[Rhodes22-list] Launched Ozone Ouch!

[Cover-Man]

Hey guy,

Everyone has some rocky days.  I have sometimes found motor and rudder at cross-purposes, especially if I want to be in a hurry.  Just work at being slow and deliberate, always watching for the potential "escape" from danger.

The labored rudder control has me stumped.  Be mindful of the position of the rudder blade.  If not vertical and fully down it will become tough.  If you let it be in the near-horizontal position, steerage will be nearly impossible.  This may have been the issue.  Of course, if the blade is not fully down, it will compete with the prop, and it will lose the contest...

If you send a picture of the transom from in back, I may be able to suggest a simple rudder to motor linkage.  The sailing season is young!

Best to you,

Art

Have a nice day!

On Apr 30, 2012, at 5:21 PM, butterchurn <amazingmisterx at gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> Well we finally got Ozone launched this Sunday.  The weather up at Sandusky
> BAy on Lake Erie was very nice.  I got the mast up with the help of Stan's
> wonderful mast crane.  Quality equipment, BTW! I'm am not sure if I have the
> shrouds tightened correctly or not.  At least the mast is straight with no
> bends.
> 
> Motoring from the ramp to the marina took about 30 minutes.  The tiller felt
> like I was handling a semi-truck; took much effort to steer, not sure why. 
> It wasn't hanging up on anything.  Bilges dry. No problems there.
> 
> The really disappointing part was getting her into her slip.  She didn't
> respond to the tiller very well and I ended up on the rocks.  Fortunately,
> the bilges are still dry.  The rudder has portions of paint missing, but
> other than that I see no damage to it.  The diamond board hit the rocks,
> too, but still functions ok.  I was going very slow, BTW.  I guess I just
> need to get used to the boat and practice, practice and practice some more. 
> I had the marina move me to a slip away from the rocks and more room to
> maneuver.  I feel very foolish and could kick myself for blemishing my sweet
> girl.
> 
> Part of my problem was trying to move the motor and tiller in the same
> direction to make sharp turns.  The motor handle is blocked by the motor
> mount.  I tried making turns without moving the motor but the turns were not
> sharp enough to get into the slip with the space I had.  I don't know if you
> could give me suggestions.
> 
> If there are any Rhodies in the area of Sandusky Ohio, I would like to ask
> if someone could take a look at my mast rigging to see if I did it right.
> 
> I will learn, I just hope not to do it at the expense of my sweet girl.  I
> looked real foolish in the marina; not on the lake where I did just fine of
> course.
> 
> I agree with Stan in his owner's manual - his method and equipment is idiot
> proof, the boat that is not necessarily the person at the helm.
> -- 
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> 
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