I've sailed many dozens of centerboard boats - I can't imagine one that would sail with a
free tiller without some active control of weight and sails. In fact, many centerboard
boats can be sailed without a rudder. But this is not the same as tracking a straight
line unattended for and extended distance.


"DSK" wrote in message
...
Jeff Morris wrote:


There are some boats, yes. As I reported my old full keel boat would hold a close
reach
all afternoon with a "floating" tiller. The real issue was whether a more modern fin
keeler, in particular a C&C 32, would do it.

Well, I only have experience with a few fin keelers that would do it, and it might be
partially due to stiff steering. But I have sailed a lot of centerboard boats that
would.
There's a problem translating this to big-boat sailing though, usually one cannot shift
crew
weight to heel the boat 15 degrees to windward when desired for steering. Maybe this is
how
Bubbles does it?

DSK

Jeff Morris wrote:

I've sailed many dozens of centerboard boats - I can't imagine one that would sail with a
free tiller without some active control of weight and sails.

Right. That's exactly what it takes.... active & skilled control of the boat using trim of
both weight and sails. Did anybody say otherwise?


In fact, many centerboard
boats can be sailed without a rudder. But this is not the same as tracking a straight
line unattended for and extended distance.

Right again, but I never claimed I could "track a straight line unattended for an extended
distance" with the rudder swinging free. It seems you're looking for something that is not
here.

Maybe a soul that has achieved Nirvana can sail along a perfectly straight course with no
hand on the helm, just through sheer virtue & force of personality. However, I doubt anybody
hanging around this newsgroup is there yet.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

"DSK" wrote in message
| Right again, but I never claimed I could "track a straight line unattended
for an extended
| distance" with the rudder swinging free. It seems you're looking for
something that is not
| here.

That's exactly the assumption I am contesting. Bob stated clearly he can
accomplish this feat with sail trim alone and that's the reason I called
Bull****. No doubt you can get some progress in optimim conditions... but in
no way can I see a boat sailing to weather with a free helm... you'd have to
have neutral helm to even approach to accomplish that.
Weather helm would make short work of the effort.

CM

Bob tends to take something he heard someone say and then apply it
incorrectly: General to specific or vice-versa.
--

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"DSK" wrote
| Right again, but I never claimed I could "track a straight line unattended
for an extended
| distance" with the rudder swinging free. It seems you're looking for
something that is not
| here.


"Capt. Mooron" wrote:
That's exactly the assumption I am contesting. Bob stated clearly he can
accomplish this feat with sail trim alone and that's the reason I called
Bull****.

Ah so. Well, Bubbles is nuts. I very rarely read his posts and skipped that one.
I thought the thread was talking about simply getting the boat to go where you
want.



No doubt you can get some progress in optimim conditions... but in
no way can I see a boat sailing to weather with a free helm... you'd have to
have neutral helm to even approach to accomplish that.
Weather helm would make short work of the effort.

Well, weather helm can be negated or exaggerated. I think that you're making too
much of it, many boats can be sailed towards a destination with a free swinging
rudder. That doesn't mean it has to track perfectly straight along the way. And
a locked rudder makes it much easier.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King