yes, i have a brake on the shaft. there is little room in the appature area. i would never cut into the rudder to enlarge. love my two bladed prop.
when i picked up the boat, in conn, for my father back in 74' the previous owner said that he had just put it back in the boat as he never used it. i didn't think about it and we had it in till 93' when i started doing the chicago mac races with aeolus. i took it out then and have never put back in. my upper berths came with added lee boards. i made lee cloths out of canvas for the racing for the lower bunks. used the cockpit pads on the cabin sole for sleeping too.Jon, I noticed you removed the man salon table, or was it never there, or just for races??. Mine takes up a lot of room, pain to get by, great for seating 6 people, so I am curious how you manage with without it and eating ete...
Thanks Lloyd
I get that (table removal), Jon. We hadn't sailed our Challenger for more than a few days before I determined something needed to be done to the centerline table. The old designers must have had a vision of a crew of 6, three on each settee, enjoying Downton Abby style dining, several times a day. Maybe this was a day when only men sailed?when i picked up the boat, in conn, for my father back in 74' the previous owner said that he had just put it back in the boat as he never used it. i didn't think about it and we had it in till 93' when i started doing the chicago mac races with aeolus. i took it out then and have never put back in. my upper berths came with added lee boards. i made lee cloths out of canvas for the racing for the lower bunks. used the cockpit pads on the cabin sole for sleeping too.
i like the space open way more than than the seldom use as a dinner table.
the table is in great shape stored all these years back at my house.
very easy to remove. try it, you'll like it.
on the hook with a full crew you can walk by when they are sleeping.
i will never put it back in. do not miss it at all.
this is how we eat
my brother
Jon, thanks for confirming the backing issue, i have the same issue. I get very similar performance at rpm as you do, impressive for a two bladed prop. How do you lock your shaft? Lloydperkins 107. two bladed prop. in calm. 2000 rpm 6.7 kts. in calm 2250 rpm 7.2 kts
i keep a clean bottom
aeolus does not back well at all. full keel with attached rudder. we man handle aeolus at the dock if we need to go astern. i never back into a slip. do not want the dock gawkers looking in.
i would be embarrassed to have a bow thruster on sailboat.
old school
k./;lZauto pilot: in 45 years i have not gone three miles using the autopilot while having the sails up. the alden is such a joy to helm, why would i not do that which is the most fun for me. aeolus tracks so well, balances so nicely, is so much fun to command, ........ we always hand steer while sailing.
that said, i do use the auto pilot when motoring.
again , no electrical draw.
old school