Deck-Stepping
How to make that older Merlin go faster?Dave Fowler has some suggestions...
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Deck-SteppingHow to make that older Merlin go faster?Dave Fowler has some suggestions... |
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Prep 1. Look at other boats to see what control systems they have for lowers, puller , jib etc. 2. Find and mark the mast measurement datum line on the mast, and measure it from the hog. (not the mast step) 3. Check the mast gate and measure from 5mm in on the side supporting wood under the deck to 5mm form the end of the other side. And then do the fore and aft, making sure in ends over solid wood. This will be the size for the tufnel insert. (its worth wile getting them to cut it. As it�s a pain to get it square. You will also need to measure the gate itself. 4. If you don�t have any mast support (lowers) you will need to think about the type (wire, rods etc). If you are going to put pulleys through the deck its worth again using tufnel plates under the deck pulleys 5. Find a local plastics firm with a scraps box, (its amazing how cheap you can get tufnel for.) you only need 4/5mm thick for the deck inlays and 6-10 mm for the gate fill, Get them to cut it to size. 6. Wood beam same thickness as the hog, and aprox 2-3 inches wide to go to deck level from the hog - tufnel (fillet and deck insert) and 3 x 2� long �� diam stainless steel rods. Work boat 1. Remove mast step, clean hog. Place tufnel inset on deck clamp in place. Cut round it with Stanley knife. Remove unwanted wood until tufnel is flush with deck. 2. Remove mast foot from mast. 3. Place the mast step, on deck with it central and the mast foot inserted. In the center (front, back), measure from the transom (outside edge) to the back of the mast (imagine where the sail groove would be, this length is 2730mm (and is very critical) mark and drill the holes for the mast step. 4. Place gate filling tufnel in gate and mark and drill holes for either self tapping screws or tap your own as tufnel works well with this. 5. Place assembled mast step and tufnel, Cut wood support to length. In the hog end drill two �� holes aprox 1�deep, with matching holes in the hog, repeat with a single hole on the mast end and in the tufnel assembly. Insert rods, and epoxy, (or you could just leave it assembled after varnishing ). 6. Cut the holes for the lowers and puller, using tufnel fillets. Work Mast You need to get the lower black band as high as possible measuring from the datum line (its in the rules in the year book), and work out where to cut the mast. You will require two �� slots both sides for the main and spinnaker with holes drilling through the deck. And re fit the mast foot. Sort the lowers and puller attachment to the mast using the key-way system, try and get them as close to the gooseneck as possible. General Work You will need to sort out pulley positions for the extra control lines, cleat for the main, and bottom pulley for the jib. Extra The transom to mast measurement is critical. The figure I have given was from a survey of the top 20 deck stepped Merlin�s at Tenby last time. Before I deck stepped my NSMII, 18 of the 20 were the same, one of the two moved his mast to the measurement (aprox 15mm back) and moved 15 places up the fleet for the rest of the week. See also: Deck-stepping by Andy Hayes - PART ONE Deck-stepping by Andy Hayes - PART TWO Tuning Tips for Older Boats (getting the best out of an old rig) Photo Gallery - other DIY projects |