Why Plywood breaks – Real wood for Centreboards and Rudders
One recurring problem with plywood foils, centreboards, leeboards and rudders is that over time they tend to break unexpectedly.
One recurring problem with plywood foils, centreboards, leeboards and rudders is that over time they tend to break unexpectedly.
Viola 14 Canoe rudder setup photos and explanation. Also a comparison of our two rudder construction and setups and why particular ones for particular boat types.
Centrecase Padding reduces centreboard maintenance by protecting the sliding surfaces of rudderbox or Leeboard case on sailing dinghies. We look at low cost ways for padding the centrecase to reduce foil wear and tear.
A good centreboard or leeboard is as important as a good sail. We use a simple templates for quick and accurate shaping. Making without the templates … several were feeling that they couldn’t make them to a greater accuracy than 1/16th of an inch.
The rudderbox design I use has distinct advantages over normal swinging rudder setups. Once you try this design you will never be satisfied with a swinging blade again. But some of the details are important!
We have some real information about relative performance of a Balance Lug Rigged Viola Canoe vs Lasers and RS Aeros.
Chasse Maree magazine published an interview with Michael “The quest for performance is not a matter of materials, it’s a state of mind” Translated by Christine deMerchant
Brushes, Squeegees and Rollers all have advantages and disadvantages for boatbuilding epoxy coating. This explains and provides useful tips.
How common are Epoxy Resin allergies and what are there strategies for reducing the chance of building an allergy? I will discuss building strategies, materials choices and useful production work practices.
Fittings list for the Goat Island Skiff and other Lug rigged sailboats. Two suppliers who can ship full package.
Starboard Tack having rights is only the beginning. How to avoid the other boat without messing up your strategy and what is the best choice if a collision is about to happen with boats on opposite tacks.
Two Viola Sailing canoes, one in the Lakes District of the UK, the other in the Netherlands with a full video of how the builder used the boat as the basis of lots of experiments including a drop in electric motor for the Hobie Mirage mount.
Make excellent and accurate foils (centreboard, leeboard, keel or rudder blade) adding way more performance for not much effort and no cost – series
Controlling sail twist on any boat is critical for performance. Here we describe two methods for getting more performance all round and safer handling downwind.
It is not difficult to build a hydrofoil stabilised dinghy – Also a model for information sharing so everyone is not always reinventing the wheel
Hydrofoil sailing is possible for homebuilt boats. It can be used to reduce heeling so the crew doesn’t have to work so hard.
Early design work. Ketch and Yawl version Norwalk Island Sharpie 18ft. Prompted by development of mast tabernacles and folded mast overhang
How to get power from the sail quickly and simply in this lesson works on your direct feeling of power and acceleration. Yes! you can FEEL it
Sailboat for Sale – an extraordinary, light plywood sailing dinghy. This is a prototype of the S12 sailing dinghy built with gaboon ply and full epoxy gluing and sealing. A project needing its conclusion.