Here comes the BOOM!

[@aarondavenport3143]

The way you rigged the jib is awesome man super clever

[@ruddyducksailing]

Thank you!!

[@trailzable]

That tiny boat! You've been busy;-)

[@zackchapman6024]

I own a 1979 Newport 16. My boom measures just under 107”. It is oval shaped with a track. I’m assuming that is not original. I just bought her a few months ago and she seems to sail well with this setup. Just the right amount of weather helm. I am looking forward to watching you setup the mid-boom sheeting system. Definitely something I’ll be considering along with some jib adjustments similar to what you have done. Thank you for the great videos and inspiration.

[@ruddyducksailing]

Awesome, thanks for the measurement. It’s hard to tell what’s original on these old boats. I’m sure the builders made quite a few changes through the years. I’ll be setting up the traveler this winter and I’m excited to test it out!! Thanks for watching.😄

[@genevievechateau8742]

Love you guys!!!

[@ruddyducksailing]

Love you too. Merry Christmas

[@RulgertGhostalker]

you have it right that the foot length is more about the center of effort ... the cg can shift so much on a small boat, but Less so the CLR. whatever the case, a better shaped sail will provide more power than a bigger sail ....and so the traveler is definitely a good move. a good high beam track, ( spec-ed to bridge the distance + some ), should hold up indefinitely...and, i can't wait to see the Ruddy Duck pop over it's bow wave next year. i love well thought mods ... like i don't have much extra into my bike, but Twice stock HP, yet Better MPG... well thought mods are so worth it sometimes, ( when you need a new sail anyway )

[@ruddyducksailing]

Yeah you’re spot on. The key is well thought out mods. Modifications are a lot of the time unnecessary but man they are fun. I really enjoy taking something that needs a lot of TLC and bringing it back to life while updating it and making it better than ever. Of course as a remodel contractor I guess it’s in the blood.

[@RulgertGhostalker]

i would call re-casting the keel in lead unnecessary...the befits certainly questionable for that much work.. it's Much Better to lighten the top, ( as you know ), because that accomplishes the same thing, while making it lighter instead of heavier.. i was just trying to think of a way to increase the righting moment further; but the Hydrophobic will actually do that, in effect, because less hull drag reflects as less required sail load for any given acceleration. @@ruddyducksailing

[@RulgertGhostalker]

it's bizarre to think of hydrophobic coatings as something to increase the righting moment, but it works out like that... i guess if one considers heal potentials, while pushing into hull speed, it becomes easier to visualize....because it's easy to figure your going to get over the bow wave with less effort..@@ruddyducksailing

[@RulgertGhostalker]

less sail loading equates to less sail drag in proportion to the lift vector, so the resultant moves forward....that's what it is.@@ruddyducksailing

[@RulgertGhostalker]

anyway.....good call on the main traveler mod.@@ruddyducksailing

[@EdHAILE]

I have found it's pretty tough to do a controlled experiment on my 1985 Gloucester. My boom is 107", mast 20-3. With the keel down full, in 5k or less I get leehelm. My 200% drifter improves that. Until 13-14k my helm is very tame, but above that I get weatherhelm. I reef at 15k and with a jenny I get leehelm just a little. At 18k and above (whole lotta wind), with two reefs in and a 100% jib replacing the jenny, I still have a bit of leehelm. If I dowse the jib, keep two reefs, over 20k, weatherhelm is about right, strong and safe. But sail balance has much to do with age and how much belly the main has. They say you can adjust balance with the keel. Sounds right but I never have been able to. Maybe if this helps, my main full is 95sqft, first reef is 73, second reef gets it down to 54. Couldn't agree more about center boom sheeting. But watch out for that keel winch handle! ED HAILE

[@ruddyducksailing]

Yes there are so many variables to having a balanced helm. It sounds like you have tried most of the variations in different wind conditions. Thanks for all the good info!!! I can’t wait for new sails with reef points and all the bells and whistles that my old blown out sails don’t have. It’s such a fun process figuring these little boats out and sailing them to their potential

[@johnirby493]

When I got my Newport, it had both a long and short boom. Since the sails were for the short boom, I sold the long one, wish I hadn't, to someone who needed one. Mine is a 76 Newport 16, and the motor mounts off the port side of the transom. I'm thinking about remodeling the transom, to the design of yours.

[@ruddyducksailing]

Out of the two booms my boat seems to sail better with the shorter setup. So I’ll probably get rid of my longer boom also. Does your boat have a cutout for the outboard on the port side?

[@johnirby493]

No, mine doesn't have a cutout at all. It is, on plate and title, a 1976 Newport 16. I am seriously considering making a cutout on it. This is the 9th sailboat I've had in about 16 years. There have been 2 Aquacats, a 12.5 and a 14, an American 16, American 17, San Juan 21, Catalina 22, a Com-Pac 16, an 18' Sharpie Schooner, and the Newport 16. I've did a lot of boat and trailer repairs. @@ruddyducksailing

[@tomrichardson651]

I recently bought an O‘Day Daysailer, and would like to find a small boat sailing group in the Spokane/Coeur d‘Alene/Sandpoint area.

[@ruddyducksailing]

Congratulations on the new boat. Those seem like they would be great sailing and lots of fun. As far as organized groups for small sailboats I don’t know of any but it would definitely be fun to get a bunch of boats together.

[@harrymcfarlin4069]

Still putting my Siren 17 together, may end up doing the same thing.😊

[@ruddyducksailing]

Cool. I think you would like the upgraded performance on your Siren! Thanks for watching!!

[@ИгорьПоперечный-ж2з]

Привет из России - 🧭 мне очень понравился твой блог

[@ruddyducksailing]

Greetings. I am glad you liked it and thanks for watching