Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg Join the Association
 
Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
 
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Lee helm in light wind?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1511 Posts
Initially Posted - 06/11/2008 :  08:23:12  Show Profile
In the few years that I've owned the boat I guess I have not played around with this. While sailing yesterday, on a beam reach, in light wind, moving along at about 3 knots, I just let go of the tiller. The two or three times I did, the boat wanted to turn down. I can say I don't remember any lee helm in stronger winds, but I have never just let go of the tiller like this. I have a standard rig, swing keel and 135% furling genoa. Normal? Any thoughts?
Davy J


2005 Gemini 105Mc
PO 1987 C25 #5509 SR/SK
Tampa Bay
Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 06/11/2008 :  08:55:21  Show Profile
Your helm may shift to neutral or weather in more breeze as the boat heels more--the hull shape at heel tends to induce or increase weather helm. Sail trim can also be a factor (main relative to genny), but assuming you trim somewhat equally, the helm is what it is. Check it in more breeze, and use a halyard to check the mast angle--if it's upright or forward, tune it back a little. A few degrees of weather helm is good for speed and safety.
Edited by - Dave Bristle on 06/11/2008 08:56:55
Go to Top of Page

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts
Response Posted - 06/11/2008 :  08:58:42  Show Profile
Next time it happens, try some experiments with sail trim.

In very light air the main should be 'slacked off'... outhaul eased, vang off. Sheet it out 'more than you think you should'. Adding telltales to the main really help you see draft and air flow.

If you still have lee helm, trim the jib in or out a bit and watch how the balance of the boat changes.

One of the fun things about sailing.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1511 Posts
Response Posted - 06/11/2008 :  09:25:22  Show Profile
Not much heel yesterday, I don't think the wind was much over 5 knots. I have not checked the mast rake recently, but I do keep a little pre-bend in it. I don't have any way to adjust tension on the backstay while sailing.

Main was slacked to the point of luffing and then pulled back some. Vang off. I purchased some tell-tales for the main but have not installed them yet. Tell-tales on genoa looked good, so I'm guessing it was trimmed correctly.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5909 Posts
Response Posted - 06/11/2008 :  09:52:49  Show Profile
It depends on what you mean by "light air." The rudder's gudgeon and pintles are affected by friction, because they don't have bearings to make them operate smoothly. When the windspeed is less than about 3-4, the forces on the sails sometimes become so slight that they can't overcome the amount of friction of the gudgeons and pintles. The tiller might <u>act</u> as if there's lee helm when, in fact, there isn't.

If that's the only time that it seems that you have lee helm, I wouldn't worry about it. If the boat occasionally bears off slightly in extremely light air, that's not a safety concern, as I see it, because the boat isn't going to wander far in those conditions, and nothing bad is going to happen quickly in those conditions.

What is important, however, is that the boat have slight weather helm when the windspeed is higher than 3-4.

In those very light airs, my C25 sometimes acted as if it had weather helm, and sometimes it acted as if it had lee helm, just because of the friction of the rudder mounts. But, as soon as the wind picked up slightly, it behaved exactly as it should have, with just the right amount of weather helm.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts
Response Posted - 06/11/2008 :  13:10:48  Show Profile  Visit JimB517's Homepage
rake the mast aft 3 or 4 inches. It gets rid of lee helm.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 06/11/2008 :  18:28:40  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
Your sig looks like a 150, lee helm at that speed sound about right.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.