I recently bought this 1974 Ford 20 and am searching for information about it. I would appreciate anyone who can offer some help. One question is: How do you get to the cable that attaches the centerboard to the capstan.
Ford 20 information
- Thread starter landhort
- Start date
Welcome to the forum!!
Wow.......what a find............and comes with a built-in dodger SailboatData.com - FORD 20 Sailboat!! Doesn't look anything like my Ford F350. To find the cable that attaches the centerboard to the capstan suggest taking some photos and make diagram of what you have and post.
Wow.......what a find............and comes with a built-in dodger SailboatData.com - FORD 20 Sailboat!! Doesn't look anything like my Ford F350. To find the cable that attaches the centerboard to the capstan suggest taking some photos and make diagram of what you have and post.
Welcome to the forum!!
Wow.......what a find............and comes with a built-in dodger SailboatData.com - FORD 20 Sailboat!! Doesn't look anything like my Ford F350. To find the cable that attaches the centerboard to the capstan suggest taking some photos and make diagram of what you have and post.
Nope, it sure doesn't look like any Ford I've ever seen eitherThis is the best I could do to show the capstan (the round wooden drum at front of the centerboard trunk). There is supposed to be a control line that is wound around the drum that leads to the jam cleat at the back of the trunk. There is a steel cable that is wound on the capstan's shaft that is also attached to the centerboard. However, the cable on mine seems to have detached somehow. I was hoping that someone might know how to get into the 'guts' of this setup.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,355
Welcome to SBO. Congrats on your boat.
Looks like she has seen better care. Given some good weather, a bucket of soap and a little elbow grease you'll have her water ready in no time.
Here are a couple of links that might help. The a letter to address in the first link may give you more insight to your boat.
I would get the boat off the trailer and up in the air. Then the fun begins. Looking for bolts and pins that connect the various gear. You should be able to release enough stuff to drop the centerboard. Once out of the boat it will be a lot easier to figure out how to attach a cable. If the center board rotates then there is a pin in the trunk on which the center board rotates.
Good luck
Looks like she has seen better care. Given some good weather, a bucket of soap and a little elbow grease you'll have her water ready in no time.
Here are a couple of links that might help. The a letter to address in the first link may give you more insight to your boat.
SailMFG Ford 20
sailmfg.com
SailMFG Ford 20 Rigging Instructions
sailmfg.com
I would get the boat off the trailer and up in the air. Then the fun begins. Looking for bolts and pins that connect the various gear. You should be able to release enough stuff to drop the centerboard. Once out of the boat it will be a lot easier to figure out how to attach a cable. If the center board rotates then there is a pin in the trunk on which the center board rotates.
Good luck
Thanks for your advice. I can't wait for that good weather to get here. She has been sitting for years with no one to love her. Everything looks solid, just neglected. It's going to be very rewarding to make her pretty again. Good idea to get her off the trailer and drop the centerboard. At least then, I would know that it is still functional in that respect.
Another question I have is about rigging the boom traveler. There are two swivel blocks on the aft end of the boom and on the rear deck of the boat there are two swivel blocks and two other fittings mounted. I am not sure of how the main sheet line is supposed to be run. I have included a photo to help understand what I am talking about.
You're right, I've never driven a Ford that looks like this either. I'm eager to get her cleaned up and on the water again. Here is a closer picture of that capstan and centerboard trunk.
Yes, I've checked that site out and have downloaded their info. I'm still uncertain of how the traveler is attached and how the two blocks and the other two clip fittings are supposed to be rigged? Sorry, but I'm a novice.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,355
I have blown up the image of the stern. It appears you have installed two small blocks port and starboard. These sit up on an inner pin. I think this is a double line traveler rig. The line would run from the boom end down to port back up to a boom end block. Then carry the line down to the starboard block and back to the boom. From there the line runs a long the boom to a block at mid boom and didn’t to the center board trunk.
I would need to see the blocks at the end of the boom to confirm this.
I would need to see the blocks at the end of the boom to confirm this.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,355
This set up would give you adequate purchase to control the main. Note each block you run through helps to increase your purchase with less power needed.
This looks like a modified method than the Ford20 diagram I sent to you. The image I found and sent is a simpler rigging method.
This looks like a modified method than the Ford20 diagram I sent to you. The image I found and sent is a simpler rigging method.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,355
Here is the classic style shown in the first image I posted.
A traveler line is attached to the stern. A double block with sheaves vertically positioned so the lower on rides on the traveler line. The main sheet tied to the boom is run down from the boom, through the block and back to the boom. The sheet runs through a block on the boom end, along the boom through a block and down to the block and cam cleat in the cockpit. This is a single block system. Because the line only runs through a single 180 degree turn you have a 2:1 system. Better explained here. How a Block and Tackle Works
With the blocks on the stern and the sheet run through them to the boom I believe you get a 4:1 purchase.
A traveler line is attached to the stern. A double block with sheaves vertically positioned so the lower on rides on the traveler line. The main sheet tied to the boom is run down from the boom, through the block and back to the boom. The sheet runs through a block on the boom end, along the boom through a block and down to the block and cam cleat in the cockpit. This is a single block system. Because the line only runs through a single 180 degree turn you have a 2:1 system. Better explained here. How a Block and Tackle Works
With the blocks on the stern and the sheet run through them to the boom I believe you get a 4:1 purchase.
The Flying Scot has an similar mainsheet system except the double blocks are forward instead of aft. Nevertheless I think the point is to keep the sailors weight more in the middle of the boat and retain end-boom sheeting. The good thing about the OP's situation is that there is no right way to rig it. A traveler could be installed or not. I'm not sure why the block sliding on a line across the transom is better than just attaching the sheet to a fixed point on the transom. Maybe the sliding block adds a little forgiveness to the system or prevents one from "Over trimming" the main. A lot of classic boats have a bar across the transom for the main sheet block to slide along. I'm still trying to understand why. Is it tradition?
John, Your explanation of how to rig my Main Sheet line makes sense. I have two individual blocks on the end of my boom. One, on the port side, has a becket like the one pictured here...the other one, starboard is just a block. Thanks for your advice.
You are right about "The good thing about the OP's situation is that there is no right way to rig it". I'm finding that every sailor customizes their boat to suit their personal situation. The more I tinker with this boat, the more I realize that the previous owner personalized it in many other ways
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,355
In part that can be the fun part of giving your boat life. I have enjoyed the experience with my boat. Project baots are not for everyone.
Best advice I heard from a fellow sailor, "Don't spend all your time on the dock trying to get the boat perfect to sail. It is a fools effort. Get out there as sail a bit while you are working on the boat."
Best advice I heard from a fellow sailor, "Don't spend all your time on the dock trying to get the boat perfect to sail. It is a fools effort. Get out there as sail a bit while you are working on the boat."
Winter is coming to an end here in Indiana and I am getting Spring Fever. I decided to see if I could use the old cruddy halyards that were still on my mast instead of buying new. I soaked them in a combination of Dove soap and 10% bleach then ran them through the washer on the Heavy Duty cycle. They came out looking great. Soft to the touch too
Attachments
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I'm still discovering things about this Ford 20 that I don't understand. In this picture of my mast, you will see that the shrouds going through the spreaders are attached to tangs at the base of the mast. Is this typically the way to run these shrouds?
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jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,355
Not sure I understand your question.
The shrouds run from the mast head to the side deck of the hull. The spreader functions to fix the angle of the shroud top to bottom and to fix the mast in place ( stop the mast from lateral bending sideways )
The tangs you mention should have a fixture ( chainplate) to connect to on the deck. This connection serves to mange the forces transmitted between the mast and hull.
The shrouds run from the mast head to the side deck of the hull. The spreader functions to fix the angle of the shroud top to bottom and to fix the mast in place ( stop the mast from lateral bending sideways )
The tangs you mention should have a fixture ( chainplate) to connect to on the deck. This connection serves to mange the forces transmitted between the mast and hull.
Yes, that is the way I thought the lower shrouds would attach also. But, on my mast I have two sets of shrouds. One set attaches to chainplates on the each side of the deck. The other set goes through the spreaders and then is attached directly to the mast about 8" from the base. It was explained to me by another FORD20 skipper that this the same as his.