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Launched Monday after a week on the hard at Jensen's Shipyard. Pressure washed the hull, replaced the zincs (all were gone) and made the fourth modification of my rudder trim tab. I thought the rudders were the wrong design for the boat, probably okay for a 8-10 knot boat, but above 15 knots or so, got difficult to steer. Prior to the elaborate power steering setup that I was contemplating installing, I decided to cut off part of the rudder's trailing edge.
Most people want more rudder, not less, but nonetheless decided to cut off a triangle piece from each rudder, since the trailing edge wasn't parallel to the rudder post. The piece I cut off the trailing edge of each rudder is about 1.25" at the top and tapers down to nothing at the bottom. This change makes the trailing edge parallel to the rudder post and increases slightly the rudder balance. Not a great loss of area.
I doubled up on the shaft zincs (four on each shaft) and pounded out a small ding on each propeller. Last summer I hit a branch (about 3 inches in diameter and six feet long) with my stbd prop. There was a loud bang and then a grinding noise...sounded BAD! I hired a diver to look at the prop and he said wait till next haul-out. I was pleased to see that the ding was only a half inch long and deformed the leading edge only a sixteenth or so. Easily pounded out. Also found a ding about the same on the port prop. Don't remember that one? The 18" four blade props are massive and therefore durable. The same branch would have destroyed an aluminum Duoprop.
My fourth redesigned rudder trim tab is 20% the size of the first. Happy to say that this one does the job with a neutral helm. I can let go the wheel and it stays on heading. Took it out for a sea trial Monday....was blowing 20 with gusts to 30, so decided to stay fairly close to FH in San Juan channel. Boat runs great and easily hit 30 MPH. The boat is a real kick to operate, especially in calm water. It's so smooth, the sensation is of flying. Rough water such as encountered Mondy is exhilarating. You can blast through a two, three or four foot chop with ease. I did hit one wave on the port bow Monday that resulted in a pretty loud bang, but I was doing close to 30 in a three foot chop. A couple things slid off the table, but otherwise no damage.
I'll be updating my photos here on FGNW over the next couple weeks. Also working on some video of the boat in action...Stay tuned....
McSkagit
picture from Spring haul out
new picture shows part of rudders cut off
Most people want more rudder, not less, but nonetheless decided to cut off a triangle piece from each rudder, since the trailing edge wasn't parallel to the rudder post. The piece I cut off the trailing edge of each rudder is about 1.25" at the top and tapers down to nothing at the bottom. This change makes the trailing edge parallel to the rudder post and increases slightly the rudder balance. Not a great loss of area.
I doubled up on the shaft zincs (four on each shaft) and pounded out a small ding on each propeller. Last summer I hit a branch (about 3 inches in diameter and six feet long) with my stbd prop. There was a loud bang and then a grinding noise...sounded BAD! I hired a diver to look at the prop and he said wait till next haul-out. I was pleased to see that the ding was only a half inch long and deformed the leading edge only a sixteenth or so. Easily pounded out. Also found a ding about the same on the port prop. Don't remember that one? The 18" four blade props are massive and therefore durable. The same branch would have destroyed an aluminum Duoprop.
My fourth redesigned rudder trim tab is 20% the size of the first. Happy to say that this one does the job with a neutral helm. I can let go the wheel and it stays on heading. Took it out for a sea trial Monday....was blowing 20 with gusts to 30, so decided to stay fairly close to FH in San Juan channel. Boat runs great and easily hit 30 MPH. The boat is a real kick to operate, especially in calm water. It's so smooth, the sensation is of flying. Rough water such as encountered Mondy is exhilarating. You can blast through a two, three or four foot chop with ease. I did hit one wave on the port bow Monday that resulted in a pretty loud bang, but I was doing close to 30 in a three foot chop. A couple things slid off the table, but otherwise no damage.
I'll be updating my photos here on FGNW over the next couple weeks. Also working on some video of the boat in action...Stay tuned....
McSkagit
picture from Spring haul out
new picture shows part of rudders cut off
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