Rob,
I'm coming into this pretty late. As you know I have almost exactly the same boat and sail as you (Chip made both our sails from the same design I think). I am putting some swept spreaders on the boat but in the mean time I have had to figure out how to depower this monster sail! I took the advice in Rick White's book and have slightly loose diamond wires so the mast bends on the minor axis and overrotate the mast. Then I rigged a 6:1 downhaul using a hobie 3:1 and running and extra line through the cringle to double it. So I reef on the downhaul and bend the upper 1/3 to 1/2 of the mast (very noticable). All you need is 6:1 because the mast bends easily on the minor axis.
I went out a couple of times this year double trapped. I downhauled the jib as tight as I could without detensionng the forestay completely and sheeted it tight. I sheeted the main hard to flatten it and twist the top off just adjusted the traveller. I was really surprised how smooth and quiet the ride got when we were flying with everything so tight. But the waves on my lake are never very large.
Your right the boat is meant to have the snot sailed out of it! Sounds like one weak link may have got you.
What exactly did you break? I saw the main beam and dolphin striker. If you need any bits and pieces like beam straps let me know, I have a few things laying around that I could donate to the cause.
D.
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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High Winds
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 12:08 AM
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 01:52 PM
Ron,
Were you using standard Nacra5.5SL mast and sail? I always wanted some prebend like on F18, but was not sure the standard mast and the sail can handle it. Can you share more of your experience with that? -
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 02:40 PM
Andre,
Did we not meet at Juana's about 5 or 6 years ago? You were staying with Mike C. . . .anyway . . .allow me to chime in.
I had the same extrusion on the 5.8NA (the 5.8 and 5.5 share the same extrusion). I purchased a new high aspect ratio main, very much like the F18 or N20 mains. I upgraded the downhaul and basically had the same set up that is on the f18, N20. The performance was phenomenal. The extrusion held up fine and worked as designed. It took a little bit of time to get the diamonds, rake, tension dialed in because there was no one else with the set up for reference.
So, the short answer is yes, the mast extrusion will work and perform well with a wide range of prebend and trim induced bend.
edited by: mummp, Sep 29, 2010 - 01:42 PM
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Philip
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 03:56 PM
The mast should take it. The amount of bend isn't extreme so the aluminum has enough give to handle it. Masts have to bend a bit under regular loads without prebend, you aren't introducing anything new to it.
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 04:36 PM
Philip and Dave,
Thanks for the responses. I won't hesitate to prebend my mast now. I am crewing on Nacra F-18 tonight and seems it's time to take a closer look at her mast setup and reread the tuning manual with an idea of applying it to my boat. Gosh I miss that boom...
Philip, I don't recall the meeting you mention. I might have partial memory loss :)
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 04:51 PM
you would defiantly remember him... he has hairy knuckles that drag on the ground
so easy.. a cave man can do it! -
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 05:12 PM
Andre,
Have you been to Navarre Beach? You wouldn't forget that. . .
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Philip
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 05:30 PM
No, I have not. Not a partial memory loss!
Sigh... May be full memory loss? :)
MN3, I drag my knuckles on the ground too... after a couple of hours of good wihd. Good picture though.
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 05:37 PM
There was an sailor named Andre who came down for a couple of years for Juana's. He sailed on Dillion Reservoir, CO.
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Philip
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Posted: Sep 29, 2010 - 06:20 PM
Yes, stock sails and mast. Sailed the boat for 12 years. The first year we had it, it was great in light air, anything below 10. Hard to control in anything above that. Talked with guys all over the country, dealers and hot shot sailors, and averaged them to come up with those numbers. Thightend the diamonds and raked the spreaders and was great in 10 to 15 but suffered in the light stuff.
Lost my book with the light air settings.
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Ron
Nacra F18
Reservoir Sailing Assn.
Brandon, Mississippi
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Posted: Sep 30, 2010 - 03:00 AM
Ron,
I got a little different impression about my boat. I feel she definitely likes 10+kts and going solo in 20+ is not a problem. I sail her solo mostly. Can handle at least 12kts with jib, then I furl it, cause she easily flies hull with main only. I believe the boomless rig should benefit from prebend a lot, because it's going to help bending the mast with less effort. Do you remember your settings for clew traveler? Did you move it all the way in in high winds? Hint: it makes main sheet awfully tight and that's the only drawback with her. Other than that, she takes heavy weather very well.
Anyways, seems I can use Nacra F-18 Tuning Guide for starters. Just need a loose gauge to begin.
Philip, I do sail on Dillon about once a year... but on a keel boat, cause it is COLD and cats seems to be exterminated over there. But I believe I am not that Andre, although I'd love to come to Navarre Beach some day... -
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Posted: Sep 30, 2010 - 12:02 PM
Upwind, clew in the middle as wind increases 3/4 forward.
The boat realy like a lot of sheet tension.
I am not a solo sailor, almost always have the same crew.
Yes, the early f18 numbers are very close except the mast rake.
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Ron
Nacra F18
Reservoir Sailing Assn.
Brandon, Mississippi
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