Gary wrote:

I'm always worried about the topping lift breaking when the sail's not
up. Now I know why.

What do you use for a topping lift, 3/8 aircraft cable?

Cheers
Martin (also toiling for Her Majesty's Armed Forces)

Gaz,

It seems to me it would be a good idea, to consider CM's recommendation
of the use of "Boom Gallows" on that size boom. It sure would relieve
tension on the mast and standing rigging. Even a Boom Crutch might not
be a bad idea

Ole Thom.



http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomPage

Thom Stewart wrote:
Gaz,

It seems to me it would be a good idea, to consider CM's recommendation
of the use of "Boom Gallows" on that size boom. It sure would relieve
tension on the mast and standing rigging. Even a Boom Crutch might not
be a bad idea

Ole Thom.



http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomPage

We have crutches for both booms that we use alongside. We are having a
gallows created for the main that will be a big asset when reefing and
replace the crutch when alongside. It will fold flat on top of the
house when not in use and lock up when needed.

Gaz

Gaz,

Way ahead of me.

She sure is a Pretty thing but Oh My what a size. She sure as hell isn't
a vessel to take single handed for a evening sail with the Dog and
dinner Hove-to.

She sure is a proper Ketch though;

Joe? have you taken note?

Gaz, is she faster than "Blue Nose?" She looks to be. Especially
upwind.



http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomPage

Oh yeah, did you see the refit pictures on his website?
They did replace alot of steel. After looking at the details of the
work it looks like they did a good job.

However the flair of the hull in what looks like a torpedo belt has me
puzzled. at first I thought someone scabed on plate, but the detail
pictures show that as an original feature to the hull. Could have been
added after the board was removed.

His hull is close to mine in shape and design, except I do not have
the cut away fore foot and I have a bow that fares a bit more to keep
the decks dryer . I hope my bilge will last another 40 yrs before I
have to go thru a yard and deal with replacing plating.

I also wonder why they decided to remove the board, cost to much to
replace the trunk I guess. She'd stand up allot straiter .

And I wonder what they used for ballast?

Still it's a very cool boat I'd love to sail on. She's a lot sleeker
and faster than the Elissa here in Galveston.

http://www.mindspring.com/~lindysisk.../elissa5-l.jpg

She's another fine steel hull..

Joe

Joe wrote:
Oh yeah, did you see the refit pictures on his website?
They did replace alot of steel. After looking at the details of the
work it looks like they did a good job.

However the flair of the hull in what looks like a torpedo belt has me
puzzled. at first I thought someone scabed on plate, but the detail
pictures show that as an original feature to the hull. Could have been
added after the board was removed.

His hull is close to mine in shape and design, except I do not have
the cut away fore foot and I have a bow that fares a bit more to keep
the decks dryer . I hope my bilge will last another 40 yrs before I
have to go thru a yard and deal with replacing plating.

I also wonder why they decided to remove the board, cost to much to
replace the trunk I guess. She'd stand up allot straiter .

And I wonder what they used for ballast?

Still it's a very cool boat I'd love to sail on. She's a lot sleeker
and faster than the Elissa here in Galveston.

http://www.mindspring.com/~lindysisk.../elissa5-l.jpg

She's another fine steel hull..

Joe

The board was removed early in her life as was the top 25 feet of main
mast. She originally had cement and steel punchings for ballast but
that was replaced 3 years ago with lead pigs. She is much stiffer now
than before. I have sailed her in both configurations. We did a
complete inclining experiment with her in 2002 and the C of G dropped
almost 2 feet when the lead was put in.

With respect to the replaced steel, the corrosion was from the inside
out. I guess that in 1921 they didn't have great paint and preservation
of steel and the corrosion from sweating was extensive. Now we have
insulated it so it should last another 85 years.

Gary wrote:
The board was removed early in her life as was the top 25 feet of main
mast.

For big deep heavy boats like this, the CB is mostly useful
for round-the-bouys racing. Taking it out was a good move IMHO.

... She originally had cement and steel punchings for ballast but
that was replaced 3 years ago with lead pigs.

I bet that was expensive. But it's another good move,
longevity wise, as long as the lead is insulated from the
steel hull. They're not a huge electrolysis problem
together, but every little bit helps. Cast Cement in the
bilge is an awful shipmate, it's porous enough to trap water
and nasty gunk against the hull. I've sailed on a bunch of
wooden boats ballasted with cast cement, and it has it's
devotees... for example, it's easy to trim the boat to her
lines as your pour it in, and it's easy on the garboards.
But it's ugly stuff most ways.

... She is much stiffer now
than before. I have sailed her in both configurations. We did a
complete inclining experiment with her in 2002 and the C of G dropped
almost 2 feet when the lead was put in.


Not surprising when you're talking about so many tons. I bet
it makes a big difference in her sailing characteristics
too. When you say "complete" incline test, how far over did
you haul her?

With respect to the replaced steel, the corrosion was from the inside
out. I guess that in 1921 they didn't have great paint and preservation
of steel and the corrosion from sweating was extensive. Now we have
insulated it so it should last another 85 years.

Sounds good. I like the idea of a boom gallows too.

DSK

RedCloud has Steel punching and cement for ballast in her keel now.

Most corrision on steel boats is from the inside out. Some people think
having air flow preserves the hull and use pegboards and stripping and
such for interior bulkheads. I don't believe it, as you know when warm
interior air hits the cold steel it's going to sweat. I have 2 inches
of insulation with to vapor barriers and a foil thermal backing, all
taped and sealed behind the mahogany and fgb. No sweating inside
redcloud except on the overhead escape hatch glass, It drips like a
coffe maker on a cold day and must be cracked open a bit. I disagree
with Doug assertion that a board is only good for round the bouy
racing. He must be thinking of a dagger board not full keel board like
on RedCloud. Infact with the board down rounding the bouys would be
slower. The board all the way down is best to help head futher upwind
and I raise it up to 1/3 down on a downwind run shifting the load aft
like the feather of an arrow keepin her straiter.

Joe

Thom Stewart wrote:
Gaz,

Way ahead of me.

She sure is a Pretty thing but Oh My what a size. She sure as hell isn't
a vessel to take single handed for a evening sail with the Dog and
dinner Hove-to.

She sure is a proper Ketch though;

Joe? have you taken note?

Gaz, is she faster than "Blue Nose?" She looks to be. Especially
upwind.



http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomPage

I think the Bluenose was faster beam reaching (15+ knots) but with her
big kite Oriole has hit 18 running (legend has it). She is not very
weatherly and needs to be 50+ degrees off the wind to hit 10 knots.
I have often seen 14 knots. Scary though.

Martin Baxter wrote:
Gary wrote:

I'm always worried about the topping lift breaking when the sail's not
up. Now I know why.


What do you use for a topping lift, 3/8 aircraft cable?

Cheers
Martin (also toiling for Her Majesty's Armed Forces)
I think it is 8mm high modulus stuff. Spectra ???