RECENT ACTIVITIES OF CS20 ALLECAT

[Rob Blackburn]

Hi guys.
Have some shots here of the boat under mizzen alone for the first time. Very pleased with how she went. Noted some lee helm but I reckon that could be due to the furled mainsail pulling the bow down. Was not a drama and it was very confidence inspiring.

http://homepage.mac.com/b...ckburns/PhotoAlbum52.html

Went out on Sunday last with 2 guys and as there was no swell we tacked out the river bar on the rising tide and headed for America.

Had about 15 knots of north easter and really enjoyed it. The only surprise was the East Australian current was running at about 3 knots south and before we had gone too far we suddenly realised that we had a fair bit of ground to make up to get back.

When we tacked to come back we found we needed to be on the gunwhale to keep the boat flat. Possibly due to the wind increasing but also could be due to increased apparent wind from the current?? Who knows but had fun. Then reached down over the bar with some dolphins carrying on around us. Fantastic....

No piccies though.

I still can't resolve the best way to attach the outhaul clew of the sail to the boom. What is everyone else doing and don't say using the pointy spike as per the plans as we did not do the sails that way.. We have the usual brass cringle. I find knotting with a bowline fine but wondered whether a couple of sister clips might be better as the knots get tight.

Have decided against a boom tent. Going to buy another 4 man tent and put it in the locker.

See you all later....

Rob

[Designer]

Rob,
Here is how we do our clew. It is just webbing passed through the clew grommet and sewn on the back side. The middle of the webbing is folded once or twice depending on thichness of webbing and sewn and then passed through the grommet forming an eye and sewn to the sail.
With the end of the sprit shaped like an old fashioned tent pole it is just a simple matter to poke the pin end of the sprit into the webbing eye. It has just enough movement and flexibility to allow the sail to align itself to what ever direction is required with out being loose.

Keep up the sailing stories.

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[Rob Blackburn]

That looks so simple that shall pull the sails off the masts and send them off for that.

What made me think was we nearly got caught in a blow 3 weeks ago and it went from NE 8knots to SE at 45knots and gusting in about 5 minutes.

The knots on the outhaul would have had to been cut if we had not got to the bank in tiime.

The same with the mast tie in a way I guess. All I do is put a clove hitch with a stop knot on the tail to hold it.

What do you do? I have not really seen a close up of the mast except one that had a sort of timber setup with little notches in it ...

I think a good set of photos of all this detail stuff would really help new builders like us. Things like the centreboard mechanism too.

Let us know and I amhappy  to keep the adventures .. sic.. coming. Got a big day on the river with a pile of boats kids and beers this Sunday... Can't wait.

Rob

[Rob Blackburn]

Meant to put this photo on... oops

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[Brent]

Rob, I've got the webbing loops like Graham describes, and I can tell you they work nicely.  When reefing in a blow it is not difficult to let up on the snotter and then stab the sprit in the reefing clew loop.  

I like the simplicity of your snotter to mast clove hitch arrangement.  The snotter on my boat is connected to the mast using a SS shackle hooking into a 093 type pad eye riveted to the mast .  The shackle makes quick work of rigging the boat up.

[Rob Blackburn]

Shall get it changed straight away.. I will have to change my sprit though but that is no drama. Do you just have a hole in the end of the sprit and then tie off the block for the mainsheet ? That seems my easiest route.

I am pondering putting the  block tie rope through the sprit then knotting it with a stop knot either side and a couple of medium sized sister clips so that I can get the whole thing on and off quicker.

I reckon if I did that and used the webbing loops it would work a treat.

The advantage of the clove hitch is that the tighter you pull the outhaul, then the tighter the knot gets. It has not slipped at all.

I also rigged up a laser style 2:1 outhaul system with loops to act as blocks to get some purchase that works well.

Rob

[brian watkins]

Rob, your posts are an inspiration as always, especially the pictures from paradise.  It's a little off this forum's subject, but as someone who's always been interested in dorys, could you tell me a little about your friend's Mary Bryant.   I have a weakness for anything that floats with a workboat heritage.  Thanks!