Newly purchased 1990 35.5. When on starboard tack the boat rounds up while on port tack it will track quite well -- I can even let the wheel go. Rig is tuned equally port and stbd. Using a 135 headsail. While under power I would expect the round up to stbd due to the prop wash against the rudder. Anyone have any ideas why this would happen under sail?
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Pat, If I understand it corretly, rounding up is a consequence of severe weather helm overcoming the ability of the rudder to steer. If this is true and you say your rig is tuned, I can only think of an inbalance in the boat's athwartship weight distribution. I would think a clinometer would dispell this mystery easily enough. If your tanks and gear outweigh each other by 500 or 800 pounds, this has a doubling effect on your balance. Like crew on the rail on your port tack, it will aid your ability and counter the effect of the wind. On the starboard tack, it would add additional heel. In terms of thinking balanced rig, it would really have a 2x impact. I don't know that I would search much further, at least until I examined the boat's balance. good luck, this should be interesting Mike D Media, PA s/v Serenity H376
Pat, If I understand it corretly, rounding up is a consequence of severe weather helm overcoming the ability of the rudder to steer. If this is true and you say your rig is tuned, I can only think of an inbalance in the boat's athwartship weight distribution. I would think a clinometer would dispell this mystery easily enough. If your tanks and gear outweigh each other by 500 or 800 pounds, this has a doubling effect on your balance. Like crew on the rail on your port tack, it will aid your ability and counter the effect of the wind. On the starboard tack, it would add additional heel. In terms of thinking balanced rig, it would really have a 2x impact. I don't know that I would search much further, at least until I examined the boat's balance. good luck, this should be interesting Mike D Media, PA s/v Serenity H376
Is your traveler centered?
If the traveler is set toward the starboard side, the boat might have more weather helm when on starboard tack. The same if set to port on port tack. Also, how are you sure that the rig is perfectly centered? Can you tell us what you did to make sure? JonK
If the traveler is set toward the starboard side, the boat might have more weather helm when on starboard tack. The same if set to port on port tack. Also, how are you sure that the rig is perfectly centered? Can you tell us what you did to make sure? JonK
hmmmm...
an intriguing problem. are the fairleads equal? is there a foam luff on the genoa that has a memory from sitting on a roller furler since 1990? is there more growth on the starboard side of the hull/rudder because of sunlight hitting the boat unevenly? does the boat sit level at the dock? is the mast in column? (the mast can be tweaked even though the rigging is "tuned evenly.") has the boat ever gone aground hard enough to misalign the keel and rudder? is there more play in the steering to one side than the other? does the rudder give a different feel under different points of sail?
an intriguing problem. are the fairleads equal? is there a foam luff on the genoa that has a memory from sitting on a roller furler since 1990? is there more growth on the starboard side of the hull/rudder because of sunlight hitting the boat unevenly? does the boat sit level at the dock? is the mast in column? (the mast can be tweaked even though the rigging is "tuned evenly.") has the boat ever gone aground hard enough to misalign the keel and rudder? is there more play in the steering to one side than the other? does the rudder give a different feel under different points of sail?
Thanks John, Mike & JonK
Most of what you suggest I have considered: John Farnsworth's suggestions are numerous and I can rule out most. In response to your question about the helm feeling different on various points of sail I would have to respond affirmative seeing that the stbd tack is rounding up. I don't believe that there was a grounding hard enough (especially on Barnegat Bay) to cause the rudder or keel to be misaligned however I will check more thoroughly next week when the boat comes out of the water. I can rule out the trim of the boat, excess play in steering, the mast being in center, and growth on the stbd side as well as the luff tape issue. The lead on stbd is slightly further aft then the port lead due to a frozen adjustment knob which will be remedied, however, I doubt seriously if such a slight difference in leads will produce such a dramatic result. JonK; yes the traveler is centered. The shrouds, however, were VERY loose when I took posession of the boat. I tuned them usung a LOOS TENSION GUAGE and measured the alignment using a halyard taken to a point on deck next to the chain plates port and stbd. The head stay/back stay seems to me to be a bit loose although any effect would be more or less equal on both tacks I would think. Mike; The boat sits trim in the slip. Also, I have my doubts if a 500lb imbalance, although noticable, would have such a drastic effect. I would characterize the rounding up to stbd as VERY pronounced, equal to the torque/prop wash induced turn while under power. By the way, I see you're from Tolchester Beach. We're neighbors; my boat is at Green Point marina on Worton Creek. Any furthewr responses can be sent to: captainpat@prodigy.net
Most of what you suggest I have considered: John Farnsworth's suggestions are numerous and I can rule out most. In response to your question about the helm feeling different on various points of sail I would have to respond affirmative seeing that the stbd tack is rounding up. I don't believe that there was a grounding hard enough (especially on Barnegat Bay) to cause the rudder or keel to be misaligned however I will check more thoroughly next week when the boat comes out of the water. I can rule out the trim of the boat, excess play in steering, the mast being in center, and growth on the stbd side as well as the luff tape issue. The lead on stbd is slightly further aft then the port lead due to a frozen adjustment knob which will be remedied, however, I doubt seriously if such a slight difference in leads will produce such a dramatic result. JonK; yes the traveler is centered. The shrouds, however, were VERY loose when I took posession of the boat. I tuned them usung a LOOS TENSION GUAGE and measured the alignment using a halyard taken to a point on deck next to the chain plates port and stbd. The head stay/back stay seems to me to be a bit loose although any effect would be more or less equal on both tacks I would think. Mike; The boat sits trim in the slip. Also, I have my doubts if a 500lb imbalance, although noticable, would have such a drastic effect. I would characterize the rounding up to stbd as VERY pronounced, equal to the torque/prop wash induced turn while under power. By the way, I see you're from Tolchester Beach. We're neighbors; my boat is at Green Point marina on Worton Creek. Any furthewr responses can be sent to: captainpat@prodigy.net
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