Bram and everyone else.
Thanks for your observations. I'm going to go ahead with it but will not
extend the receiving tube beyond the stem of the boat. I don't believe that
this will make any real difference to the boat apart from avoiding point loads
that Clive is concerned with and maybe slightly smoother launches and douses.
One of the reasons that this is being done is that Clives poles are not tapered
like the Forte and Bethwaite ones. I could get poles from Bethwaites but it
isn't as good a product. Any minor weight reduction that could have been
achieved will I'm sure not eventuate as we aren't extending past the stem of
the boat.
Basically I'm taking Clives advice on the matter.I'm certainly not making any
hull penetrations to do it.
I actually thought a prod extending out about 300mm from the front would have
enhanced the look of the boat!!
Cheers,
Steve
BDally6107@xxxxxxx wrote:
Steve,
Just a couple of observations.
First, be sure to understand that I will always play the devils advocate in
these matters simply to provide a different perspective. That having been
said, nearly every good idea I've had has had opponents that could give me a
list of reasons why it was a bad idea. Read on with that in mind.
I suspect you may be tackling a phantom problem. First, our pole is
identical to a 49er pole except it is more than 25% lighter. Because the swing
test will be done with the pole at the designated extension/retraction, further
reduction in weight will need to be compensated for with lead correction in the
front of the boat. Second, when the current launching system is set up
correctly, I've not noticed any problems with the pole hanging up either while
launching or dousing. The Swift system has far less resistance than the 49er.
Finally, not a single pole has been broken that I am aware of. Admittedly,
there is point loading at the forestay fitting, however, the pole is beefed up
at that spot. One motivation for your system might be to reduce the size and
weight of the pole assembly so that you can add another system that requires
some weight up front. If that is the case, It may be worth looking at pursuing
a rules change.
Please take all of this with a grain of salt.
Best regards,
Bram
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