Anyone ever mount rounded mirrors to some stanchions just forward of the mast so they can see the trim of their fore-sail from the helm??
Monitoring trim of foresail?
- Thread starter KandD
- Start date
- Status
I've newer heard of it. You'd have to have a pretty small boat and very good eyesight, so if the boat was so small you wouldn't need them, roundabout logic there.
The mirrors woudl have to be pretty big on a bigger boat, and if they were magnifying mirrors, they wouldn't work.
Why not just lean out a little bit more?
The mirrors woudl have to be pretty big on a bigger boat, and if they were magnifying mirrors, they wouldn't work.
Why not just lean out a little bit more?
I agree with stu. I've never heard of such a thing... but if you can come up with something and it works.. go for it... maybe make a buck. So you'd mount them outboard, like a big truck's side view mirrors, right? Maybe make them remote controlled? Hmm, interesting.
Rather than do that, as Stu suggests, I'd try steering from the side of the wheel, instead of standing directly behind it. Going down wind it's not an issue, but going up wind, close reaching, where you're normally steering by the telltales, it's best to sit to the side. One of the great advantages of tiller equipped boats is that a simple extension allows you to sit on the rail with the rest of the crew while you steer and keep an eye on the telltales. A wheel in the cockpit, especially a small one, is pretty restrictive for steering position options. That's why you see those giant destroyer type wheels being installed on many boats. It allows the driver to move from side to side. You even see alot of dual wheel equipped production boats now... but your idea is a much cheaper upgrade.
So, KandD, even though I've never heard of such a thing... I think it's an interesting idea that could be easliy implemented. Just buy some side view mirrors and clamp them on the pulpit rail. A simple solution to the driver that likes to stay in the middle of the boat. Give it a try and keep us updated.
Rather than do that, as Stu suggests, I'd try steering from the side of the wheel, instead of standing directly behind it. Going down wind it's not an issue, but going up wind, close reaching, where you're normally steering by the telltales, it's best to sit to the side. One of the great advantages of tiller equipped boats is that a simple extension allows you to sit on the rail with the rest of the crew while you steer and keep an eye on the telltales. A wheel in the cockpit, especially a small one, is pretty restrictive for steering position options. That's why you see those giant destroyer type wheels being installed on many boats. It allows the driver to move from side to side. You even see alot of dual wheel equipped production boats now... but your idea is a much cheaper upgrade.
So, KandD, even though I've never heard of such a thing... I think it's an interesting idea that could be easliy implemented. Just buy some side view mirrors and clamp them on the pulpit rail. A simple solution to the driver that likes to stay in the middle of the boat. Give it a try and keep us updated.
I can't ever imagine how they would work. More importantly they're just not needed. As Stu and Joe have already noted the best place to drive from going uphill is the windward rail which gives unrestricted view of the jib telltales. In really light air, sitting on the leeward rail also gives terrific views of the telltales.
Electronics
For those on larger boats with a lot of canvas, jib-check can be less than straightforward. There's a guy 4 docks over who mounted a salt-res CCD camera on the front of his mast, with the output connected to his (Raymarine I think)network monitor at the wheel. He can switch and check the jib streamers any time. Probably more expensive than mirrors.....or craning the neck.
-Or-
Connect your networkable wind speed\direction sensor to the GPS. Then you only have to set the trim once....maybe. Unless You're heading in a specific direction
For those on larger boats with a lot of canvas, jib-check can be less than straightforward. There's a guy 4 docks over who mounted a salt-res CCD camera on the front of his mast, with the output connected to his (Raymarine I think)network monitor at the wheel. He can switch and check the jib streamers any time. Probably more expensive than mirrors.....or craning the neck.
-Or-
Connect your networkable wind speed\direction sensor to the GPS. Then you only have to set the trim once....maybe. Unless You're heading in a specific direction
Camera's ???...just what we need is more electronics, more cost and more things to depend on? If you can't sit and drive form the rail, then find a place to attach some telltales that are visable from behind the wheel.
- Status