Dinghy Inclinometer/ Spirit Level
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=928
Printed Date: 14 Aug 25 at 8:04pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Dinghy Inclinometer/ Spirit Level
Posted By: 99flake
Subject: Dinghy Inclinometer/ Spirit Level
Date Posted: 10 Aug 05 at 11:05am
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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. |
Replies:
Posted By: guytoon
Date Posted: 10 Aug 05 at 11:15am
When your head is in the water, you're flat enought  ------------- Cherub 2692 "NBS" |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date 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. |
Posted By: Doctor Clifford
Date Posted: 10 Aug 05 at 1:34pm
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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 |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date 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 |
Posted By: Scooby_simon
Date 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.. |
Posted By: redback
Date 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. |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 12 Aug 05 at 7:52pm
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Good one hehe
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: katg
Date Posted: 14 Aug 05 at 4:04pm
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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 |
Posted By: Phil eltringham
Date Posted: 14 Aug 05 at 7:04pm
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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, ------------- FLAT IS FAST! Shifts Happen |