Merlin Rocket Swing Test Results

 

Conducted by Ken Kershaw, RYA Technical Manager, at Portland, 28th March 2003

Present � Pat Blake (MROA Chairman), Graham Williamson (MROA Rules Committee Chairman), Guy Winder (Builder), Dan Alsop (MROA Main Committee), Linton Jenkins (Builder).

 

 

Hull Weight

Wt of Corr.

LCG

 

Normal corrector distribution

Correctors at ends

No Correctors

(Hull weight 87.5)

1/4 Correctors at Transom

 

3539

Wood

 

98.5 kg

nil

1.95 m

T1

T2

Inertia

VCG

3.20

3.58

120.26

-628mm

3.18

3.59

117.19

-645mm

 

 

 

 

3571

Wood

 

98 kg

2.8 kg

1.95 m

T1

T2

Inertia

VCG

3.132

3.46

117.88

-677mm

3.130
3.45

117.39

-684mm

 

 

 

 

3612

FRP

 

99.4 kg

25 kg

1.88 m

T1

T2

Inertia

VCG

2.834

3.063

89.34

-687mm

2.844

3.054

91.77

-711mm

 

 

 

 

3609

FRP

 

98.7 kg

11.2 kg

1.90 m

T1

T2

Inertia

VCG

2.92

3.21

95.16

-661

2.92

3.21

95.30

-659

3.34

3.75

137.72

-661

3.05

3.38

95.15

 

 

99.89

-655

 

T1

Average time for 5 swing cycles from hull suspension point 1 � approx 960 above hull shell floor

T2

Average time for 5 swing cycles from hull suspension point 2 � (T1 � 200mm)

LCG

Lateral Centre of Gravity measured form transom to suspension point

VCG

Vertical Centre of Gravity � measured below suspension point

Inertia

Expressed in kg-m2.

 

Commentary

 

The swing tests were conducted under the supervision of the RYA Technical Department.

 

Boats � Two wooden boats from different builders, and two FRP boats were swung.The boats had sheets, boom and spin poles, rudders and other loose items removed.Standing rigging (Lowers and puller cascades, Shroud cascades), kicking strap tackles, and centreboards remained.All the boats were dry.

 

Location � the tests were conducted in an industrial unit of approximately 4000sqft.Doors were closed.

 

Rig � The rig was an aluminium A frame provided by the RYA.The boats were hung from their gunwhales by proprietary brackets that allowedtwo sets of readings for each boat, the height of suspension was changed by 200mm for each set of readings (T1 & T2).The swing duration was measured by a photo light cell linked to a computer.

 

Executing the test� each boat in turn was weighed, and suspended on the rig.The LCG was measured, and the LCG and weight programmed into the computer.5 swing cycles (up and down = 1 cycle) were timed by the computer, starting with the bow of the boat depressed 100mm.Two sets of results for each boat were timed.

 

Once each boat had been swung, one was re-suspended without its correctors fitted.A variety of additional tests were carried out to gain an indication of the effect of re-distributing the weight along the hull.

 

Calculating the results � the computer programme, developed by the Wolfson Institute and made available to the RYA, calculated average swing time, Vertical Centre of Gravity, and Inertia.

 

Evaluating the results � Still in hand!!

 

 

 

Graham Williamson

29/3/2003