What do you mean wee themselves. You tryin to take the p--s out of me?

In my limited experience with an LL Mini I found they go really well with a stiffy mast.

Ally mast specs here www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42597

and here

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=37931

It all depends on the cut of the sail though. If the sail cut needs plenty of mast flex to flatten it then ally would not be ideal.

I first sailed Diablo with a stiffy at Yeppoon in possibly 15-20kt winds and she went like a train.

I have only sailed her since with a fibreglass mast and in lighter airs.

The fibreglass mast seems to give a greater range of sail shape and therefore becomes a more effective mast in lighter airs.

The ally mast seems to be better in heavier and gusty airs because of less mast drop off but still allows sufficient sail flattening for high speed sailing.

If you were to do a bend comparison of the masts quoted and a Laser you would find that the Laser is exponentially stiffer. Not just a bit!
One of the ways (used when I sailed OK's, Finns etc) is to support the mast at base and "deck level" and hang the same weight off the tip. Another, support the ends and hang the weight in the middle.just measure the deflection from no weight.
Even the "stiff mast" which I used on my Glen at the worlds (and it was substantially stiffer than any other) deflected over double that of a Laser. Compared to any sailboard mast, just no comparison. Remember that any increase in diameter exponentially stiffens. that's a rule for all round tube.
ie double the diameter 4 times stiffer, triple the diameter 9 times stiffer. ie the rule of "squared numbers".
A Laser mast is what diameter? From memory 80 something mm.Then look at their tip diameter!

I am back, i have now built the basic frame ie rear axil, mast foot tube and front steering shaft, just the steering assembly and seat to go, plus a paint job. I picked up my Fallshaw wheels last week with the bearings changed to suit a 20mm shaft, they are sealed bearing with a plastic bush to reduce the size to 20mm, is this how they usually do it ? On the axil shafts do you have a washer on both sides of the wheel ? i read somewhere to use a blob of weld to keep the wheels where you want them on the in side with washer and pin on the outside.
Another point i cant find the post for re cutting windsurfer sails to suit land yachts.
Cheers

Tassie Olly said...

I am back, i have now built the basic frame ie rear axil, mast foot tube and front steering shaft, just the steering assembly and seat to go, plus a paint job. I picked up my Fallshaw wheels last week with the bearings changed to suit a 20mm shaft, they are sealed bearing with a plastic bush to reduce the size to 20mm, is this how they usually do it ? On the axil shafts do you have a washer on both sides of the wheel ? i read somewhere to use a blob of weld to keep the wheels where you want them on the in side with washer and pin on the outside.
Another point i cant find the post for re cutting windsurfer sails to suit land yachts.
Cheers

welcome back TO.
You will need some kind of lip at the back of the axle . I often use a washer spot welded at the back. If you can find a bit of tube to slide on instead.
often bicycle handlebars or seat mounts will have the right fit. i have a length of tube that was a winder bar on a hospital bed in a former life
. all the sailmaking bits have moved to a new subsection of thier own which is great for finding those old posts.
photos, photos, photos