Aspiring Cherub sailor in the USA

[JackMontana]

First of all, I'm super impressed with this community and all the great knowledge on this website. This seems to be a terrific class. So much so that I'm considering building one here in the US, where it will be very, very lonely (only one other, right?). I could write the sum of my naval architecture knowledge on a matchbook with a grease pencil, and much of that has been gleaned from this forum. Still, I'm (stupidly?) undeterred. Perhaps I'm emboldened by my experience rebuilding and repairing numerous other fiberglass boats. Never built one from scratch though. So, I'd really like to get some designs into DelftShip software (formerly FreeShip) so that I can compare and contrast some existing designs. I'm aware that BloodAxe sells plans, but the price seems a bit steep for a boat that I don't intend to build. I've found the example offsets on this site from some of the older designs. Anyone have any pointers about getting some of the newer designs into the software? I guess the preliminary plan would be to toy around with some existing designs on the computer and then build a scale model so I can get a better idea of what's going into it. Thanks in advance.

J

[daryl_wilkinson]

Craig Guthrie was making a Banshee in Canada. Although it has gone a bit quite. PM me and I'll give you his email. If his mold is built it could be transported to you ( not sure where you are in the USA ). If you want the design files ( which I have ) to play with I can give you David Lee's ( the NZ hull designer ) email to discuss the release terms / if any. So again PM me.

[Banshee Ambulance]

I have a design which I have produced in a freeship file. Bit like a banshee. I can email that to you but it is on my home computer and I am at work. I shant be building it though as if I do build it will be an L3 mod.

[JackMontana]

PM's sent. Thanks a lot guys!

J

[Will_Lee]

Hi Jack,

Where are you in Montana?



I can see a huge reservoir there at Fort Peck, and a couple of other huge lakes - looks great for cherub sailing!

Will

[JackMontana]

I'm afraid it's just a pseudonym Will. I live in North Carolina, couple of lakes around here and I'm 2.5 hours from the Outer Banks, which are pretty great for sailing: http://bit.ly/NMMVr

[Will_Lee]

Cool! In 1999 Lucy and I drove from Charleston to the First Flight Museum. It was a really great trip - and I remember thinking how great the large protected area of water would be for Cherub sailing.

We also stopped at the Beaufort maritime museum, but the fave moment of the trip had to be discovering on one of the ferries that we took, the huge dangerous-looking axe which was attached to the wall and marked, "In case of fire".

[JackMontana]

Will, you're right about the sounds. They are a wonderful dinghy sailing destination. They get all the wind and no waves. However, you have to be very careful about depth out there as it tends to shoal up quickly: http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletChart/11548_BookletChart_HomeEd.pdf

Most of my sailing out there has been on Hobies and Keel boats so it's either bang around w/o worry b/c you're drawing less than 30cm or stay in the channels.

Quick question, what is the tradeoff between wings and racks? Seems to me that racks might be lighter, but wings would be more comfortable, particularly for less than twin-trapping days.

J

[daryl_wilkinson]

Hi Jack,

got family in Virgina Beach and Roanoke.


As for Craig his build is on hold until he moves house and he's in Nova Scotia so sharing molds looks like the distance would be to great. But at least he's on the same coast!

[JackMontana]

VA Beach and Roanoke are great beach destinations too, not terribly far from me. I have a friend who is always up there surf kayaking.

Will, I agree that the "In Case of Fire" axes are a humorous touch. In case of fire do what? Smash everything to bits?

Racks vs. Wings? Is it just weight? Are the wings more comfy? I gather that racks may make it easier to right.

Trying to contact Skip, googled to find an email addy. Which means it may be the wrong person or no longer operational, but that's the best I can do. I gather he doesn't frequent these forums anymore.

Having some trouble loading the offset table provided on this site (http://bit.ly/VLwOu) into HullForm. I don't get anything even resembling a hull. I gather there are 4 lines and 14 stations (including stem). I get a warning about negative offsets (even after toggling the positive z-direction option) and then a neat looking jumble of lines. Anyone having the same trouble?

J

[doug1720]

Hi, I am starting to build a Paterson 8 in Dubai (although I am from UK originally).  I had the same considerations in terms of racks v wings a few weeks ago and my main thinking was that much easier to trapeze on racks as you get two positions and can step out onto the rack.  With wings much more difficult.  So maybe decision to do with average wind speed where you will sail?  How much time will you single trapeze v double, etc.

Righting easier as you can enter to boat from between rack and hull...although bringing control lines onto the middle of the rack (so the helm can tweak) spoils this.  I haven't got there yet in terms of considering what to do...still cutting wood for the plug!

I will keep in touch as maybe we can help each other out in terms of build!

I will put some pics on the site so you can see progress.

[Tim Noyce]

I think that having sailed boats which are racked and boats with flares, I would always go for the racked option.

- They make trapezing easier in all conditions.
- The overall build may be lighter.
- When building the boat it doesn't take up half as much space till you actually put the racks on!
- They're quite comfy to sit on and trapeze from so that's not an issue.

Just my 2p worth anyway!

[Phil Alderson]

VA Beach and Roanoke are great beach destinations too, not terribly far from me. I have a friend who is always up there surf kayaking.

Will, I agree that the "In Case of Fire" axes are a humorous touch. In case of fire do what? Smash everything to bits?

Racks vs. Wings? Is it just weight? Are the wings more comfy? I gather that racks may make it easier to right.

Trying to contact Skip, googled to find an email addy. Which means it may be the wrong person or no longer operational, but that's the best I can do. I gather he doesn't frequent these forums anymore.

Having some trouble loading the offset table provided on this site (http://bit.ly/VLwOu) into HullForm. I don't get anything even resembling a hull. I gather there are 4 lines and 14 stations (including stem). I get a warning about negative offsets (even after toggling the positive z-direction option) and then a neat looking jumble of lines. Anyone having the same trouble?

J

strangely that offset table seems to link to a file hosted on the Cherub site, for a Patterson 6a design. It was put there by Jim Champ so he may be along some time with some advice on how to get it working.

I would echo Tim's comments about racks, the only advantage solid wings give you is keeping a bit dryer when wobbling about between races.

[JackMontana]

Phil, I suppose I meant "on this" site" There were two offset tables I found on the "Designing Cherubs" section of this site.

[JackMontana]

I tell you what, if I'm so dense that I couldn't figure out to save the files as *.hud and simply open them in HullForm, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to build a floating boat! Got the Paterson6a design in HullForm, the other "Unbuilt Design" will not load due to some errors. Perhaps a difference in HullForm version.