Andrew:

??? It was my intent to simply drop this, as my poor communication skills seem to have created some ill will here.?? I don't recall suggesting that you had sold your boat or sold it because of the AV panel issue, and reading back over my sent posts, I don't see anything to that effect.??? Where that came from I don't know, nor did I make any suggestion (as you kindly pointed out), that Bernd had sold Pelican for that reason.

??? I did........ and shouldn't have suggested that I suspected that it was at least part of why Pete is selling Oryx, but also that losing Carly off South Africa from Oryx, left it a boat full of memories, and that Pete likes to build boats.? He built Badger, and I think China Moon, and of course Oryx.? What is clear from the three different biplane rigs he has had on Oryx, is that he is not entirely satisfied with the performance of that boat as he built it.??

??? Again, the key is probably in the sharp corner which Bernd emphasizes in his writing about the AV panels where he speaks of adding material AFTER sanding so that he can get rid of the small radius that naturally occurs.??? I haven't seen the plans, but from what you wrote it sounds like this is not emphasized enough, and should probably be an addendum........ assuming it is the cause of your problem with leeway &c.??

??? To me the KD 860 and it's stretched cousins (of which there at least two I know of), is the outstanding design of cats in that size range? for a number of reasons.? An innovative design where the right design choices were made for the right reasons.?? Weather or not the AV panels work as they are supposed to would not change that a lot for me.??

??? Resolving the issue would AV panel issue is important, not because it is a make or break feature, but because innovative technology like this often ends up in the dustbin of history because "it doesn't work", when in fact it actually does work...... at least on Pellican, and presumably on some KD 860's.? If the difference between success and failure of these rests on a small radius left from sanding, then that is something relatively easily corrected during construction, and not so difficult even after the boat has been in the water.?? I would love to see this feature copied...... successfully, by other designers.?

???? The luffboard system as Bernd designed it, offers an excellent retrofit with minimal impact on anything, with the advantage of folding back if it strikes something...... like a centerboard.? It also doesn't require a case built into the interior of the hull like a centerboard or dagger board, or reduce draft like an LAR keel.? If I were building a KD 860, I'd probably incorporate these from the outset, as there are probably circumstances even with the AV panels working, where they would be beneficial.

??? The truth is, that I don't intend to build an 860, or any other cruising boat.? Having built boats before (smaller), I have a good idea of how much work is involved and how much time......... and cost, and at 62, I want to spend my time sailing, not building while I have my health.??? I would love to own one though, but I doubt I will find one in a price range I can afford without breaking my cruising budget, and it remains at the very top of my list of Cats I'd like to own.

??? I apologize again for creating ill will and misunderstanding....... it was not my intent.

??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? Howard

On 12/03/2017 04:59 PM, andrewklees@... [k-designs] wrote: