Improving the non-self tacking jib

[Banshee Ambulance]

I don't know - 200 quid will buy you a few blocks! or 30kg of resin!

[ross_burkin]

One of the reasons Stanley is sailable in mental breeze is because it hasn't got a self tacker. Less to go wrong and means you can just let it go and just sit there and wonder why everyone else is capsizing. A self tacker will always be powered up which is fine if you're completely amazing but for most people it's a pain in the arse if it's 'SMODs are scared' weather.

Why reinvent the wheel if the wheel works fine?

[daryl_wilkinson]

If you go for a regular profile track you can buy a self tacking system for a lot ( half ) the cost of a low profile one. The difference is a couple of centimeters extra between the track car and the jib tack.

If you go RWO which is even cheaper than Ronstan it comes in at about £25 for a track and £30 for a car.

[Will_Lee]

http://www.49eronline.co.uk/acatalog/ronstan-blocks-parts.html

£164 is a lot, so go without.

It was £110 all in for Atums, and I though less for Antidotes.

It's funny, lots of people think a self tacker is the answer to their worries. Actually they are expensive, fragile, difficult to make work, and probably not worth it as a retrofit.

[Banshee Ambulance]

This isn't for Stanley! More as part of a feasibility study for a new build, and jib hardware seems to be a fair bulk of the cost!

[ross_burkin]

Hulls are the cheapest part of the build as far as I can tell. Glass is basically free and foam and epoxy look dirt cheap compared to the cost of a full harken fit out. Getting sails and fittings/hardware by far cost the most if your going to be making all your own spars and foils.

Getting a bit off topic....Check PM

[Phil Alderson]

Nice to know there is a reason. It's a shame there is no budget (not bodged) alternative to a hugely expensive track/car. Maybe buy the track only and get on the lathe/mill!

There is always a bodge

This was done using a bent bit of curtain rail and the bow fitting from a Laser II.

It could however be turned into a budget method. If you make a curved track from either glass or carbon, sized so that a block can run along it in place of the crappy U bolt above, you have your track and slider.

It has to be very strongly fixed at each end as there is no support along the length or in the middle but it could be made to work

I think that for a budget build there is potential in bying an old boat like a 14 and stripping it for parts, for £1000-£1500 you should be able to get a 14 with loads of blocks and string, foils, potentially a carbon mast, pole and boom maybe even a road trailer. The Sails could be converted or you could probably get £200 selling them back to a budget 14 team.

[phil_kirk]

I did consider (for a few seconds) making a carbon curved track similar to the ronstan track but looking at the posts above having the sheet car bearing on the rear of the track would ease the complexity of the track.

We bought a ronstan track and car having sailed with one on Slippery with no complaints.

The jib boom that ends at the luff with a jib Kicker or Vang would allow a very simple sheet system.

But you would have to make the other two components for less cost than the track for it to be viable.

To go upwind efficiently you need a good jib system that sets the sail right. without this you wont either point well or go fast. 

I'm now thinking that it is a neccesary evil.

[roland_trim]

Any recommendations on where to source a track/car from?

[phil_kirk]

We got ours from ovingtons.  The ronstan track is a 49er track.

Ronstan may deal direct.

you could try RS because I think the same track is on the 800.

[JimC]

To go upwind efficiently you need a good jib system that sets the sail right. without this you wont either point well or go fast. 

In single string days I was convinced that the superior performance gained from having better control of the jib slot/twist relationship upwind was easily worth the cost of the extra hassle gybing downwind.  I suspect the importance of this is often underestimated - I think the jib settings are the single most impotrant factor in upwind speed tuning. However with the bigger sails and two strings the balance *may* have changed.

[Will_Lee]

Any recommendations on where to source a track/car from?

Jason Belben works for Ronstan UK - Kevin has his number.

W

[daryl_wilkinson]

Any recommendations on where to source a track/car from?

I have been pleased by Trident UK's service and discount levels so I would recommend them every time.

Ronstan don't deal direct.

but you can always go to sailboats.co.uk or any other, I just wouldn't ever recommend P&B.

[daryl_wilkinson]

Any recommendations on where to source a track/car from?

Jason Belben works for Ronstan UK - Kevin has his number.

W

If he does supply i would be interested to know. As it will have a barring on a 'Trading Standards' complaint I have outstanding concerning price fixing between P&B and Ronstan UK.

[Phil Alderson]

Ian "bov" turnbull is quite good for bits and peices, including rope and Harken hardware.