[Rhodes22-list] CenterBoard Angle

Thu Mar 8 15:14:42 EST 2007

Hank,

As I understand racing, this is what it's all about -- the winners are 
the ones who can consistently correctly factor in enough variables to 
come in first.

Bill Effros

Hank wrote:
> John,
>
> In theory you are correct, but generally you will not get near enough
> advantage in speed to counter the extra distance needed to travel due 
> to the
> side ward drift.
>
> Hank
>
>
> On 3/8/07, john Belanger <jhnblngr at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> doesn't the essential arguement come down to the same thing. speed over
>> the course vs. distance travelled to get to a given point? are you 
>> getting
>> there quicker if you cant your bow off a few degrees to windward to
>> compensate for drift and get an increase in your speed by having the 
>> board
>> up ie less wetted surface?
>>
>> Hank <hnw555 at gmail.com> wrote:  Lee,
>>
>> You may be going faster with the centerboard up, but you will not be
>> making
>> better time toward your target due to sideways drift. I big function of
>> the
>> centerboard is to prevent the boat from drifting sideways when reaching.
>> The only time a centerboard is not really needed is when sailing down
>> wind.
>> Of course, it doesn't really matter if you are not trying to get to a
>> specific destination such as when racing. If you don't care about the
>> drift, then leave it up.
>>
>> Hank
>>
>>
>> On 3/8/07, 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"
>> > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
>> > 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
>> > > >>>>
>>
>>
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