Dinghy Inclinometer/ Spirit Level

   Anyone know where you can buy a curved spirit level/ inclinometer for a boat to tell when it's flat?  I'm sure I've seen one on a yacht once, approx. the size of a postcard.  The bubble sits in a curved tube with graduation markings.
p.s. I have a Tacktick so I don't want to use a floating compass for angle of heel.

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99flake Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 05 Aug 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote 99flake Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Dinghy Inclinometer/ Spirit Level Posted: 10 Aug 05 at 11:05am
	Anyone know where you can buy a curved spirit level/ inclinometer for a boat to tell when it's flat? I'm sure I've seen one on a yacht once, approx. the size of a postcard. The bubble sits in a curved tube with graduation markings. p.s. I have a Tacktick so I don't want to use a floating compass for angle of heel.

guytoon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 16 Feb 05 Location: France Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Post Options Post Reply Quote guytoon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 05 at 11:15am
	When your head is in the water, you're flat enought Edited by guytoon
	Cherub 2692 "NBS"

Stefan Lloyd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stefan Lloyd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 05 at 11:46am
	They are indeed common on yachts so I assume you can buy them at a chandler. "Aladdin's Cave" is a well-known chain. I've never seen the point since on a yacht you can judge angle of heel very accurately by looking at how close the leeward rail is to the water. On most dinghies the crew can easily tell how flat the boat is by looking at how the line of the stern crosses the horizon.

Doctor Clifford Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 243	Post Options Post Reply Quote Doctor Clifford Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 05 at 1:34pm
	if you cant judge the heel in a dinghy by feel, then it is unlikely you will have enough feel of all the other elements of sailing to be competitive enough for tiny heel adjustments to make a blind bit of difference.
	regards Dr. Clifford take two tablets twice daily

HannahJ Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Jul 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 861	Post Options Post Reply Quote HannahJ Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 05 at 2:23pm
	I find that when it feels like the boat is coming on top of you is when it's usually upright... btw i agree with doc as well
	MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail

Scooby_simon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 02 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2415	Post Options Post Reply Quote Scooby_simon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 05 at 3:01pm
	Buy a cat ; trim is much easier; just keep the hull (just) flying
	Wanna learn to Ski - PM me..

redback Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Tunbridge Wells Online Status: Offline Posts: 1502	Post Options Post Reply Quote redback Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Aug 05 at 7:23pm
	Most boats have a built-in spirit level. Take a Laser for example, if the water in the foot well is collecting in one corner the boat isn't level. Try and sail so that the water is equally distributed across the boat.

HannahJ Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Jul 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 861	Post Options Post Reply Quote HannahJ Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Aug 05 at 7:52pm
	Good one hehe
	MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail

katg Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 07 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Post Options Post Reply Quote katg Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Aug 05 at 4:04pm
	I always look at the water off the back of the boat. If it is equal each side then ur flat but if theres bubbles appering one side then it needs flatening Hop eu understand that

Phil eltringham Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: England/Hitchin Online Status: Offline Posts: 1105	Post Options Post Reply Quote Phil eltringham Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Aug 05 at 7:04pm
	I try to do it on the feel on the helm, if the boat is heeling to far you can feel the rudder load up, especially in faster boats/conditions where you are trying to keep the bow down and the boat driving, the rudder loads up with the slightest too much heel so you know you have to ease someing to get it flat again. Also, completely flat is not always best, a degee or so of leward heel helps give you some of that feel, especially when its a bit lighter. If you have an inclinometer, its easy to spend too much time watching that, and not enough time watching for other boats, wind shifts etc. You are better off in a dinghy learning to feel what is going on, so you can keep your head out of the boat and think about where you want to be on the race track. I know it sounds like a bit of a cop-out answer, and it takes time to learn (I still haven't got it cracked) but it is by far the best way, how many champions do you see with them on their boat?! hope this helps, Phil
	FLAT IS FAST! Shifts Happen