BarryK1200LT Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Hi All, I currently have my mainsail in getting the foot re-cut and a higher clew position put in to suit the amount of mast rake I now run on my Maricat to help point a little higher, and to reduc the boats tendency to want to nose dive when sailing in stronger winds. One challenge I've noticed following the adjustments I made to the mast rake, is the amount of weather and lee helm I have on my rudders now. On a port tack I have weather helm and the boat wants to round up into the wind, and theres a good amount of effort needed to hold onto the tiller arm and keep the boat sailing in a straight line. On a starboard tack I have the opposite problem (Lee helm), where the boat wants to bear away off the wind, and I have to hold the rudder away from me to keep the boat in a straight line. I know this is just a matter of rudder blade adjustment, and I was wondering if anyone knows if there was a known measurement that the rudders should be tucked under the boat? I'd like to try and get the rudders set up so the tiller has a relatively neutral feel to it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Cheers Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Barry come down to HYC and i will help you out with you rudders. Measure them and check you toe in and out. etc. from Leon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humungus2 Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 With a straight edge on the transon the leading edge of the lowest part of the rudder when in the down position should be 45mm forward of the transom. Don't cut the foot of the sail. Move the head down instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryK1200LT Posted April 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Thanks Mick, I'll check and adjust the rudders to 45 mm and use that as a starting point. Hi Leon, Thanks for the offer mate, it will be a while before I'm able to get back up to HYC. My wife has some health issues to get through, and I'm needed around home more for the next few months at least. So there won't be much opportuniting to sail for me for a while. Hopefully life will be back on track after winter. Cheers Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spectre Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Most likely has one rudder raked significantly forward of the other. The 2nd hand boat I bought the previous owner has shaved too much off the rudder section that butts up against the housing. To correct it I used stainless steel screws screwed into the rudder. This allowed me to adjust the angle by how far it was screwed in. What I am finding interesting with this boat is, whilst I have neutral helm (my choice), when on a broad reach or downwind at speed I get significant lee helm to the point of bending the tiller extension just to try and track straight. I have had to fit an adjustable aluminium tiller extension to get more rigidity and control($14 at Bunnings - huge sacrifice). Any clues on this? And Mick, are the new boats coming out of the factory set up to the rudder angle specs you said earlier on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Barry 45mm will be about right for the mast rake you will carry. In the clubs Maricat I re- drilled a new hole in the rudder and bushed it again. Check to toe in and out as well. Like car tires. Not sure what Humungus means by moveing the head down. Once again the clubs boat the foot of the mast is cut at an angle this gave me more mast rake. Ant the foot of the sail was cut as well. I got all these details from Ross. BCC. Please call if you want help. From Leon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobblyoldjimbo Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 I think what he means (and it does make sense) is that to get the clew higher to accomodate rake what do you do, either you put another clew hole in (higher up) - like I've just done OR you increase the height of the mast and hitch the sail up higher. Since you can't increase the height what can you do - chop the top off at the head. Sail goes up higher, boom comes up - happy days. Wish I'd thought of that one, bum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointed Reply Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Check the Tuning Guide which has been bumped up again. It tells you a lot about rudder alignment. Also check the Maricat website Tuning and FAQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryK1200LT Posted April 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Thanks for all the info. I checked the rudders today and my port rubber was tucked under closer to 75mm and my starboard rudder was under around 55mm. What I've done is put a stainless screw into the rudder blade so that it contacts the casting when down, and I can adjust the rudder positions via the screws. Have set them both to 45mm and will see how it all steers next time I'm on the water. The toe in figure in the tuning guide of 25mm (measured at the bows?) is a bit of a challenge to get right. I measured the distance between the centres of the rudders leading and trailing edges, and found that I have about 5mm toe in measured that way. Seems to me that a 5mm toe in over the front to back length of the rudder is likely to end up a lot more than 25mm by the time I then project ththat amount of toe in 14 feet further forward to the bows. Mick have you measured the amount of toe in you run on your rudders measured at the leading and trailing edges of the rudders? Cheers Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humungus2 Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Short answer Barry, NO. Wayne Barry use to use a stick with knotches in it to make sure the rudders were straight, He reckond that that was the way to go. My way is toeing the rudders in to the same as the hulls. I beleive it works but I could be wrong. READY TO STAND AND BE CORECTED by anyone who knows the right way. I get a string line from the centre of the front chain plate saddle and run it to the bottom of the rudder with the rudder just above 1/2 up position. CHEEKS FIRM. It is easy to see the line in the back of the rudder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobblyoldjimbo Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 That must be it Mick - firm cheeks - mine were a little clenched today - but I did notice that Nobby's Head registered 25knots when we were out!! [This message has been edited by knobblyoldjimbo (edited 25 April 2008).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korwich Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 25 knots I could well believe, Yes but some of us were back on the beach by that time jimbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryK1200LT Posted April 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Thanks Mick, Will give the string line method a go and see how they line up. Cheers Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobblyoldjimbo Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 one day KW one day - I'll be in before I'm out!! BTW, I think I got a DNF but thought I did the course (triangle, loop, triangle to finish), was there something I missed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humungus2 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Mate, you did everything you were supose to. We were so far ahead of the Nacras and others that they were to embarased to acknowlage that we flogged the shit out of them. At least you turned up unlike the other guys from the south of the lake on 14footers. As usual there was only three out of a heap of Nacras that actually beat me over the line on scracht in three of the four laps. Oh, don't forget the Hobie 18's that were flogged by the fastest Maricat in the World. I love being a winner. SEE YOU AT LAKE KEEPIT LOSERS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryK1200LT Posted April 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 Hi All, Got out for a few hours on Saturday arvo to test the boat. Rudders tucked under 45mm worked a treat. Failry neutral tiller feel with just a hint of weather helm on both port and starboard tack. Thanks Mick and everyone else for the tips. Mucha appreciated Cheers Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRACELAND1216 Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Originally posted by humungus2: Mate, you did everything you were supose to. We were so far ahead of the Nacras and others that they were to embarased to acknowlage that we flogged the shit out of them. At least you turned up unlike the other guys from the south of the lake on 14footers. As usual there was only three out of a heap of Nacras that actually beat me over the line on scracht in three of the four laps. Oh, don't forget the Hobie 18's that were flogged by the fastest Maricat in the World. I love being a winner. SEE YOU AT LAKE KEEPIT LOSERS. Hey Mick, You forgot to mention that you were beaten by two Tasars who sailed the exact same course that you sailed on yardstick corrected time. The results are here. http://www.sailingspeerspoint.org.au/Results_files/results/ANZAC%20Day%20Regatta%20Results.HTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobblyoldjimbo Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Thanks for putting that up GL, I thought I'd been DNF'd but hadn't. Interesting stats though. I was 'only' 18 mins behind Mick although the corrected time brings me out at 26mins behind - I don't really understand that the fastest foaming hotshot (by his own admission) gets an 8 min gain on me. Oh well, I'll just have to try that much harder eh!! Nothing like hijacking someone elses thread is there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humungus2 Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 TASAR! What is that. I race against cats and the bigger the better. If a Mono beat me then WELL DONE to it. If feel a bit red but the Nacras must be glowing red. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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