When leaving a boat in a stand for any length of time, always leave the sails sheeted out if you leave it. If away for any time, the best thing to do is put the boat in the head-to-wind position to avoid any nasty instances!
Being blown out of the stand is a great way to end up with a bent rudder shaft for example – and you definitely will not want that !!
RW
See our tip on straightening rudder shafts by clicking here:-
I think this is pretty well known isn’t it??
A fellow new member, SM, at Datchet had a December problem of being unable to remove his rig after racing and put it down to a possible corrosion at the mast step. It is conceivable isn’t it? I’ve attached a little article about it below.
SM also introduced me to a new verb, as in “I had to dremel it out”. This got me going, I must admit. It turns out that a dremel is a little re-chargeable battery powered multitool – all sorts of bits and drills can go on the end. There’s a few different brands with similar, but not a bad thing for at least one club member to have in his car boot on a race day. About £40-£50….
Try this link below. Could be good birthday present idea!
As a newcomer, I must say that I am pleased to cut my patches, so far, with a scissors… ..and it had never occurred t me that you might be able to do it online.
Interested??
Here is a short conversation that came up on the Datchet Radio Sailing WhatsApp Group. (I used to think I was good with Tech until I met these Guys!) :-
Person A : Anyone got any experience of laser cutting/ engraving devices??
I want to cut deck patches etc and maybe some balsa wood so don’t think I need much laser power, but a big enough bed is more likey to be important to me. Anything else I should be thinking about..??
Person B: Using a vinyl cutter is a simpler and better solution for cutting deck patches .
Person B : Laser cutting with a small CNC/Laser 3018 cutter is a slow process, even cutting balsa wing ribs, for example. Very smelly, as well. Cut patches with a vinyl cutter.
Person A: Any recommendation for a vinyl cutter model to pick ?
Person B: I use silhouette cameo. Easy set up and you can transfer files between friends.
https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/featured-product/cameo
Person A: Does the Cameo handle the roll of patch material or do you need to cut it into manageable sheets first ?
Person B: The cutting mat is 12” sq (American!) as standard with a 12 x 24 also available. I stuck the leading edge of my roll onto the cutting mat and allow it to move with the cutting mat. Your maximum size is governed by the physical size of the cutting mat.
Person C! : I use an old Roland CM24, that I got on eBay. It has a 600mm wide bed and can cut any length you like off a roll.
Datchet Radio Sailing - Making It All Much Easier !! 