Hello All,
The 2010 Sea Spray North American Championship is fast approaching, here are some details:
Date - Aug. 20, 21, 22 2010 (friday, saturday, sunday)
Skippers meeting - 10:30 daily at the Rocky Point near Start Line
Races will start at 11:30 daily and we hope to have 11 races total.

Cost will be $100.00 USD each and will include all the meals for the 3 days, spouses can join in on the meals for an additional $50.00 each.

Please let everyone you know who has a Sea Spray, we hope to have a great turnout, we have already heard from many in the Canadian Fleet and they will be there in good numbers.

Hamish Ferguson, the current SSNA Champ will be coming to the SSNA Championship and we hope to have him lead a Sea Spray Rigging and Sailing gathering before the races. He has been innovating with the new halyard track on the lightweight mast tube in an attempt to get the best of both worlds. Be There.

Best Regards to everyone!
Jay Gardner
US 178
 

Tube Masts for Halyard Rigs

To date I know of two new tube masts with attached sail track being built and used.  They have worked well and as I have mentioned earlier are lighter than the extruded mast by about 5 or 6 pounds.  The other benefit besides the weight difference is the bendier characteristics of this tube section when compared to the extruded mast.  The bendier characteristics allow the flattening(de-powering) of the main sail when going up wind.  This is a benefit in a strong wind as some of the power is feathered off at the top of the sail as well. 
I believe Glenmore Sailboats, Calgary,  brought in 10 sets of extruded sail track.  The build time is around a days work so plan on that when you get started.  You will need a long arm or pneumatic riveter(mine isn't working any longer, it doesn't seem to have the power any more) to set the SS rivets on the mast tang and goose neck (you can do it the the typical short arm riveters but it takes a very good grip and may also destroy the riveter in the process). 
Rivets can be sourced at various places.  I used aluminum 1/8" rivets about every four inches along both sides of the track.  You should use 3/16" rivets for all the other attachment points. 
The join has not caused any problem when raising the sail.  Flair the entry way a little at the bottom of the track so the sail material is not worn or cut when introducing the sail to the track.  If your bolt rope is too large for the sail track a smaller bolt rope can be installed on the main sail.  This is fairly easy to do and if you need advice on how to do this let me know. 
I have wire halyards on the halyard mast I am using and have found them less troublesome than the rope halyards as there is no stretch.  Wires halyards require changing the pulleys to wire pulleys.  Consider a tool to set copper stop or nicropress sleeves and learn how to do this as you can make up your own wire stays and halyards and all the other good stuff that can be done with these tools.

Winter Projects

If you are considering a fall/winter fix-it project, now is the time to start looking for used boats.  The season is half over and boats should be a little bit cheaper as the season starts to tail off.  Most of the used Seasprays I have found in the last couple of years are in fair to very bad condition.  I think this is because the boat hasn't been in production for a long time now and they deteriorate due mostly to sun and weather.  This is okay for you as the prices should be low for boats in these conditions.  Look forward to 100 hours or more of work to get a boat in top race condition or 50 hours or more for a recreational boat restoration.  Likely lots of $$$$ as well if you are considering or need new trampolines and sails. 
Often times the trailers are in need of work and likely tires.  Consider making the trailer serve two purposes, hauling your boat and maybe also serve as a utility trailer as well.  A boat dolly is a good option and once you have one is almost impossible to do without.  A box on the trailer will hold all your sailing equipment and makes for a convenient storage spot as well.  Make the box big enough to hold your rudder system as well as the boom, sails, and dagger boards.  If you can make the box large enough to hold your sailing clothes and everything associated with your use of the boat. 

Tips for Traveling With Your Seaspray

If you travel with your boat it is a good idea to remove the rudder system to eliminate wear and tear on the shock cords, weathering of the blades and potential damage of contact with the system by vehicles and people.  Use the website for inspiration and information on reworking a boat.

A second tip is to always carry a spare set of packed and ready to go wheel bearings and rear seal - remember to check the temperature of the axle bearings each time you stop by feeling the wheel hub with your hand. Hot hubs mean hot bearings, hot bearings means trouble!

While we are on the topic, do you have a way of jacking up your trailer if you have a flat? or need to replace a wheel bearing? Auto wreckers (recyclers) are a great source of jacks and lug nut wrenches.
 
Submit your articles, adventures, etc for another newsletter to come out soon and remember to....Join the Canadian Seaspray Association by filling out the following form and sending it along with your check for $20 for 2010
 

Membership Application Form

Application for 2010 membership in the CDN Sea Spray Catamaran Assoc
 
Name___________________________________
Address with Post Code____________________________________________________
Sail No._______________  Res Tel______________  Email_______________________
Club___________________Bus Tel______________  Fax  _______________________
I enclose my cheque for $20 payable to the Sea Spray Association and Hereby Agree to abide by the class constitution and bylaws pertaining thereto.
 
Dated the ___ day of ______________ 200_   Signature_________________________
Please mail to:  609-3339 Rideau Place SW, Calgary Alberta T2S 1Z5
 
 

Winds varied from light to vertical, if you were watching the flag. Check out the photos on the Photos Page link.

Just prior to the Beach Cats Regatta at Lake Newell, Norm & Don spent about a full day building a new tube mast for a halyard suit of sails. I have uploaded the photos we took of that mast build and they can be viewed on the Photos Page.

The whole process was relatively uncomplicated - be sure to have the appropriate pages from the class rules handy; make sure you have read and fully understand what they mean, where to measure from, etc. in order to speed the process and prevent errors.

You will need to gather all the parts you will need - remembering that both sails will be using a halyard; that the side shrouds may need to be replaced; that you need a location to build that has lots of length (20'10" minimum!); that you need to carefully choose your length of tubing; and that tubing is much easier to bend and kink than your old halyard mast so be very careful!

I have begun to reattach the decks that were pulled up to add a traveller system - the weather has been so wet or so hot that it has been a struggle to find the right conditions. Today it was just right, at least when I started glassing in the reinforcing for the transom. Cool and overcast when the resin was mixed immediately changed to sunny and very warm in a matter of a minute - havoc on the setup time!

One deck reattached after adding Laser traveller system.

The following from Stan S.,

 

  The weight of Sea Sprays really affects the performance when racing against other Sea Sprays so one of the first things I do when I encounter a Sea Spray I haven't seen before is check out the weight by lifting the bow as the boat is sitting on the ground.  One of our club members bought a Sea Spray about a year ago and when checked seemed very heavy to me.  I suggested he open the hulls up to see if there was foam poured into the bottom.  Sure enough it was there and although the boat hasn't been sailed for years it was saturated with water.  Enough so that water comes out when you put pressure on the foam.  He is now in the process of taking out the foam and will weigh it when he has it all out.  I would guess at least forty pounds will be removed. I will let you know how much)   A couple of small air bags(wine skin from restaurant)  would be enough to keep the boat afloat in the event of major damage or extended capsize and certainly would weigh less.

 

    The reason I mention this is that at one time you had a list of modifications that could be done.  It might be useful to print up a revised list that would get people looking at weight reduction on the boat.  I am now at the point where on one of mine I have to carry 15 - 20 pounds when racing.  This is primarily due to the sock sail rig being lighter than the halyard as it is one of the earlier boats built in the states and came out suprisingly light.  There are several other things that can be done which individually are only a few grams in weight but when taken collectively all add up.  How much main sheet or jib sheet do you need?  Sheeting arrangement with traveler at back eliminates the wood reinforcement of the boom, the outhaul track for the main can be eliminated, the boom cap at outer end can be removed which in each case reduces the weight a small amount but when added up comes to a suprising total.  Another way of looking at it is that it simplifies the rig and makes for more enjoyable sailing.  Rudder and dagger board size and shape are really worth looking at as well as the material used.  Rudder castings are another heavy item that can be made lighter.

 

    My next project is to drop 15 to 20 lbs of body weight.  I have a tire around the middle that has built up over the years  I may have to take up running or biking again as well as cutting back on the calories.

 

    Anyway, the above may give you some thoughts for an article.  I think the association members might take note and if at all handy do a few things.

 

Dear Friends,

 

Check the website regularly for new articles and pictures.  Analytics on the website show we are getting hits from across North America and from other continents as well.  Always smile when Norm takes your picture!  You never know who might see you.  Another thing.  How come we don't have any youtube video of Sea Sprays sailing.  Come on people get a video of our boat on you tube this year!

 

Some good news!  I had the opportunity to go to Calgary today for a bit of a shopping trip today and stopped in at Glenmore Boats.  On the floor in a shipping parcel lay the sail track we have been waiting for.  It had just arrived so those of you who are waiting for track should have it soon.

 

For the Sea Spray and other Catamaran sailors from Newell Sailing Club.  Hamish Ferguson will be at the club June 26, 27 to do a Catamaran Clinic or session for those interested.  This is your chance to ask questions, maybe go on the water, get technical information, etc.  Contact Cindy Meers or myself for more information or let us know when you are coming out.