Rope is OK for the fore stay as long as you have enough for several passes before tying off. Leave the rake where it is just in case the previous owner had a clue. If your sailing with just a mainsail the rake aft makes it easier to tack.

Spend a bit of time on the catamaran forums and read up on tacking and capsize procedures etc that cat sailers require. These off the beach cats require some basic handling techniques to get the best out of them.

hills said...


I've tried to join catsailer, but for some reason my authentication emails are not arriving. I'll see if I can find another appropriate forum for cats.

Robert Nixon is the catsailer owner and admin, try by sending him an email directly at http://nixonmarketing.com.au/outlining your problems with rego.

On dinghies and cats less than approx 20ft it is sort of standard that the fore stay is attached with approx 100-150mm of cord lacing (bundle) and not with a solid fitting like turn buckles etc, as that in an emergency a rescue boat can cut the cord to bring the rig down easily.

Just imagine being upturned in shallow water like the Adelaide coast or Lake Alexandrina in stormy weather, the water is often shallower than the mast height and will smash the boat up quickly by pounding the mast into the sea / lake bottom, boats can be towed upside down with the rig still attached and floating behind but a yacht should NEVER be towed upside down with the rig still in place the drag is just to much.... it will cause damage.
With your new boat learn how to get it back up after being flipped over, read how to do it, then read it again, then flip the boat over on a calm day in shallow water to practice..... one day you will need to know how to do it and its to late to find out in a storm many Km off shore that its a struggle and you have no idea how to do it.

The mast rake... From the pic it might be back a bit to far but the telling bit will be on the water, a yacht should gently 'luff up' if the tiller is let go, or if you seem to be fighting the tiller with it 'strongly' pulling away from you then the mast rake might be to much.

LooseChange said...

Apart from mast rake it's also advisable to check that the rudders are fully down or sometimes even a slight bit for'ard of vertical as these can have a huge effect either weather or lee helm. To my eye the rake looks ok, it's certainly the same appearance as what sloop rigged Mari cats and Windies have.

Harry

Thanks, we have a similar issue on land yachts in relation to the steering geometry.

I'll make sure they are fully down and see how the helm feels. I have a basic understanding of how this works so will play around with the rake so that it gently luffs up.

Thanks very much for sharing your wisdom Brian and Harry, its very much appreciated.