Am I the only one?

[DrHair]

Not sure if this should be under this heading or the reviews. I've posted elsewhere about my initial problems but finding my way through that now.
To recap, the 460 sailboat has a different shaped hull design compared to the more standard Frib ones. This means that the bows tend to go through the waves rather than over. Last year I had a problem with the water filling the front compartment when I was sailing downwind against the tide/waves. This only made the front sink a bit lower and worsened the inflow!
So, like many others, I've made a canopy (not quite finished) which fits very snugly and should be fairly watertight.
I also need to make amendments to the sail rig (essentially a windsurfer type) to be more like a normal sailing dinghy, as it is very hard to depower the sail single handed. It is impossible to just drop the sail like it is - I've had to just wrap it up with ties. Not ideal when gusty...
Photos and videos:

5abd79b9-54e1-447e-a38f-63d6a1a428aa.MP4 [ 8.08 MiB | Viewed 2750 times ]

[Si Crowe]

Where the step for the mast is, it's along way forward. i'm surprised it's mounted there on a 4.6m boat! if the mast was in the centre more the force of the wind on mast wouldn't push the bow down as much. i suppose the fine bow section wont help but i see that as a huge design flaw!! i was always under the impession that a sailing boat should have the mast stepped at lease 1/3rd the length of the boat back so in your case 1.5m aft of the bow... i know these boats are a compromise as they are a bit of a jack of all trades but still...

years ago i used to sail a tinker traveller, not quite the same but a very similar concept, folding hulled sib with facilty to step a mast and drop a dagger board or bolt on an outboard, row or even use with full inflatable canopy as a life raft. the mast was mounted far more aft and at about 12feet long the tinker was not as big.

a canopy looks like its needed or try and move the stepping point a bit further aft to reduce the dipping bow syndrome...

[DrHair]

Yes, quite a few compromises but on the other hand, actually sails quite well! I think the mast being so far forward isn't such a problem normally - certainly not last week as can be seen in the video. Since it only has a large mainsail, if it was too far back, it would promote too much weather helm (undesirable). Even now, in a gust, a firm hand on the tiller is needed to stop it rounding into the wind.
The problem last year was the wind against tide combination plus two blokes sitting by the mast (so they didn't get clobbered by the boom). The extra weight forward plus the bow literally going through the waves and the sail pushing downwards essentially, wasn't good!
But the new canopy should keep the water out even through the waves (it's tight!).

[DrHair]

I've made a few modifications in time for a sail at Windermere - from Ambleside to Fell Foot and back again. About 22 miles.
The sail can now be raised and lowered from inside the boat.
Two orange seats are much more comfortable.
And the stowage bag underneath the rear seat.
Finally, the canopy of course.

[Sonofgum]

Nice photos.

Where are you sailing at ? Looks like a lake.

[DrHair]

Thanks.
I think it's the biggest lake in England... Lake Windermere!
It took about 5 hours to part sail and part motor the full length and back, mostly because the wind was quite variable. On a beam reach, she will fly along as fast as many more traditional dinghies but isn't good going against the wind.
I've made a few more modifications over the winter, which I shall unveil shortly!