FW: Weight Distribution/Tiller Extension
Connie Thanks for the swift feedback. I was thinking along the lines of a removable solid extension. Your suggestions are great and will be looked at seriously in my investigation. My sail locker is pretty bare I will move my ground tackle next visit to the boat (Slip @ local lake). I think my 40 lb. block that I use to support the boat & trailer when I am working in the driveway during spring preparations will work towards balancing the weight better. I have also thought about adding some fiddles on the back side of my bottom hatch board (3 pieces) to accommodate my wind meter, SPOT, Cell phone, drink holder, etc. My Winter project along with the tiller extender. Great Minds tend to think alike :-) George Merry Helen II 96 M15 #602 -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Conbert Benneck Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2014 1:42 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Weight Distribution/Tiller Extension On 20-Sep-14 12:46 PM, George R. Iemmolo wrote: Hi George, Been there: ... done that! I faced the same problems that you discuss sailing our M-15 #400 LEPPO solo. With the original length M-15 tiller, and a Forespar tiller extension, plugged into a fitting at the forward end of the tiller, the geometry didn't work as it should. Sitting as far forward in the cockpit as I could, the Forespar tiller extension now had about a 120 degree angle between the tiller location and my hand. Not good for sudden corrections when hit by a gust. What I wanted was a 90 degree angle on the tiller extension between the tiller and my hand. To achieve that, I built a new, longer tiller so that I could sit comfortably as far forward in the cockpit as I could. The longer tiller had other advantages as well. I built a new lower hatch board that held my 7 X 50 binoculars; my small Grundig radio; my marine VHF radio; and a can of beer, which meant that all these items were within easy reach of the helmsman while sailing. Inside the companionway and to port I also had a small eyeglass shelf so that I could easily reach my regular eyeglasses or swap them for my sun glasses. More goodness! Then, with the Forespar extension in place in the tiller, I had a 90 degree push / pull operation between the tiller and my hand. Goodness! However, .... There were times when I had the grandchildren on board, where the original length tiller would have been preferable to my new "cockpit sweeper" long tiller. My suggestion is: Dream up some means of elongating the regular length tiller with some sort of plug-in extension. My thinking goes in the direction of molding some fiberglass around the end of the existing tiller to form a tight fitting sleeve. Then you could add the tiller length extension to the sleeve, and would be a rigid entity that you could lean on if need be; and it would also be instantly removable. Another idea would be a piece of brass or copper tube, open on the bottom, that would fit over the end of the tiller. The tubing would take care of the side loads on the tiller. I could envision it being held in place by a long (6"?) strap on either side where you cut a slot in the bottom end of the strap to fit over a round headed screw shank. installed on either side of the tiller. Lift it up and it is removable; in position it would be rigid (at least that is the intent and goal) - and it would take push / pull tiller loads. If it is too loose, wrap a piece of bungee cord around the joint to hold it in place. Then you chive the best of both worlds: the short tiller for crowded cockpits, and the long tiller for solo sailing. In our M-15 #400 I carried my Fortress anchor plus chain and rode in the forward compartment to help trim the boat. I also stowed my 2 X 1 gallon water bottles as far forward as I could. I also rearranged things in the sail lockers to move the heavy items as far forward as I could. That helped the trim too. Connie ex M-15 #400 LEPPO
Wrinkle Boat Mates
I normally sail single-handed but from time to time have someone along. I have found that even alone and sitting as far forward as I can weight distribution seems to tend to be too far aft.
This is leading me to consider adding weight forward. I was thinking a cinder block (40 lbs) in the forward compartment under the V berth. Would I have to secure the weight? In addition I would like to extend the Tiller so that I can sit comfortable as far forward as possible against the cabin wall. I have a Tiller extender but it is articulated at the attachment joint and I would like to have an extension that is a removable solid extension of the tiller. Has any one constructed one or know of anything along that line.
All comments welcomed.
George
Merry Helen II
96 M15 #602
Regarding your enhancement of your hatchboards, I made a new hatchboard out of plywood, painted, the exact size of the bottom two boards. I was gong to redo in fancier wood if it worked, but what I have is fine and so haven't redone. Onto this board I attached a double drink holder on the inside, which swings out to expand to 4 holders if needed, and on the outside I attached a soft holder for cell phone, ipod, Garmin, camera, etc, with several snap hooks to secure lanyards (such as on the Garmin or camera). I can still add the top board and secure the hatch if necessary, and usually remove my larger board and use the 3 regular boards when storing. It gives lots of room to hang things and keeps water out of the cabin, but is hard to climb over. On Sunday, September 21, 2014 8:04 PM, George R. Iemmolo <griemmolo2@gmail.com> wrote: Connie Thanks for the swift feedback. I was thinking along the lines of a removable solid extension. Your suggestions are great and will be looked at seriously in my investigation. My sail locker is pretty bare I will move my ground tackle next visit to the boat (Slip @ local lake). I think my 40 lb. block that I use to support the boat & trailer when I am working in the driveway during spring preparations will work towards balancing the weight better. I have also thought about adding some fiddles on the back side of my bottom hatch board (3 pieces) to accommodate my wind meter, SPOT, Cell phone, drink holder, etc. My Winter project along with the tiller extender. Great Minds tend to think alike :-) George Merry Helen II 96 M15 #602 -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Conbert Benneck Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2014 1:42 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Weight Distribution/Tiller Extension On 20-Sep-14 12:46 PM, George R. Iemmolo wrote: Hi George, Been there: ... done that! I faced the same problems that you discuss sailing our M-15 #400 LEPPO solo. With the original length M-15 tiller, and a Forespar tiller extension, plugged into a fitting at the forward end of the tiller, the geometry didn't work as it should. Sitting as far forward in the cockpit as I could, the Forespar tiller extension now had about a 120 degree angle between the tiller location and my hand. Not good for sudden corrections when hit by a gust. What I wanted was a 90 degree angle on the tiller extension between the tiller and my hand. To achieve that, I built a new, longer tiller so that I could sit comfortably as far forward in the cockpit as I could. The longer tiller had other advantages as well. I built a new lower hatch board that held my 7 X 50 binoculars; my small Grundig radio; my marine VHF radio; and a can of beer, which meant that all these items were within easy reach of the helmsman while sailing. Inside the companionway and to port I also had a small eyeglass shelf so that I could easily reach my regular eyeglasses or swap them for my sun glasses. More goodness! Then, with the Forespar extension in place in the tiller, I had a 90 degree push / pull operation between the tiller and my hand. Goodness! However, .... There were times when I had the grandchildren on board, where the original length tiller would have been preferable to my new "cockpit sweeper" long tiller. My suggestion is: Dream up some means of elongating the regular length tiller with some sort of plug-in extension. My thinking goes in the direction of molding some fiberglass around the end of the existing tiller to form a tight fitting sleeve. Then you could add the tiller length extension to the sleeve, and would be a rigid entity that you could lean on if need be; and it would also be instantly removable. Another idea would be a piece of brass or copper tube, open on the bottom, that would fit over the end of the tiller. The tubing would take care of the side loads on the tiller. I could envision it being held in place by a long (6"?) strap on either side where you cut a slot in the bottom end of the strap to fit over a round headed screw shank. installed on either side of the tiller. Lift it up and it is removable; in position it would be rigid (at least that is the intent and goal) - and it would take push / pull tiller loads. If it is too loose, wrap a piece of bungee cord around the joint to hold it in place. Then you chive the best of both worlds: the short tiller for crowded cockpits, and the long tiller for solo sailing. In our M-15 #400 I carried my Fortress anchor plus chain and rode in the forward compartment to help trim the boat. I also stowed my 2 X 1 gallon water bottles as far forward as I could. I also rearranged things in the sail lockers to move the heavy items as far forward as I could. That helped the trim too. Connie ex M-15 #400 LEPPO
Wrinkle Boat Mates
I normally sail single-handed but from time to time have someone along. I have found that even alone and sitting as far forward as I can weight distribution seems to tend to be too far aft.
This is leading me to consider adding weight forward. I was thinking a cinder block (40 lbs) in the forward compartment under the V berth. Would I have to secure the weight? In addition I would like to extend the Tiller so that I can sit comfortable as far forward as possible against the cabin wall. I have a Tiller extender but it is articulated at the attachment joint and I would like to have an extension that is a removable solid extension of the tiller. Has any one constructed one or know of anything along that line.
All comments welcomed.
George
Merry Helen II
96 M15 #602
participants (2)
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George R. Iemmolo -
mrh219＠yahoo.com