Saw a neat set-up on my new neighbors hetch. He has a mini rudder or
trim tab on his rudder. Nice set-up solid bronze shaft and worm gear
thru the middle of the rudder shaft controlling a fine solid bronze
lever, top near the helm has a solid bronce trim wheel, I think it's a
trim wheel off a WWII bomber. Talk about balance!

Great looking 1962 Ketch mahogany buildt in Galveston she's called
"Rena". Solid bronze everywhere, and bright mahogany. I might Captain
her on a few bay charters this summer.

Ever seen a trimming system like this?

Joe

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
Saw a neat set-up on my new neighbors hetch. He has a mini rudder or
trim tab on his rudder. Nice set-up solid bronze shaft and worm gear
thru the middle of the rudder shaft controlling a fine solid bronze
lever, top near the helm has a solid bronce trim wheel, I think it's a
trim wheel off a WWII bomber. Talk about balance!

Great looking 1962 Ketch mahogany buildt in Galveston she's called
"Rena". Solid bronze everywhere, and bright mahogany. I might Captain
her on a few bay charters this summer.

Ever seen a trimming system like this?

Yes, it was invented by Flettner.

Most likely he called it an Airelion(sp?) but it's a really just a cool
trim tab no matter what you call it.

The best thing about a Ketch is it's ability to balance..... has to be
better than any other sail configuration, not that I have that much
experience in other sail layouts.

Once I trimmed RedCloud so fine, I thought I engaged the auto pilot
and found out 2 hours later... still on course ....I forgot to engage
the autopilot clutch. :0)

Joe

"Joe" wrote in message
ups.com...
Most likely he called it an Airelion(sp?) but it's a really just a cool
trim tab no matter what you call it.

It's called the Flettner rudder. Search Anton Flettner. Also check out the
Flettner Rotoship, a rather unique sailboat.

Seen it Joe,

It is part of an Auto Pilot. A wind vane moves the trim tab to force the
Rudder to adjust to hold course.

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

No thom, it's not that type of system, thats what I thought it was.
This is just a fine tuning system to balance the boat.
After he gets out of the yard I'll snap a few pictures.

Joe

Joe wrote:
No thom, it's not that type of system, thats what I thought it was.
This is just a fine tuning system to balance the boat.
After he gets out of the yard I'll snap a few pictures.


Ever seen an articulated rudder? Similar except that it's
controlled by a linkage to the rudder post that makes it
turn the same way as the rudder only a little bit further.
More efficient steering.

Using a trim tab just to offset the force on the rudder
blade from normal sailing doesn't make sense to me. It just
adds drag. It would be better to adjust the sails so as not
to have so much helm, or to add balance area to the rudder
blade forward of the pivot point (rudder post).

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
Joe wrote:
No thom, it's not that type of system, thats what I thought it was.
This is just a fine tuning system to balance the boat.
After he gets out of the yard I'll snap a few pictures.


Ever seen an articulated rudder? Similar except that it's controlled by a
linkage to the rudder post that makes it turn the same way as the rudder
only a little bit further. More efficient steering.

Using a trim tab just to offset the force on the rudder blade from normal
sailing doesn't make sense to me. It just adds drag. It would be better to
adjust the sails so as not to have so much helm, or to add balance area to
the rudder blade forward of the pivot point (rudder post).

Fresh Breezes- Doug King


The Flettner "trim tab" improves stall characteristics of the rudder.

Bob Crantz wrote:



The Flettner "trim tab" improves stall characteristics of the rudder.

That may be true, but if you have to push the rudder to one side to
"balance" the boat, (doesn't drag increase with angle of attack?), then
you're going to increase drag. Better to trim the boat properly with
the sails and not have to shove bucket loads of water around.

Cheers
Marty
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"Martin Baxter" wrote in message
...
Bob Crantz wrote:



The Flettner "trim tab" improves stall characteristics of the rudder.

That may be true, but if you have to push the rudder to one side to
"balance" the boat, (doesn't drag increase with angle of attack?), then
you're going to increase drag.

It's the L/D ratio. If L increases faster than D the rudder is more
effective.



Better to trim the boat properly with
the sails and not have to shove bucket loads of water around.

This is only true if the boat sails in a straight line down its centerline.



Cheers
Marty
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