Hello this is Crash boom and Vang.

The objective of this thread(?) is to help me build Lee-boards for my 12' SportsPal 'Canoe.' I'll will try to amalgamate the Q&A from other threads.(?) Into a cohesive thread (note the lack of (?) mark.) My apologies with-forth to the internet savvy.

Crash Boom and Vang {June 9th 2009}

I cheekily queried Cecbell in my posting #673 (The Rudder>>Building/Repair>>Building and Repairing Your Sailing Canoes and Kayaks>>Re:leeboard hydrofoil) "May I put my lee board in?"

[to which I'm responding.]

Cecbell many thanks.

'Cecbell, you gave me much advice and insight. A bear to paddle is an understatement. I always preferred to row, then she was only a slug. Between You and I a Sportspal is not a canoe but an ultra-lite Bateau. (keep that to yourself 'Ed' has opinions) Your advice about, "...the single most important thing is to get the leeboards located properly." is why I propose that my lee boards can be shifted fore and aft. (I agree about the avatar lee-board placement; It is a stock-photo from the company's web site.) Your other advice about the rock and Ed's appendium i.e. Gas-can, (empty it and it makes a handy PFD!) talk about think tanks.

Re: flipping a Sportspal; Try to remember what you were going forward for and tell me so I don't make the same mistake. (stop knots on sheets that's a good tip.)

Thanks again Cecbell

Crash Boom and Vang.

It was so long ago, there's no hope of remembering what it was that sent me forward. But it doesn't matter because the thing that caused the trouble was my ill-considered leap back to the tiller at the stern.

A good approach to avoiding that is to use the "steering stick" type of tiller, or some equivalent, that allows you to position yourself at the spot for best trim--sorta kills two birds with one stone (if you'll forgive the pun) since it does away with the need for the rock ballast I'd used.

The stop knot came about after careless handling led to the sheet unreeving itself several times. Putting things back together in order to get sailing again was an untimely inconvenience so I got into the habit of using the stop knot with that rig.

The 'Lee Board Bracket'

Initially I was more concerned about stability, Ed has tipped the balance in that regards for me. That is to say the, 'Fixation of Amas.' (the training wheels.) All this balance tipping occurred in the thread, 'Rudderless No More.'

However, that said, the bracket that supports the lee board on a third axis's to the thwarts has always been my greatest concern. Probably because my previous defeat as a kid. [#630 'Halcyon days'] It seems to me that of all the parts of the rig its asked to do so much i.e. provide lateral resistance for the lift from the sail, all via the gunnels because there is no keel.

I will direct your attention specifically to AHIMSAKID 's posting [#691 ...and here is the bracket:]

Is not that a beautiful casting, apparently Aluminum. Note the boss around the (lee board bolt hole?) that transfers to the fore-&-aft stress to the small elegant, but very effective gussets. I don't have dimensions but I estimate that the, 'land' (the area that the lee board mates to the surface of the bracket. (its the best noun I can think of.)) is 4" wide and 5" high.

The height of this 'land' is my first design parameter, I find it is hard to believe that 5" is enough, to transfer the force of the sail to the lateral force of the lee board. As I write this I know I may be missing something i.e. the dynamic nature of the force. (I may be thinking to statically.) I would appreciate any comments in regards to this.

Far to the lee
Crash boom and Vang.

Re: Stop Knot;

HARD lesson LEARNED.

Crash.

Next posting
a "Poor Man's Winch."

Heeling way to far to windward
Crash Boom and Vang.