Reducing Sail

[Mark M26D]

Do you have a stock rudder

Kerr Lake is my favorite place to sail. If you have the stock rudder you are missing out on great sailing with that boat. Either modify it yourself with an extended leading edge. Or call www.idasailor.comm and get an HDPE rudder. I gauantee you won't be sorry. Plus it will solve most of your issues.

 

[Tom Roberts]

My mac 26D has a fully battened main and I normally use a 130 Genoa. This seems to work for us up to white caps on the lake. When white caps form the rudder can't seem to hold during gusts. (I currently have the stock rudder but plan to get the idea sailor one).Last time this happened, I reefed first. My main has only one reef point about 3 1/2 feet up from the foot. With the reefed main and the genoa, we still had trouble holding course during gusts. I have read many times to Reef early, but, should you reef first, then go to the 100% jib, or try the smaller jib first, then reef.I have read about people sailing main only, or jib only. When I tried reefed main only , I could not steer up wind at all. I have not tried jib only.What do you do when the wind picks up?Also, being somewhat new to this, about what wind speed do white caps start to form on a lake? Thanks

 

[Dave M26D]

Hey Mark

would that be a money back guarantee? I totally agree with you...one of the best mods you can make on the boat.

 

[Mark M26D]

Who's money

It would hard to believe that anyone with a stock rudder would not agree there is a substantial difference. But if they are not satisfied, I'll send them a refund check,signed "Daffy Duck"

 

[mlb7731]

Best deal

Get the new rudder,(you'll swear you have power steering). When you have heavy gusts, just drop the genoa. I have a Mac 26D and this is what I do.

 

[Dave M26D]

Ok Mark...

I'm with you...tell you what, if that happens, I'll split the cost 50/50.Signed "Goofy"

 

[Dave M26D]

Seriously though,

caps start at around force 4 on the Beaufort scale. That is between ~11 and 16 knots. By 16 knots, I have the first reef in (I have two) and my 152% genny is furled to around 135. Now, that is because I don't like to sail the boat at more than around 15 degrees of heel...anymore than that and it is just fun, but not fast. You might be well served to read a few books or articles about balance. Sailing under main or jib alone creates an imbalance that is difficult to handle and in some circumstances dangerous. A basic understanding of balance will improve your sailing skills enormously...that will tell you how much sail to carry and how to trim for varying conditions.Your boat is very forgiving and a great boat to learn on. I will be happy to provide more information and references if you are interested....wd121648@adelphia.net...feel free.

 

[Traini]

New Rudder

I have a 26D 1989 I am using the original rudder, I would like to move up to the improved rudder, 1- Is it best to just buy the improved rudder from idasailor or any other dealer( in Canadian dollars it gets a little expensive.)2- make my own out of wood?3- Make alterations to my existing?I quess what I am after is has any one made their own only to buy form a dealer later?Thanks for all the great info everyoneGeorge

 

[Dave M26D]

I made mine

before IdaSailor got into the act. Total cost for mine was $125 and took only a few hours. Works great, looks great...but, if Ida had been around I would probably have purchased instead of building. You can modify the original, but it won't be as strong, won't be as long and still won't be a good foil shape. The Ida is a good foil shape (lifting surface) as is the homemade version. I don't think modifying the original is worth the time, effort or expense.If you want to explore building one, I'll send you the instructions I used.

 

[Tom Roberts]

Oh I'm definitely getting the new rudder.

Mark and Dave, when it comes to sailing, what I haven't learned on the lake I have learned from reading your posts.Thanks.Mark, I'll say hi on NCSail. Maybe we can meet up at Kerr sometime.