Catboat Forum

Torque

Posted By: Roger
Date: 7/17/08 7:32a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Trim etc (Craig D, Suncat, "Cattitude", Finger Lakes)

Carl, smart!
I had not thought about the fact that the gaff rig, with its long boom and leech held away from the mast would mean torque! The gaff and its twist work to keep the sail a bit depaowered going to windward, but it cranks up the torque going downwind!
No wonder she wants to point up!
Now for a short sailing story of my youth:
We sailed 'Dusters', marconi-rigged, pram-bowed 14 foot catboats- actually they were centerboard boats with relatively narrow beam, but one sail on a mast set WAY forward.
So a friend of mine decided to rig a spinaker. He got one from a Comet, and rigged it.
I can still see the scene. HE flies the spinaker, it fills, and the bow dives for the bottom. Stern up, bow heading for Davy Jone's Locker. Surprised look on skipper's face.
Pull the masthead forward with force, guess what?
End of experiment.
Roger Katty Bay PC 123 Cape Cod

Picnic Cat Association site

Messages In This Thread

Went sailing last night with gusts to about 25 -- Dave, Sun Cat #103, Grand Haven, MI -- 7/16/08 6:10p.m.

Where was your centerboard? -- Tom Ray -- 7/16/08 6:23p.m.

Weather helm -- Dick Herman, Muddy Duck -- 7/16/08 7:08p.m.

Yep... reef! -- Jim B., wandering around -- 7/16/08 9:11p.m.

It's interesting that the rudder moving an inch -- Dave, Sun Cat #103, Grand Haven, MI -- 7/17/08 12:10p.m.

The pin will break -- Tom Ray -- 7/17/08 12:58p.m.

Rudder Shear Pin -- Barnacle Bob -- 7/17/08 1:34p.m.

I like the golf tees. Or chopsticks, maybe. -- Dave, Sun Cat #103, Grand Haven, MI -- 7/18/08 4:18a.m.

Dave, all responses are excellent. Add to them: -- Vicki Ruzicka -- 7/17/08 1:03p.m.

weather helm -- Roger -- 7/17/08 6:04a.m.

Trim etc -- Craig D, Suncat, "Cattitude", Finger Lakes -- 7/17/08 6:22a.m.

Torque -- Roger -- 7/17/08 7:32a.m.

Full sail in gusts to 25, that should build confidence! -- Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas -- 7/17/08 7:11a.m.

Good comments from everyone. I raced sloops -- Dave, Sun Cat #103, Grand Haven, MI -- 7/17/08 12:27p.m.

It was the rudder that caused the weather helm. -- Dave, Sun Cat #103, Grand Haven, MI -- 7/22/08 6:50a.m.

Dave, were you out on the Big Lake? I've only -- Vicki Ruzicka -- 7/23/08 9:33a.m.

Yup, on the big lake. Nice sail with west wind. -- Dave, Sun Cat #103, Grand Haven, MI -- 7/23/08 5:23p.m.

Interested in your modifications. Take some snapshots when you can. -- Vicki Ruzicka -- 7/23/08 7:08p.m.

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