[Rhodes22-list] Sail Plan Changes

[Steven Alm]

Brad,

First question, why do you want to change your sail plan?  Is you boat
handling poorly?  Overpowered?  Too much helm?  When boat builders/engineers
come up with the specs for their boats, they've no doubt put in a lot of
time researching and have not made their decisions hastily.  With all due
respect, what makes you think you know better?  Is the rep's boat exactly
like yours?  His is just one opinion.  Try to get a second opinion before
any surgery.

Next, if you have enough head room under the boom, even if it's just 1/4
inch, why do you want to change it?  Just don't stand on your tippy toes
when tacking!  Being able to raise and lower the boom on the R22 is great
feature.  Can you engineer yours so it can be adjustable?  If not then I
wouldn't monkey with it unless you have some serious handling issues.

Yes, lowering the boom lowers the center of effort and reduces heeling.  And
vice verse.  But in light winds you want the higher center of effort.  So
the answer to your question is;  It depends on the wind.  I usually sail
with the boom up but I wouldn't call it unstable, that is until the wind
picks up to the point that I'm overpowered and then I make adjustments.

Slim

On 10/31/07, Brad Haslett <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Ok, boys and girls, put your thinking caps on!  Here's the deal, the sails
> rep I've been visiting with has a 9.2C just like mine that he raised the
> boom 10 inches on for better headroom (mine is about 5' 11 1/8 inches
> above
> the cockpit which gives me 1/4 inch to play with versus getting whacked
> while standing up).  He also shortened his boom length 21 inches which I
> really don't want to do.  He says the boat handles better, has less
> weather
> helm, and the center of effort moves forward.  Other than the obvious loss
> of sail area (less than 5% by my calculations) what can be anticipated in
> changes of handling characteristics? He (the rep) says it moves the center
> of effort forward and the boat is more stable based on his experience.
>
> Now this from Stan's site: *Lowering the boom, automatically lowers the
> sail
> inside the mast, which in turn lowers the center of effort of the sail,
> therefore increasing the stability of the boat without cutting sail area.
> In fact, boat speed actually increases slightly by lowering the boom.
>
> *Can we assume then that raising the boom will decrease stability and if
> so
> by what margin?  What is your experience? Loss of speed is not an issue
> with
> me. Everytime I think about these things I get a headache.  I'm sure Stan
> could answer this in about 2 seconds but I'm afraid he'd want a donation
> for
> his experience.  That greed thing again.  I'm hoping someone can think
> this
> through and give an informed opinion at a reasonable cost.  Like free!
>
> Brad
> *
>
> *
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>