Tag Archives: IOM

Sail Numbers – Putting Them in The Right Place…!!

If you have new sails, you’ll be wanting to get the numbers and insignia on them – and if you race internationally then you’ll want your country code as well.

Where is this all defined? Read through your Class rules first, and then for at least the international classes, you’ll need to check what it says in the Radio Sailing Appendix (E) of World Sailing’s rules…. subsection “G”.

Most of it is there I think, letter size(min max), gaps, which side is highest (starboard), distance between rows and all of that.

You can use stick on numbers if they comply, but I feel most people use an indelible pen. BG Design does great stencils in the correct size (if you tape them together, you have the correct gaps) and can supply an appropriate pen. In the end, I went to the local stationers and bought two indelible pens – a superfine and a chisel ended felt pen (much more versatile than a round point).

I taped the BG stencils in place, traced around with the superfine. The error to avoid is ink leaking under the stencil, so keep the pen moving quite quickly. Then I removed the stencils and used the chisel ended pen to “colour in” the outlines. Worked well. There are some good hints and tips on the Sailsetc website. Worth a read.

https://www.sailsetc2.com/index.php/products-by-class/international-one-metre-class/sails/sail-identification/stencil-for-rg65-insignia.html

Take a look at Rules Appendix E here:-

Plans to Make a Wooden IOM Stand

If you fancy building your own boat stand in wood, here are a couple of plans you might follow. It would be pretty economical route, so long as you have basic woodwork skills.

I’ve been using a wooden stand (maybe from these plans) on an IOM loan boat. There is something very satisfying about it.

The one extra thing I would suggest you consider is adapting the design so accommodate the next Class size up, (eg Marblehead), and also the next Class size down (eg DF95, RG65 etc). If you replace the keel support bar with a sheet of marine ply, so that all the fin lengths are covered… you get a universal stand!

Take a look at these two (very similar):-

http://nmsclub.org/boat-cradle

https://tomndi.blogspot.com/2015/04/rc-sailing-folding-wood-boat-stand-iom.html

Lipo and Life Batteries – So What’s That About …?!

If you’re just coming in to radio sailing, it’ll be about two hours before somebody mentions LiFe and LiPo batteries to you in the cafe! Baffling.

Well, there is a bit of a debate to say the least.

https://www.large.net/news/8eu43mr.html

This link above is quite a good description of what is at hand. I am still trying to nett it out, but I think it comes down to:-

  • LiPo batteries are a fire risk (gulp), but perform better apparently
  • LiFe batteries weigh a touch more for equivalent power/life/durability
  • RW says that LiPo can deliver different winch power on a surge.

My new IOM arrived with LiPo’s. They are definitely of the 2-cell variety. I notice also they come with a fire proof pouch!!

So I thought,…. use LiFe in the IOM and work within permitted minimum weights… but in the Marblehead use LiPo’s as we are mad about weight saving as there is no minimum weight rule.

Then I thought I would pop them on the scales and find out…..

The red battery is LiPo and the blue is LiFe… 92gms and 49.6gms respectively….NOT what I expected! There is obviously a physical size difference to consider when you buy!! By the way, I find you need a different charger (or a sophisticated universal charger) for LiFe batteries.