Thom Stewart wrote:
Hey Guys,

Do both of you realize it's Summertime? Time to be sailing!

Put the Damn Cameras away and go Sailing. If you take your camera; TAKE
SAILING pictures.

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

Hey Thom, I can sail everyday and still beat bubble black and blue. It
simple with such a blatent lack of photographic skills, and poor choice
of a boat.

Had a nice mahogany plank planed down to repair my rudder on the La
Brisa.

Doug gave me the tip to make a new non kick up type rudder, I had to
modify the broken aluminum frame to accept the new rudder, but that
wasent to hard using a disk grinder. It's going to be stronger and a
bit bigger for my heavy wind use.

My only concern is the rudder is now going to be a bit over 1/2"
thick, the old one was aluminium and only 1/8 inch thick...watta drag
huh?. I'm going to taper the leading edge to a knife like sharpness.
The wind speed is 0-1 knot right now, and the lake is flat as glass.


Joe

"Joe" wrote ...

I'm going to taper the leading edge to a knife like
sharpness.


I don't think you want to do that.

Scotty

Scotty wrote:
"Joe" wrote ...

I'm going to taper the leading edge to a knife like
sharpness.


I don't think you want to do that.

Scotty

How come?

Joe

I'm going to taper the leading edge to a knife like
sharpness.


Scotty wrote:
I don't think you want to do that.

Scotty


Joe wrote:
How come?


This may be counterintuitive, but when the foil
(centerboard, keel, or rudder) is working, there is a slight
flow across the leading edge. Then remember that it has to
cope with big disruptions in the flow, such as when the boat
rolls or pitches or turns. The foils are waggling about
under water and have anything but ideal flow.

The best all-around leading edge shape for a small sailboat
is an ellipse, it's relatively easy to achieve & keep and
works under a very wide variety of speeds & conditions.

There's a *LOT* of stuff written about this, try googling
something about leading & trailing edges, NACA foil
sections, L/D ratios, and the like.

Here's a good section:
http://www.nasg.com/afdb/show-airfoil-e.phtml?id=260

Fresh Breezes- Doug King