[Rhodes22-list] Tiller Pressure

Thu Mar 8 12:13:55 EST 2007

Lee,

I think your points are well taken.

It's only on tiller pressure that I differ.

The only time I have pressure on my tiller is when the rudder blade has 
popped up slightly.  I can feel this in an instant, and I immediately 
return the rudder to the fully downward position.  The only time you 
can't sail with your rudder fully down is when sailing shallow, or 
beaching stern-to.

Cruisers should sail as upright as possible to go fastest while 
remaining most comfortable.  Once you hit 6.25 kts with people on board 
you're going as fast as you're going to go, and there is still almost no 
pressure on your tiller.  Stan's "Power Steering" analogy is apt.

The pressure comes from being knocked down by the wind, instead of using 
your boat to make the wind's power drive you forward.

Reduce your sails at this point.  You will go faster, there will be no 
added pressure on your tiller, your boat will remain totally under your 
control in any sailing conditions.

Bill Effros

KUHN, LELAND wrote:
> Bud,
>
> I've only sailed the Rhodes for a year, so I hope I'm not giving you bad
> advice.
>
> If I want to point into the wind as much as possible, I'll put the
> centerboard all the way down.  I'll also use the traveler and inside
> leads to flatten the sails.  I've found that it's rare that I need that
> extra five degrees into the wind to get to where I want to go.
>
> The centerboard can be used as a depth finder, but even with the soft
> mud bottom of the Chesapeake, you never know what you're going to hit.
> At the very least it will knock off your bottom paint.
>
> The centerboard acts as a pivot point, allowing you to make sharper
> turns.  Don't really need it for tacking but could come in handy
> motoring around the marina.  The boat turns sharp enough for me without
> the board down.
>
> Depending on your point-of-sail, wind, waves, and current; the
> centerboard will help balance the boat and take pressure off the tiller.
> I notice this really helps if I have too much sail out.  I usually
> adjust the sails to balance the boat.
>
> As a newbie, I constantly check my speed to see what works best in all
> conditions.  I have put the board up and down in every condition, and I
> am convinced that the drag from the centerboard will always slow you
> down.  In most cases, I believe the centerboard's ability to keep you
> sailing in a straight line doesn't make up for the decrease in speed.  I
> might be wrong on that last statement.
>
> In my limited experience, the centerboard is a tool that you rarely need
> and will slow you down.  I guess what surprised me was that most boats
> sail fastest on a close reach, due to the opposing pressures from the
> sails and keel (squeezing a watermelon seed analogy).  On a close reach
> with a Rhodes, you will still go faster with the centerboard up.
>
> If it sounds like I know what I'm talking about, reread the first
> sentence. :)
>
> Lee
> 1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
> Crab Alley (Kent Island, MD)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Thorn [mailto:pthorn at nc.rr.com] 
> Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 6:18 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] CenterBoard Angle
>
> Bud,
>
> I'll add my 2 cents, in short:  upwind all down, downwind all up.
>
> The Rhodes has a very light, balanced helm.  With a large (175) headsail
> and
> smaller (not-newer vertical battened) main there can be a tendancy to
> leeward helm in light air.  As the boat heels when the breeze picks up
> this
> is mitigated.   So with the sailplan center of effort (CE) forward (the
> rig
> described above) the underwater fin's center of lateral resistance
> (CLR),
> which can be adjusted by the centerboard, also needs to be as forward as
> possible.
>
> Another of the many advantages to having a centerboard is that you can
> change the CLR while underway by adjusting the board.  In heavier air,
> when
> you would expose less area on the headsail going to windward, you can
> balance by raising the centerboard just a little.
>
> PT
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mary Lou Troy" <mtroy at atlanticbb.net>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 9:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] CenterBoard Angle
>
>
>   
>> Bud,
>> I think it's just about vertical. Unless you are sailing in a very
>> weedy area, I don't think having the pennant exposed is a problem.
>> It's just as likely to get fouled by growth in the slot. Our's seems
>> to stay cleaner the more we use it. We always pull the board up at
>> anchor or when we leave the boat in the slip but sailing upwind it is
>> always down as far as it will go. As Wally said, as we move off the
>> wind we start pulling the board up.
>>
>> Mary Lou
>> 1991 R22  Fretless
>> Rock Hall, MD
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> At 08:39 PM 3/7/2007, you wrote:
>>     
>>> Thanks to all who responded!   Mary Lou - when you say all the way
>>> down, you mean the CB is nearly vertical?
>>> Do you run into any problems with the pennant line or sheaves
>>> exposed in that running configuration?
>>> I had thought the sheaves might get "gunked up" if they were exposed.
>>>
>>> Thanks again,
>>> Bud
>>>
>>> Mary Lou Troy wrote:
>>>
>>>       
>>>> Bud,
>>>> Fretless is a 1991. We usually sail with the board all the way
>>>> down. Exceptions are downwind or very shallow water.
>>>>
>>>> Mary Lou
>>>> 1991 R22  Fretless
>>>> Rock Hall, MD
>>>>
>>>> At 09:35 PM 3/6/2007, you wrote:
>>>>
>>>>         
>>>>> Rummy,
>>>>>  I have a 1990 R22, and I am pretty sure I do not have a "diamond"
>>>>>           
> board.
>   
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> -Bud
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> R22RumRunner at aol.com wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>>>> Bud,
>>>>>> It depends on what year and centerboard design you have?
>>>>>> Rummy
>>>>>> <BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now
>>>>>> offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free
>>>>>>             
>>>>> >from AOL at http://www.aol.com.
>>>>>           
>>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>             
>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.7/711 - Release Date:
>>>>> 3/5/2007 9:41 AM
>>>>>           
>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>
>>>>         
>>> __________________________________________________
>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.7/713 - Release Date:
>>> 3/7/2007 9:24 AM
>>>       
>> __________________________________________________
>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>     
>
> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is
> for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential
> and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or
> distribution is prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please
> contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>   