries (house) and a cranking battery
> located under the cabin sole which seem to be right in the middle of the boat.
> All three cockpit lockers are jam with stuff, but it's all light weight stuff
> like sails, fenders, empty 5 gallon tanks, etc.
>  
> I'm thinking about moving the three house batteries which amounts to about 210
> lbs forward to the space right under the V-berth on that flat surface below
> where the draws are located.  These are sealed AGM batteries.
>  
> By doing this, it looks like I'll be moving the batteries higher by
> approximately 18 inches but still below the water line.   Does anyone have any
> idea how much effect this will effect the capsize factor or stability?  Also,
> does anyone have any idea if this will in fact have any significant effect on
> getting her stern up and bow down.  My friends say I should quit drinking beer
> or steer from the bow...but that seems too drastic.
>  
> Are should I just repaint the dang boot stripe?
>  
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>  
> Bobby 
>  
> 
>      
> ---------------------------------
> Get the Yahoo! toolbar and be alerted to new email wherever you're surfing.
> _______________________________________________
> These businesses support your Association:
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> Please support them.
> _______________________________________________
> public-list mailing list
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org
> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org


 1181915492.0