Hey Everyone, just got back from the cottage finally getting the boat ready to put into the water.

I'm doing a pile of upgrades on my 5.2 this year (like usual) and have a few questions. The first thing I'm doing is installing swept back speaders a ring lock main halyard and a 12:1 double tailed downhaul.

I replaced the top mast casting and old wire lock system on my N5.2 with a ring lock system. Everything I am reading tells me that when I'm hoisting the main I should run the halyard down the mast track. I'm concerned that the mast track may not be deep enough allow the bolt rope from my new main and the halyard to coexist. Anyone run the halyard outside the track for this type of system?

Next I installed a non-adjustable swept back spreader system. The sweep is about even with the mast track. Should I be replacing the long bars and sweeping it further back?

My main is a little longer in the luff than a stock pre 1985 pin head sail. Last year with my jury rigged 5:1 downhaul I could downhaul the sail to the boom goose neck with just a little sideways bend in the mast (minor axis). Now that I want to induce some real bend I need more room to downhaul. It is a LOT easier for me to drop the gooseneck then get the main alerted, given my location compared to Whirlwind and I don't want anyone else to make adjustments to that sail. Do you think dropping the boom about 3-5" on the mast will change anything except the clearance under the boom near the mast? I will probably try it anyway and leave the old rivet holes in place in case I want to move it back.

Lastly I'm running 2 -3 sheave air blocks from the main cringle and 2 swivel cleats and 2 sheave air block on the boom to get the 12:1. Any advice how you would fit all that within a Nacra Mast rotator? :) I have a reasonable idea but if any of you have done it before...

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Dave,
Where does the cross over occur? I think you might have a problem with mounting to the boom due to rotation. Why not mount to the mast?


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Philip
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Oops, I meant on the mast below the boom. Yes, I'm doing at a setup like your picture. Except I need to get 4 blocks (2 double airblocks) into the space where the 2 high cheekblocks are. Too bad they don't sell double cheek blocks in that size.

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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8:1 is more than sufficient for what you want to do, but, since I probably won't convince you otherwise and you want to go big, use the single cheek blocks as pictured then cascade the upper blocks through the cringle and bitter end to the mast. Presto 16:1.

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Philip
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according to to the only people who seemed to have left a tuning guide on the web for racing the nacra 5.2 you want the factory spreaders to be swept back 5mm past the mast track...

but if your spreaders are not factory it will depend on the length of your spreaders...on 2nd thoughts as you probably won't be doing it for 1-design racing what you have is probably good enough

http://www.goosemarine.com.au/_content/documents/general/11%20nacra%20dn%205_2%20tuning%20guide

agree, dropping your gooseneck probably the easiest way to deal with the longer sail

http://home.comcast.net/~…acra_16x1_downhaul_1.htm

this is our setup - email yurdle about the spreaders would be my suggestion.

best of luck

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Gordon
Nacra 5.5SL
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Philip,
I agree, 8:1 is probably more than sufficient. However I now have the parts to make a 12:1 system so what they hey. :) That being said I am thinking I may just go with an 8:1 (as you show it) it will be MUCH easier to fit within the mast rotator wishbone (anyone need some triple air blocks?).

Erice, thanks, I forgot about that tuning guide, I actually have it sitting on my computer with all my other articles and tidbits. And thanks for the affirmation on the boom. I will try it, if I don't like it I can always put it back, rivets are easy to place and remove.

Gordon, thanks for that. That is similar to the system I'm gong to go with (same as Philips above). The only difference is that I'm using Harken air blocks because I have to fit it through the mast rotator (and I am going to probably stick with an 8:1 system instead of 16:1).

D.

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Which spreaders did you use?

P18 spreaders are a touch bigger than 5.5 spreaders (which I assume are the same as teh post 84 5.2 spreaders). I also assume that your sail issues are the very same as mine, for obvious reasons. I can't compare notes until I've sailed mine after all the mods, though, and I've still got a bunch of fiberglass repair to go.

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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I got the spreaders, top casting and hook tang off of a N5.7 mast. Hearing that 5 mm sweep behind the mast is OK I'm probably fine with what I have. I might just extend the spreaders with some aluminum tube if I think I need more.

Yeah, the luff is a little too long on my square top, but it also may be that the sail is made for the lock ring system which tends to hold the sail a little higher on the mast than my previous system. I will try and dryland hoist it this weekend and make sure of my measurements before I do anything drastic.

Yeah, I'm thinking of putting a wear strip on the bottom of my hulls, but if I miss a few more weeks I'm just going to worry about it in the fall. The season is too darn short up here.



Edited by Wolfman on May 24, 2011 - 11:26 AM.

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Dave why a ring lock? Is it better or just an upgrade to upgrade.

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Nacra 5.2
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The wire lock system with the bullet (found on our 5.2s and most of the early hobie 16s) is designed for the standard 3:1 or 4:1 downhaul that came with our boats. Since I have installed the swept back spreaders to prebend the mast and a 12:1 downahauls to really bend the mast (and flatten the sail to depower it in high winds), the wire lock system won't be adequate for a couple fo reasons. The first is that wire rope stretches pretty badly, secondly the bullet is squished into wire and causes a weak point, likely causing the wire to fail at some point (while I'm sailing in howling wind). The ring lock is solidely attached to the top of the mast instead of the top castinga and is strong enough for the rediculous amount of downhauls pressure I'm going to be putting on it.

But yes, all things being equal all of these things are just toys to put on the boat. It sailed perfectly well without them. :)

D.

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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