Gardner,
I found a video of the tiller lockbox:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xp-JmcxVrM&#t=61s
Not that you want to use this instead of a wheel; it just
illustrates how the thing works (or *that* it works).
- Mike
Mike,
Just a couple of comments:
BD has special draft requirements, as does Gardiner's plan to sail in the Chesepeake, and both could be nonoptimal with low-draft beam-mounted rudders. Without enough foil in the water, it's easy to go from laminar to non-laminar flow, and then the foils become a lot less effective. But such is the challenge with a 48' boat designed to sail in 3' water, and yet somehow be expected to hit 20 knots (by observers, not by the owner).
I don't want to sail at max speed (15 knots will do for me!) in 3' of water! I just want to be able to sail at 5-6 kts in shallow water. I want to sail at 15+ kts in deep water (> 30'). I even want to ghost along at a couple knots in 1-2' of water (with a soft bottom, like mud or sand) for anchoring. It is very important to me that the rudders raise, but it is also important that they lower to 5' or so.Just as important, rudders on the beam would permit simple tiller extensions all the way to the cockpit, which is something I'd definitely like to try. It's a simple system that wouldn't care one way or the other if the boat were folded or unfolded, won't stretch out of shape, and will be more fun than using a wheel. At least for me -- I much prefer tillers.
I am not clear on the tiller idea. I would be happy enough with a single tiller, but I am having a hard time seeing the use to two tillers; sometimes one at a time (having to stow the other partway through the shunt) and sometimes both (to be able to use both rudders). Am I just missing some simple way to do this? Plus, I am not willing to give up on autopilots when cursing, so how will that work?
Because of these questions, I am trying to move forward with the idea of using a wheel. As much as I love how clean Rob's new rudder desgn is, I don't see how to make the steering simple. Instead, I think that Todd got it right with his rudder design, where the steering board is fixed vertically, and the rudder case is pinned to that board and kicks up independently. That allows the steering system to work regardless of the cant of the rudder, or to impact.
Btw, I have also hired Rob to try to help put a design to paper with all my weird-ass requirements (on water folding, fit in a shipping container, etc). I think I may have had to give up on the 12' beam for trailerability (sorry, I tried to put that one in just for you!) but for now, there would be (minor) disassembly to make that happen (have to remove the removable cockpit). When Rob has beaten some sense into me and come up with drawings, I would also be happy to share with the group (with Rob's permission).- Mike