Glenn's Blog: A New Flying Scot? Part 3 - Unconventional Choices

This is part 3 of my chronicle looking at ordering a new Flying Scot.  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.  This article in particular should begin to generate strong opinions.

In part 1 of this series I discussed the decision to go ahead and order a new Flying Scot.  In part 2 I talked about the easy decisions of adding to the base Radical Racing Package.  Here I discuss changes from what is usually delivered.

No WACO!

Typically the centerboard lift system ends at a WACO 360.  Our current boat, #3834 DJ, has one and it functions quite well.  The head swivels 360 decrees so from virtually anywhere in the cockpit you can use it to lift or lower the centerboard. 

The problem is its position and prominence. 

Being close to the mainsheet control block, frequently the mainsheet gets wrapped around the WACO.  This causes a delay and distraction when the mainsheet needs to be freed, for example, when rounding the windward mark or doing a controlled gybe.  It's even worse when racing without crew.  The jib sheet inevitably crosses directly over the WACO and gets caught on it when tacking.

The majority of the time I, acting as skipper, do all the centerboard adjustments anyway.  So for the new Scot I have decided to lead the centerboard lift line to the aft edge of the centerboard trunk.

Aft led Centerboard lift

This should alleviate line catching problem.  It will probably be a little less convenient than the WACO but still be a plus.  Also the centerboard line will be draped in the same area the mainsheet falls.  This may cause other problems.

(Phil, Thanks for helping specify the cam cleat and fairlead!)

Further Aft Control Console

The control console consolidates into one area the cleating for the boom vang, spinnaker topping lift and cunningham.  Removing the WACO frees up some space along the centerboard cover.  I plan to use this to move the control console further aft than would otherwise be possible. 

This provides 2 advantages.  First the control console being closer to the helm should make racing without crew a little more convenient.  Second it reduces the interference encountered by the crew when switching sides.

Deck Jib Sheet Ratchet Turning Block and Cleat

Jib Seat CleatingThere is probably no more discussed topic of Flying Scot hardware arrangement than the jib sheet.  The primary reason is the class rules which prohibit a change in the traveler position and the size of the traveler block.

The conventional racing jib sheet arrangement has the jib sheet fed from the traveler block to a seat mounted ratchet/cleat combination.  There are 2 main benefits of this arrangement.  First and foremost this keeps the side deck clean.  There are no blocks or fittings to interfere with hiking.  The second advantage is easier uncleating than the Family Package deck cleating.  Operationally this may be the best solution but I have some issues with it.  First it takes away a portion of the seating.  Second, when I have used it, the effort needed to sheet is noticably more than needed on DJ.  Also it just looks wrong.  The inelegence of the sheet block in the middle of the seat is not something I have gotten past, at least yet.

Old Family Jib Deck SheetingThe Family Package jib sheeting has the ratchet on the side deck and the cleat on the seat edge.  There are a few variants of this arrangement.  Originally DJ was configured so the sheet cleating was across the cockpit to the opposite seat edge.  The cleats were oriented accordingly.  A more recent arrangement (the "old" arrangement is show in the photo) cleated on the same side as the turning block.  The problem with this situation is a high angle between the turning block and the cleat, which made uncleating difficult.  The latest Family Package jib sheeting is the same but a larger mount for the turning block is used to raise the block, making it easier to uncleate.

On DJ we have a slight alterations of the "old" arrangement.  Here the cleat is hugging the block supporting the turning block.  This has 3 advantages.  First it solves the uncleating problem while maintaining a lower profile since the cleat is at the same level as the sheet where it exits the turning block.  Second it moves the cleat from the seat edge which make the seat a little more usable.  And its easier to cleat from wider angles.

We are comfortable with this arrangement and it's what we want for the new Scot.

The rest of the changes are not as unconventional as those just discussed.  Here they are:

Spinnaker Sheet thru-seat block

The Radical Racing package includes through deck spinnaker sheeting.  The sheet exits through the bottom edge of the seating about mid-cockpit.  This exit is normally just a through fitting.  Examining Mike Noone's "Hi Noone" reveals a better idea, using an inline exit block.

Mike's Spinnaker Inline Block

The rollers of the exit block will help minimize spinnaker sheet friction making control that much easier.

No Guy Cleats

The Radical Race package include a set of spinnaker guy clips and guy cleats.  Considering the guy/sheet is also cleatable in the cockpit, I asked around.  I could not find anyone who uses the guy cleats, so I will not have them installed.  I will however get the hardware, just in case I want to install it later.

Hull Color

For a relatively modest cost, the folks at Flying Scot Inc. will do a custom gelcoat color.  So the question is whether to use the standard colors or go with something a little different for hull and/or deck color.  Obviously this is a matter of personal preference.  After long discussions we have decided the deck will be the standard white color.  For the hull we will do a custom color.

What color did we choose for the hull?  Stay tuned to these pages to find out.

Glenn

FS 3834 - DJ

Here is Part 4.

The photos of the jib sheet cleating and the "old" jib deck cleating are from the "Unofficial Flying Scot Web Page" at http://home.att.net/~unofficial-flyingscot-page/