DRAGONFLY Trimarans User Forum

philw

bump...?

philw

Glad to be of assistance. I am planning to get the mast up in skpw time at home before we try to launch this year. Good luck.

Could you help me out? I don't have the ally poles - could you measure them for me please? Thanks.

philw

Hi Christine, Sorry - I didn't spot your post earlier! We got the mast down safely and relatively easily. There is still LOTS to improve upon. It felt a bit like wrestling with a bad tempered giant. Folk all round pulling on ropes for all they're worth! I'm planning to make up a couple of the posts ...

philw

That sounds like a mast raising kit - wish I had one! I've had all sorts of fun and games with this and I would caution that it can go wrong quickly and expensively. The key thing is to make sure the mast AND boom stay on the centreline of the boat. If they start going sideways, the forces involved ...

philw

This is still 'work in progress' and it's not easy to see what will work best with the rig down! I plan to attach a couple of blocks at the base of the mast. This will mean that the lead into the blocks on the roof will be slightly raised, but I'm not expecting that to be a problem. I guess you're r...

philw

Hi Radoford, Welcome and congratulations on the purchace of your DF! They're great! I don't have any pics of the rigging specifically, but it's all relatively straight forward. If there are specific things you get stuck on I'm sure the forum will be able to help. Have you found the owners manual on ...

philw

I am going to run the reefing lines outside the boom and the mast this year. Let me explain.... There is so much friction in the system that someone had to go to the mast and feed the line through when putting in or shaking out a reef. I will keep the same single line system and just run it all outs...

philw

Good news - both of the blocks have freed up and are now moving. This was used by frequent penetrating oil and repeated loosening with fine nose pliers. It took a few days for the oli to work. One of the sheaves is clearly baldy warn as there is a great deal of unwanted movement - 5-10mm. :roll: Thi...

philw

Hi all,

Has anyone ever tried to remove the centreboard when the boat is on the trailer?

I've looked at the drawing and read a couple of the posts about changing the ropes, but I would like to check the surfaces and general condition of the whole foil.

Thanks, Phil

philw

Hi Roelof

I haven't started working n this yet but my boat is back home and this is on the to-do list. I'd prefer to free off the blocks if I can, but if they have to come out so be it!

Phil

philw

I've made a mast support for my 800 which is a simple horizontal piece of wood (from roof winch to winch) with a U-shaped cradle). Now I've got the knack of it, I routinely raise and lower the mast on my own (it takes me 1.5 - 2 hours to take the mast down). The most amusing bit is sitting legs aki...

philw

Hi all, Can anyone help me out with some sailing or boat tuning advice please? When powered up, my DF800 has a lot of weather helm when sailing upwind. As a dinghy racer, this feels horrible and slow, as well as straining arms and tiller! Is there any way to improve things? The rudder and centreboar...

philw

Hi all, Can anyone help with some advice please.....? The blocks that carry the wire rope to tension the trampoline/open the wings in the aft akas have seized up on Trilemma. They are riveted in to the GRP on the front of the aka and I an unsure how best to fix then. I have tried penetrating oil but...

philw

Enjoy the East Coast and we'll no doubt meet up when you get back to Poole. We are at EDSC moored just pff the North Channel.

phil [at] wheeler [dot] f9.co.uk

Phil

philw

Nice idea - thanks. Not sure that the DFD800 has suitable eyes on the akas but it would be much simpler that putting cleats on the amas....

philw

Hi Andy,

I can't offer help on this but I'm very interested - I had exactly the same thought.

Trilemma will (hopefully) be on her mooring in Pole Harbour tomorrow evening - where are you berthed? We are just getting to grips with the boat having sailed her briefly at the end of last summer.

Phil

philw

Hi all, My DF800 has plain bearing sheaves on the mast and the coachroof for halyard and reefing lines. Has anyone converted these to bearing blocks? It may not be too important for the halyards, but getting the reefing lines to run smoothly with less friction would be a big bonus I think... Ideas a...

philw

Really helpful reply -

Thank you very much.

philw

Hi all,

This idiot would like a guide for raising and lowering the mast.... can anyone help?

Phil

philw

We discovered how the mast foot is attached too - in a very similar way to Christine by the sound of it! I was keen to get Trilemma off the water before the storm hit yesterday (99mph gusts at the needles about 12 miles away) so it was all a bit rushed. Very grateful to the thoughtful boatbuilder/de...

philw

Hi All, My jib came down in F6/7 breeze in the Solent last week. Minimal damage apart from the fitting that secures the halyard at the base of the mast. It was a small nylon(?) button secured by a single bolt/screw. It sheared off and the jib came out of the track. We recovered it undamaged and sail...

philw

Hi Stefan,

Glad you found the problem in time.... Thanks for sharing your experience.

Phil

philw

Having thought about this a little more, I think that the loads on a sail (which is where we started :D ) are almost completely dependant on the cut of the sail and the apparent wind it sees. It is pretty unimportant what the sail is attached to - mono or multi. As such, the same sail flown on a mul...

philw

I think the higher loads are mainly due to the trimaran's higher righting moment sideways. If you talk forestay/furlers trimarans haven't got higher righting moment fore/aft rather less due to no lead/lower weight so on this stay the loads should be lower than on a lead sailer. It seems to me (base...

philw

Trilemma came with a masthead sensor that links to the display in the cockpit by wireless micro-net. The displays (and the sensors I think) are by tacktic. There is an additional 'compass' sensor that needs to be installed on the mast to correct for mast rotation. This isn't installed yet so I hope ...

philw

Hi Christian,

Indeed - I'm also looking at snuffers. Possible not so good for racing as there is extra windage up high, but for cruising it may be a good option.... Thanks.

Phil

philw

Hi Steve,

Thanks - good to know! Sounds like an awesome trip..

My background is mostly dinghies so this is a bit of a step-up for me. Loving it!

Phil

philw

Hi Steve, Yes - I agree, The loads will not be higher due to the interia of the hulls etc, but does the extra speed mean the loads are just as high despite the boat being lighter. Once the boat is going, the drag increases with speed to match the drive force available. Also, lift on a wing/aerofoil/...

philw

Hi all, I'm thinking about a furling kit for the asymmetric and wondered which size to go for. Typically, the entry level kit is quoted as suitable for kites up to 50sqm. This is the size of the 800 basic sail. My question is this - do the high speeds on a tri mean that the loads are higher that a m...

philw

You need a wire sewn into the luff for assymetric to work on a furler. Don't know what sailmakers use;- maybe can be done with Dyneema or similar these days? Ask your friendy local sailmaker. Hi Mal, This link http://www.allspars.co.uk/news/46/51/Karver-top-down-furler.htm shows that the anti-torsi...

philw

Hi David, Thanks for the feedback. There seem to be a handful of new 800 owners around the Solent, which is useful. Did you buy the one in Brittany by any chance? Since posting this I've found out a little more about the top-down furlers, or continuous line furlers. They have a 'torsion rope' that s...

philw

Hi Mal,

Thanks for the reply - I was certainly asking about roller furling.

I can see the argument for continuous line furling.

Does the sail just furl round itself? Can a standard asymmetric be used or does it need to have some additional material or ???? at the luff?

Phil

philw

Any update on this topic?? Anyone? Roller furling the genniker would be great!

Phil

philw

Hi - I am no expert as I am new to Dragonflys. My 800 has a bowsprit and I think it is standard equipment. I assume Quorning could supply a replacement. Mine is in poor condition and will need to be changed this winter. I don't think it is anything too sophisticated - standard spar parts should do i...

philw

Hi all, Just bought DF800 #185 and had a great trip to her new home at Christchurch Harbour, UK. Just love sailing it! :D :lol: However, under power, the prop had pretty bad cavitation at over half power. The engine is a Mariner 6HP 4 stroke long shaft. We couldn't get over about 4 kts. :? Any advic...

DRAGONFLY Trimarans User Forum

Search found 35 matches

Centreboard out on the trailer....?

Re: mast lowering

DF 800 Weather Helm

Aft AKA blocks

Reefing line blocks...

Idiots Guide to Lowering the Mast

Re: Mast Foot: Not fixed

Jib Halyard Fitting

Sizing gear for Trimarans...

Re: Furler

Cavitation over half throttle....?