Lee Helm Question

[Joe11688]

My question to you is: Are you still experiencing lee helm with just the mainsail in a stiff breeze? Years ago I sailed a 1975 O'Day keel/centerboard sloop up from Cape Cod Ma. to Newport RI and she sailed beautiful. Her helm felt very similar to my 1986 O'Day 222. If you're getting lee helm with just the mainsail working, you've got a problem that needs addressing either by investing in a new sail or raking the mast back.

 

[Shoaldrafter]

Joe you are assuming ...

My question to you is: Are you still experiencing lee helm with just the mainsail in a stiff breeze? Years ago I sailed a 1975 O'Day keel/centerboard sloop up from Cape Cod Ma. to Newport RI and she sailed beautiful. Her helm felt very similar to my 1986 O'Day 222. If you're getting lee helm with just the mainsail working, you've got a problem that needs addressing either by investing in a new sail or raking the mast back.

Joe,

You are assuming that he has not raked the mast to maximum safe adjustment - limits of turnbuckles - and can afford a new sail...

So, for the moment as long as he can hang on to the tiller, go sail... Maybe reef? But, nontheless go sail before the next hurricane...

“Twenty years from now you will be
more disappointed by the things that
you didn't do than by the ones you did
do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away
from the safe harbor. Catch the trade
winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover.” Mark Twain

Ed K

 

[Joe11688]

Joe,

You are assuming that he has not raked the mast to maximum safe adjustment - limits of turnbuckles - and can afford a new sail...

So, for the moment as long as he can hang on to the tiller, go sail... Maybe reef? But, nontheless go sail before the next hurricane...

“Twenty years from now you will be
more disappointed by the things that
you didn't do than by the ones you did
do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away
from the safe harbor. Catch the trade
winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover.” Mark Twain

Ed K

A good point well taken Ed, but I'd rather hear it from him. If I was having this problem on my boat I'd try to solve it through a process of elimination if possible.

 

[cb32863]

I have not been able to get out and sail in a good or bad breeze to be honest. I am hoping to have some decent winds Tuesday but, we shall see. I am not able to go sailing whenever the wind is perfect as I have that job thing and other life stuff that comes up. The mast is raked as far back as we are comfortable with as far as threads on the turnbuckles. I could use new sails for sure and if anyone wants to contribute to funding that, PM me with your paypal info...

Also, I am trying to solve it through a process of elimination as I have tried what I knew to try, hence now this thread and looking for other information.... Thanks for the information and help so far.

 

[Indysailor]

I suppose if you've just got a 100% and you don't have long enough sheets to let the sail out to their proper angle, you could have lee helm. An over trimmed sail, with all of its effort forward of the mast ought to push the boat to leeward.

On my boat, I like to run the sheets through the fixed leads on the deck. This is for my 135% genoa and it creates a nice shape that helps in the lighter winds we usually have here. We sailed yesterday and my wife noticed white caps as we were heading out, so we hove to and put a reef in the main, but left the genoa leads up, rather than putting them through the cars on the track. With the reefed main and the full genoa, the boat sailed very well, with the expected bit of weather helm.

I hope you figure this out- there's nothing better than heeling over and feeling the boat gripe a bit, reminding you that she's got your back and won't let you go over.

 

[Shoaldrafter]

Ah, a sailor...

"There's nothing better than heeling over and feeling the boat gripe a bit, reminding you that she's got your back and won't let you go over."[/quote]

Ah! Well said...

Ed K

Addenda:
How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

 

[cb32863]

I suppose if you've just got a 100% and you don't have long enough sheets to let the sail out to their proper angle, you could have lee helm. An over trimmed sail, with all of its effort forward of the mast ought to push the boat to leeward.

On my boat, I like to run the sheets through the fixed leads on the deck. This is for my 135% genoa and it creates a nice shape that helps in the lighter winds we usually have here.

As I said before, I do run the sheets for the jib through the blocks on the deck...... I do not run them to the jib cars at the stern of the boat. Those are for a larger sail, such as a 135 or 150. Trust me, the sail is not over-trimmed, I have just been out in light air and have not had a chance to go out in anything higher than 10.

 

[Indysailor]

Maybe I didn't clarify.
My point there was specifically for the larger sail. You said you were going with a genoa; I use the fixed leads for my 135% genoa and it's helped to give the sail a more rounded shape that aids in punching through the motor boat wakes on those 5mph wind days. I have become accustomed to leaving it there up to the point that I see white caps, however the last time I was out we left the sheets through the fixed leads and the boat sailed very nicely with the full genoa on those leads and a reefed main.