Speaking of those daggerboard springs, didya ever rent an old Sunfish at a
beach or a vacation place? First of all, they never have tiller
extensions. But that's the least of the problems. Often the springs on the
daggerboard are either gone or they don't work. So just when you get
going, the daggerboard decides to start rising up, so then you've got one
foot on the board to keep it down, and you feel like you're playing
Twister. One time I took the end of the halyard and jammed it in the
daggerboard trunk along with the board, and that kept the board down for a
while. Any other ideas you've come across? Maybe I should just bring duct
tape with me.
Charles
On Mon, 24 Mar 2003, Ed Conley wrote:
My sailing experience is limited to about 100hrs in my "Fish-clone" and
100hrs as a mate on a 35' Pearson. Perhaps I do not fully understand the
use of the Hiking strap on the "Fish". Is it being used as an aid in
allowing you to lean overboard more to balance the boat? If this is so....
How do you typically hold onto the strap?
Is running before the wind the same as having the wind at your back and
sailing in the same direction?
On my "Fish-clone" the spring clip is mounted on the deck and down into the
trunk hole about 3 inches. Are you suggesting that the carpet is a
replacement for this spring?
Thanks Wayne for your help.
Ed
-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Carney [mailto:wcarney@...]
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2003 5:31 PM
To: sunfish_sailor@...
Subject: RE: [sunfish_sailor] Running Flat?
Hi Ed,
I'm sorry, I should have elaborated. Sailing flat refers to keeping the
hull
as level as possible. Sunfish and similar designs have a shallow hull
profile known as a planing hull. These boats are fastest when they do not
heel over much. Adding a hiking strap allows you to hike out as far as
possible to counter the wind leverage and thereby keep the hull level.
You are correct about the daggerboard's function to counter side slip.
Adjusting the daggerboard depth is separate from keeping the hull level,
though. It is commonly lifted when running before the wind in competition
to
reduce drag and get that extra bit of speed that may help win a race. I
also
agree with your observation that if you lift the board while on a reach
side
slip occurs and it reduces your ability to point close to the wind. The
racers may have different positions for each angle to the wind, but
recreational sailors usually don't mess with it.
Sunfish do have a spring that keeps the daggerboard from floating up
on
the
wood boards. The spring is a bowed metal strip about an inch wide that is
set into the top 4" of the daggerboard. It puts mild pressure against the
side of the trunk to help hold the board in place (when it works). Moving
the board while on a reach has the added side pressure of the water and is
more difficult. If you want to make the board more easy to move while
sailing try the "carpet strips in the daggerboard trunk" method.
My 2 cents on crew...., When I sail a Sunfish with a second person, one of
takes the tiller and the other the sheet. We trade off from time to time
giving both of us practice at honing our skills at one operation at a
time.
This is an especially useful practice when sailing with and overseeing a
novice.
Wayne
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ed [mailto:conley49@...]
> Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2003 4:40 PM
> To: sunfish_sailor@...
> Subject: [sunfish_sailor] Running Flat?
>
>
> Wayne, in one of your messages you mentioned running flat by
> installing a hiking strap. Does this mean that your Dagger Board
> lifts freely from the boat? In my GC14 the board is held in position
> by a spring clip so to withdraw it while under sail is extreamly
> difficult. Something I have experienced having gone aground in a
> lake shallow. Do the real Sunfish have a different set up?
>
> By reducing the surface area of the Dagger Board in the water doesn't
> this allow the wind to push the boat abeam? I understand how the
> reduced area would be benificial in a down wind run but in your
> described higher speed ab workout wouldn't you loose the ability to
> gain in up wind travel?
>
> Does anyone have any experience in sailing with two hands? My
> daughter and I frequently sail together as she is not quite ready for
> a solo yet. Actually she is technically proficient (sp?) but has not
> demonstrated her ability to right the boat in a blow over.
>
> Anyone game of a tech discussion?
>
> Ed
>
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