On Fri, Mar 3, 2017 at 6:09 PM, lucjdekeyser@telenet.be [harryproa] <harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au> wrote:

 

I have seen quite a number of pictures of setups with mast hoops in traditional Dutch flatboats. Your version is surprisingly sleek with very thin and rather long hoops/straps. It looks like you will be able to keep the gap between sail and mast very small. 

​Early days, but promising.​

Do you think the mast would need a finish dedicated to lower friction?

​Sanded and painted it last night.  Nowhere near perfect, but should do the job.​

Is there a particular reason you did not use flat straps?

​Percieved difficulty getting the over the section changes and diificulty getting them through the lacing eyes in the sail.  If the strings don't work, we will try beads, then flat straps.​

I would suggest one change picked up from a "racing"  flatboat web site: hook the straps alternatively clock-wise and counter clock-wise instead of spiraling all in the same direction. Maybe this prevents unintended torsion from changes in the tension of the luff.

​Will give it a shot.  Thanks.​

Looking forward to the experimental results of this weekend.

​Me too.  Spent today fine tuning the rudder kick up mechanism.  Sailing maybe on Sunday.​

PS: I will remain wondering why in naval industry helmets are not required attire in experiments testing telescoping masts. Not even when safety conscious Scandinavians are involved ;-)

​Good idea, although no accidents so far. Scandinavians may be safety conscious, but they have some very good ideas.  Has saved me a lot of hours, plus we have brainstormed the next generation of harrys.  Pics etc soon.