Hi,
One thing I have debated for a while is going with a propulsion-rated
retractable thruster in the lee hull for the boat's motor.
On one hand, I realize that this carries a $10,000+ penalty when
compared to outboards, as well as some weight (once you figure in a
genset and any propulsion batteries).
On the other, it would have a number of benefits:
- Convenient collapsing without having to worry about 000 cables,
outboards, or other apparatus. Everything could be in one hull, with
just house power going to the windward hull.
- A highly cavitation-resistan
- The ability to drive forward or reverse without issues.
- The option of charging batteries, either propulsion or house, while
under sail.
- The option of using diesel, or fuel cells in the future, instead of
gasoline.
But retractable thrusters are expensive, and they likely won't take
very well to grounding or running into logs.
A mini keel could be a nice way of making sure there's something
sturdy to take impacts that would wipe the thruster out. There could
be either two mini-keels in tandem, each with its own foil shape, with
the thruster in the middle, or the keel could be one piece with the
thruster angling out to windward.
There would be less need for a keel if the boat had a deeper draft
and the thruster could poke out above the hull bottom on the side, but
that's not likely to happen with a proa that has any reasonable
performance.
- Mike
rpvdb@ymail.
We sailed BD again with the repaired leeboard.
I fixed it to the lw hull with a Dyna One line through the hull side to
the mast frame. There were a lower and upper guard to keep it in
position, at least that was the intention. It appeared very hard to
obtain enuogh tension on the line to keep the board thightly next to
the hull. A bolt would be better.
Results of the sail pretty much confirm the earlier ones.
I asked somebody new to the boat to come along for the test.
When we where less concentrated on sailing the boat (too busy
talking)the board would come off the lower guard and after that it was
hard to bear away and the boat luffed into the wind a couple of times.
Next day I sailed with the board of the foundation owning the boat and
After a while the line connecting the leeboard to the hull broke.
Now they could see with their own eyes the difference between having
the leeboard and not having it. The boat would luff into the wind when
steering higher that a close reach.
For simplicity they prefer a keel as I expected.
The extra hassle of uphauls and downhauls and keeping an eye on the
leeboard is more that they care for.
So I will try to get a keel under the boat before winter really kicks
in.
Regards,
Rudolf
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