Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Have you spoken to your Measurer or read the advisory ruling on the front page.
Please advise the hull number of your build.
Cheers
Alan Wilson
National Class MeasurerPeter I am concerned you would publish your recent comments in the Forum without enquiring of the WA representatives who attended the AGM at Black Rock. Such an enquiry of them or an email to Barry or me regarding this issue would have avoided your unnecessary comments. The SSAA Executive cannot be responsible for your lack of communication with the SSAWA. The issue raised in your post was dealt with at the AGM.
The response received from SSAWA in the later part of last year was very welcomed but despite your view the collation of the responses to the new Draft Rules and the required further drafting is time consuming. Harold and Gary are doing a sterling job not warranting any criticism.
The Forum is not the appropriate place to air your discontent when you can make other more appropriate inquiries.
Harold and Gary are in the final stages of the redraft and the Executive will make it available to the State bodies after review.
Alan Wilson
President SSAAI have just finished rigging my new Formula Sailcraft hull and used Jim Scott’s rail mast step and mast fitting.
It works well. It also allowed me to run all my control line fittings from a pin through the mast step. Very tidy.
I also fitted three swivel cleats to the deck with tails from the lead rope from the cleat to shock cord across the deck to save on rope in the boat and having the adjustment on the opposite side when I needed it.Hi Peter
Thank you for your comments and I do understand your concerns.
I am presently working through the Class Rules and with the assistance of Harold Medd the National Class Measurer and Craig Nylund providing measurement details from his jig to amend the Rules with the building controls that will be for the benefit of the Class.
This task is challenging and it is important care be taken as the method of measuring boats will be tightened. However before these goals can be achieved the Executive Committee has a lot to consider and discuss. I cannot say when the new Rules will be voted on but I hope we can have a draft for consideration by the State Committees this year but this I cannot promise.
I consider it premature to announce what we are proposing as no formal decisions have been made.
I indicated in Adelaide that I was hopeful of having a draft ready in the early part of this year but the task has proved me wrong and I make no apology. The Executive Committee wants the changes to be right and the Rules to be for the continuing benefit for the growth of the Class.
I will keep members informed.
Alan Wilson
SSAA National PresidentHi Ronan
Don’t be concerned at your 90kg, my sailmaker who weighs over 90kg sailed my boat in the recent QLD States on Lake Cootharaba and considering he had sailed the boat once before finished second in the Championships which were sailed in light to moderate conditions. I live at Glass House Mountains and have a Formula Sailcraft glass hull.
You are welcome to come down and have a coffee and chat any time.
Cheers
Alan Wilson
0417778463The 2016/2017 Nationals will be held in Victoria at Sandringham Yacht Club.
Alan Wilson
National PresidentJohn
I have redecked two of my Sabres and clamped the deck into place rather than use nails. If you let me have your email address I will send you photos which will assist with the explanation. The build loos great.
Cheers
Alan
[email protected]Julian I was following a Barina yesterday and frankly I consider it would be dangerous to carry any boat on roof racks atop a Barina. The car is too small and I doubt the roof construction would be strong enough to cope with the forces that would be applied. Weight wise probably no trouble but the mathematics of balance and aero affects are not in your favour even at 60kph. This is based on the boat being on its trolley with the trolley attached to the roof racks.
I was interested to read Peter’s Post. Last year I built a Switchblade sail with the same area as my Hooper. the Luff is the same, Leech is some 40 mm shorter and the foot is 550 mm shorter. Hence no need to change mast or boom also it is not necessary to alter the mainsheet position as there would be little mechanical advantage.
The sail performs well and I have found it slightly quicker to windward and reaching but has shortcomings on a square run but this only may need refinement.
I like the sail and use it if I just go for a sail. I have trialed against a conventional sail and was only slower on the square runs. I see no reason why both sails cannot be allowed after specification are made for the Switchblade.
I don’t think it is necessary to use an Opti board but I believe the Sabre foils are the boats downfall. I found using a centreboard 75mm narrower and 125mm longer and the rudder 75mm longer altered the forces applied by the centreboard and created greater interaction between the respective foils. The boat was more reactive and forgiving tacking and gybing and much easier to sail especially square when it was less ‘windward tippy’ and easier to sail on the windward chine.
My findings and comments
Alan Wilson
HelterSkelter-1906John
I am not a boat builder but in re-framing my boat I used surian cedar for all stringers and frames supports, treated pine for all backing blocks and meranti for the top rails of the centre board case to the centre case bulkhead. I also used treated pine over western red cedar for gunnels and treated pine for the floor supports.
Also be careful and don’t smoother areas to be glued with epoxy glue, as it is heavy and proper clamping or pressure is sufficient to get a good bond. Same with glassing use only enough epoxy and keep rolling the glass until all epoxy is absorbed as again the epoxy adds weight.Weight should not be a problem. I weighed all timber and epoxy used when re-framing having weighed the spoil I removed and was able to reasonably know the final weight.
HelterSkelter
Alan WilsonI noticed the Formula Sailcraft article and consider a hull from this mould should not be given an A Class certificate. Frankly there are many hulls out there which are ‘designer hulls’ purposely using the building tolerances to hopefully gain the advantage. Allowable tolerances are there to cater for the inexperience of the amateur builder or a genuine problem during construction. Correct me if I am wrong and if I am then the Rules need to be changed to support this otherwise the class will cease, if it hasn’t already, to be a one design class.
Other one design classes have a master mould for the FRP hulls, from which all certified moulds are cloned. Not hard or expensive to do.
HelterSkelter 1906
I have made a number of inquiries regarding the stiffness or otherwise of wood v FRP. The repetitive comment is ‘8mm sandwich foam v 4mm ply with 2 coats of glass, are you kidding’. Frankly that is the answer. A raw FRP hull is stiffer than a completed wooden boat. Other reasons exist like chine stringers, stronger supporting tank sides, FRP frames, stiffer framing and construction of the centre board case the list goes on.
The position would be vastly different if the powers at be had controlled the FRP construction to the wooden hull specifications but the bird has flown the coup and we have to work within the Rules we have.
But having said that surly it is time for the Class to replace the antiquated wooden boat specifications and building process with modern techniques particularly framing. One only has to look at the Contender Class where timber and FRP boats are very similar competitively with wood having the edge and stiffness.
I am certain a wooden boat with modern framing techniques will be stiff and still under weight as less glass will be needed but whether this construction will be as fast as the FRP hull I frankly don’t know but it will be closer.
The second boat in the 2013 Victorian State Titles was timber but it was sailed by the laser radial national champion and he did get light wind. The reality is that all the top positions are generally filled by FRP boats.
What is the answer, I don’t know but lets modernise the Specification and construction techniques of the wooden hull, this will make construction for the amateur builder easier and accept the position of those like me who love wooden boats should compete in the wooden boat section and restrict the Nationals Trophy to the first wooden boat. There I’ve said it. I wonder why some don’t agree.
Of course the Association could withdraw the current A Class certificates from the existing FRP boats and require that FRP boats in the future be a max 5mm constant sandwich foam, no chine stringers, centre case constructed as per wooden Specification, centre case and web bulkheads be 4mm with wooden specs framing but in glass and suddenly you don’t have a stiff hull. A glass boat builders comments not mine but it reveals the true situation.
Hey I’m not being critical of FRP boats but my goal is to keep the Association successful by realising things need to be done or we will loose members as FRP is too expensive.
HelterSkelter 1906
