Idlewild/Stabilization
What systems does Idlewild use and how effective are they? Active
fins? Passive paravanes? Steadying sail?
We have a steadying sail since Canaries but no conditions ie: cross
winds to use it yet. Picture on www.idlewildexpedition.ca
No active fins because of cost and Arctic ice.
We might build paravanes in SA but wouldn't use them for the crossing
to Australia because we will need all the traveling efficiency we can
get on that leg.
Ben, Brad & Kevin
Idlewild
Custom Buehler 55
Home port: Dunvegan, Alberta
http://www.idlewildexpedition.ca/
I also asked George Buehler for comment:
IDLEWILD has no stabilization systems other than the sail. I don't
like the systems out there other than floppers because they're
fragile and expensive. The yard that launched the first of the short
lived GREAT SEA PIG series told me that at the launch, one of the
stabilizers jammed and all they could do was motor in a circle......
I read in Ocean Navigator some years ago about a boat that hit
something, seriously damaging the stabilizer, and sank or almost
sank, I forget. I was on a panel at the very first Trawler Fest and
I remember I infuriated the panel moderator (and have never been
asked back) when I said, after fielding many questions about motion
and AC power, that I thought many of the folks asking these questions
would be happier with a motorhome. I still believe that.
Even Joshua Slocum spent 90% of his time at anchor. Of the time
I've been at sea it's been calm more often that very rough except in
monsoon type areas like the Red Sea. I don't mind some motion at sea
in return for reliable and affordable systems that won't fail me when
I need them. I've spent much time in the past in repair and new
construction and I've seen many yachts that I know even the US Navy
would have trouble keeping operational. To each his own but I'll
stick with the old time way of doing it and cheerfully live with a
few less conveniences when I'm actually off anchor.
BUT (caps intended), it doesn't matter and everybody is free to
pursue their fantasies in their own fashion. I personally always opt
for simplicity and reliability but have no argument with those who
don't!
That's what I think anyway......
Georgs Kolesnikovs wrote:
If you'll provide answers or comments, I'll post them to
Passagemaking Under Power List.
--GxK
Georgs,
Now that is one of the truest statements I've read about boats in a long
time. So often we debate what should or should not be on a boat, and
how it should or should not be installed, often trying to bend others to
our will. Worse, the arguments sometimes degenerate from reason to
personal passion. In the end, you pays your money you takes your
chance, if I may be allowed a little literary licence on George's
advice. We don't NEED half the things on AKAMA; we WANT them. That
includes stabilizers (BTW George is right; they have been a higher
maintenance system).
While we were between boats, for about five years, we quizzed every
aspect we could think of, mostly on the old TWL, but also at boat shows
and Trawlerfests. We made two lists, the MUSTS and the WANTS. Believe
it or not, there were only about a half dozen items on the MUST list;
the rest, dozens of them, were all on the WANT list.
To make sense of the WANT list we used a decision making process
sometimes used in management circles called the Kepner-Tregoe method.
Unless anyone is interested in how that works, I'll say little about
that here, as it would take several long paragraphs to summarise. The
bottom line was that we were able to rationally produce a short list
from the hundreds of boats we saw. We just lay in the bushes until one
of them came along at the right price.
Cheers,
Maurice & Louise-Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: Georgs Kolesnikovs [mailto:waterworld@rogers.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 21 December 2005 07:07
To: Passagemaking Under Power List
Subject: [PUP] Idlewild/Stabilization