Dart 15 Forums

I've been reading the "Tips from Phipps" article "Keeping your hulls on-line"

It looks like we might need to do some adjustments but I'm a bit confused.

With no bridle fitted and obviously the mast down our boat is about 10mm wider at the stern. Yet both hulls are touching the thrust pads on the inside of the read beam (and therefore can't move closer together). I assume that putting the mast up will only make the difference larger as tension in the bridle pulls the bows together a bit.

Brian doesn't seem to say what is an acceptable difference. Is a 10mm difference unusual?

At the same time the rear beam clip looks about right on the starboard hull but on the port hull the whole beam sticks out a little and the clip is about 15mm away from the hull (and now we know how to adjust the clip but not what can/should be done about the beam).

I guess I should re-measure with the mast up and tensioned.

Just interested to know what others have found.

Dave

Looks like one for Brian to answer...........

Hi, 10mm difference over 15ft is not a lot and will make even less difference when one hull is out the water.
If you want to align your hulls you pack either the main beam or rear beam thrust pads depending on what you are truing to achieve.
Hull alignment is interesting but constructive time on the water will more than often provide the biggest performance gains.
Good sailing.
Brian
Windsport
Sprint 15 technical support and coaching.










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Brian Phipps wrote:Hi, 10mm difference over 15ft is not a lot and will make even less difference when one hull is out the water.
If you want to align your hulls you pack either the main beam or rear beam thrust pads depending on what you are truing to achieve.
Hull alignment is interesting but constructive time on the water will more than often provide the biggest performance gains.
Good sailing.
Brian

Thanks Brian. I was just confused because the article gave the impression this was really important without giving much idea about what was a significant difference.

Racing is not the primary focus for us. Simply enjoying sailing together is and with us close to the maximum weight limit we don't see a hull out of the water much - unless the other one is under it

I do like to think about these things when not able to be on the water though

Sadly, although drysuit arrived this week so did a stomach bug so been in bed instead of sailing today

Dave