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Ballast for Centreboard Senior and weather helm

Posted: Sat January 31st, 2015, 4:59 pm
by Martin Norris
I am hoping that someone with experience of Seniors can advise me wether the centreboard version needs ballast? Also,has the problem of excess weather helm ever been addressed by moving the centreboard back slightly?
Thanks,I would be grateful for your views.

Re: Ballast for Centreboard Senior and weather helm

Posted: Wed February 4th, 2015, 2:40 pm
by Eventide Owners Group
See the responses in the General area, may help you!

Regards,
John

Re: Ballast for Centreboard Senior and weather helm

Posted: Sun February 8th, 2015, 10:16 am
by Martin Norris
Thanks very much for the tip,I see it has been a big topic.

I don't mind the concept of sailing the boat like a dinghy,after all it probably is more like a dinghy than a yacht.

I would still be interested to hear if anyone building a new boat corrected the tendency to weather helm by adjusting the centreplate position rather than adding a bowsprit?

Also,would internal ballast be useful in getting the boat to feel less tippy?


Thanks again, Martin Norris.

Re: Ballast for Centreboard Senior and weather helm

Posted: Sun February 8th, 2015, 11:15 am
by Fiddler's Green
Hi Martin,

I can see that the centre plate could be used to control weather helm, to an extent, by not lowering it a lot, just enough for it to be out of the slot. That would increase lateral resistance aft. As you lower it further its centre of resistance moves forward, thus would increase weather helm.

Be great is someone could try that theory out!

As for ballast, yes of course it helps to make her less tippy, but nothing like the effect of putting the same amount about 9 inches under the boat, as in the extended bilge keel option, the leverage is then greater of course.

So long as you treat her like a big dinghy you will be fine, they just need the movable crew as ballast! Can be very nippy! (but tender!)

Regards,
John

Re: Ballast for Centreboard Senior and weather helm

Posted: Mon February 9th, 2015, 10:07 am
by Martin Norris
Thanks very much for getting back to me,I appreciate it.

Do you mind if I keep the discussion going a bit longer?

My idea was to alter the position of the centreboard slot at the building stage so that when the board is fully down the centre of resistance is further aft .I must admit I would anxious about altering the design as originally envisaged.

Martin.

Re: Ballast for Centreboard Senior and weather helm

Posted: Mon February 9th, 2015, 10:51 am
by Eventide Owners Group
Hello Martin,

I would have thought the better option was the small bowsprit, this extends the sail area forward thus removing the weather helm. Can also make a good stowage place for muddy anchors!

I have never heard that mny complaints about 'severe' weather helm on a Senior, not like the early Eventides! I will bring it up on the Stoppress again and see if we cannot get some more input!

Never heard of anyone else wanting or needing to alter the centreboard slot position, that would be a radical alteration!

Regards,
John