[Rhodes22-list] Mary Lou's Lee helm

[David Walker]

Mary Lou,

There are probably many ways to balance a Rhodes.  At around 15 knots I find
that combination of about 120% genoa and the IMF reefed to just exposing a
sliver of the R22 emblem balances the boat very well with respect to helm
and heeling, especially singled handed.  I was out yesterday in this
condition and handily beat a Catalina 22 under its full sail with 4 crew.
They were having trouble keeping the boat on its lines with the sails
properly trimmed.  In general, I find that less sail, properly trimmed is
better than more sailed trimmed to spill wind.

 My Rhodes also seems to sail better with more forward sail area than aft.
I most assuredly looks funny that way, but the helm is neutral as long as
the heel is moderate.

Dave W
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Alm" <salm at mn.rr.com>
To: "Rhodes" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 5:14 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Mary Lou's Lee helm


> Mary Lou,
> Yes, I said what Stan said I said.  I raked the mast back by extending the
> forestay.  It was about 2" or more--sorry I can't be more precise.  That
> brings the Center of Effros  8-)  aft and yields more weather helm.  But
> that alone wasn't enough.  I started experimenting with the depth of my
> centerboard and discovered I could create more weather helm by lessening
the
> depth of board.  I have the diamond board and it seems that raising it
> brings the center of lateral resistance forward, increasing weather helm.
> The amount of board I use varies with the wind speed, boat speed and point
> of sail.  I'm still learning so I can't be very specific about that other
> than to say that the faster the boat speed, the less board I use.  But if
> I'm on a close reach, that probably makes me lose some of my footing to
the
> lee but I weigh that against the comfort of the helm.  I just play around
> with it until I'm happy.  Although I can't help you with the republican
> tendency of Fretless--that's a head-scratcher -- I'd suggest making
> adjustments to your board and see if that helps.  Also, I sometimes get
lee
> helm in light air which changes over to weather helm in the gusts.  The
more
> the boat heels, the greater the weather helm. And lastly, I rarely reef in
> my IMF main unless it's really blowing.  I'll reef in the 175% genny to
> about 90% before I reef the main.  That happens when the winds are in the
> upper teens.  With winds much higher than that, I'm usually at the dock
> having a cocktail.  8-)  Speaking of which, isn't it five o'clock
somewhere?
>
> Hope this helps,
> Slim
>
> On 9/5/04 1:48 PM, "stan" <stan at rhodes22.com> wrote:
>
> > a few thoughts if it is really a problem   Slim raked his mast aft by
> > increasing the jib stay about 2" he says.  the new main with a little
more
> > sail area might help but that is a big investment.  If you are handy,
putting
> > a small extra fin forward of the keel might tip the scale. Also, I think
you
> > are on the right track about more weight forward.  I brought my thinking
on
> > this up to the List on two occasions but drew a blanc response each
time. I
> > think more bow in the water is akin to moving the keel (center of
effort)
> > forward and easy to test by having a lot of guests sit up on the bow and
see
> > what happens to the tiller helm.  Hiring crew to sit on the bow might be
a
> > patentable upgrade - let us know the test results.
> >
> > stan/gbi
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Mary Lou Troy
> > To: stan
> > Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 2:18 PM
> > Subject: you are welcome and turning right (was Re: book)
> >
> >
> > Stan,
> > You are very welcome for the book. I do not have 1,000 more ;-) If you
do want
> > additional copies you'll have to contact Stan Grayson about it. He'll
sell me
> > additional copies for "personal use" at a 40% discount which is close to
what
> > you can get from Amazon. I'm pleased with the book (and hope you are
too).
> >
> > As for my cryptic note about Fretless being too right - We're not going
> > anywhere but Fred and I suspect you may have sold us a republican boat.
> >
> > As you know we have had lee helm issues over the years. Using your
suggestions
> > we have been able to produce a nice neutral to slight weather helm - on
> > starboard tack only. On port tack the adjustments have only produced a
> > reduction in lee helm. After making sure the mast was centered and the
rigging
> > moderately snug it finally occurred to us that what the boat was doing
was
> > always wanting to turn right. Last time we had her out we seemed to be
able to
> > reduce this tendency slightly and remove a bit of the lee helm by
putting my
> > weight amidships on the port cabin top so it is possible that we are
still
> > dealing with a weight distribution issue. We'll continue to investigate
but
> > are wondering if you have any other suggestions for what we might tinker
with
> > to produce a more middle of the rhode boat.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Mary Lou
> >
> >
> > At 04:44 PM 8/29/2004 -0400, you wrote:
> >
> >   MLT -
> >
> >   How nice of you to send the book - need 1,000 more.
> >
> >   does a little too right mean we are loosing you? - hope not.
> >
> >   stan/gbi
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
> __________________________________________________
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