ive recently installed an f 18 chute on my sq meter.19 sq. meter chute.any ideas on making a bridle foil so i can have only one forstay.i cant sheet in flat enough with two forstays. thanks [color:"red"] [/color]

Hi SailFast,

Why not fabricate a foil like the Sloop Nacras are using but a bit wider.

I will post 2 pics. The first shows the foil on a Nacra 5.8 without kite and the other with.

If you have not seen the Nacra foils, head down to a club and check them out. You could buy 2 blank foils from Nacra + the fittings and cut and weld to make a longer one.

And after all this, I think I speek on everybodies behalf.... Post some cool action pics

Pic 2... 5.8 spinnaker

you need to find a carbon fiber pole to place between the hulls at the tangs. From there use two short stays about 70% of the length of the pole each. Then shorten the forestay to meet these two lines in the middle (much like a hobie 20 forestay system. Then run your spin pole between the forward pole (strap spin pole to this pole above) and the forestay triangle. The forward pole stops hull flex and makes the spinnaker more effiecent and saves hulls. I have used this setup on my 18sq with spin for a few years. My 18sq is stretched to 20 feet as a prototype boat. The only problem with the 18 sq without the stretch is that it has limited bouyancy up front and as such is not good with a reacher. If you stretch the hull in front of the forward beam it makes a scary fast boat downwind. The only problem is that the daggarboards are about 18 inches behind where they need to be for awesome upwind performance. (thats why I said its a prototype)

Hope it helps.
Steve

you don t understand, the problem is the width of the boat. 11 ft.i can t sheet in.. like i need to, reach up the boat has 2 forestays.i sheet in to the forestays Wa 10 ft pole. i currently have a 12 but its to lng (no slot)i know what i gotta do i need a bridle foil like the 6.0 has.and have just one forestay.i was hoping some one knew some one whom could make one or have a better idea.

width is not the problem it is the placement of your blocks and turning gear. Work around the blocks on a light air day so that you can "tune" your slot. Try this first. The carbon cross beam up front is better than a bowfoil although it is placed in a similar layout. I can provide a diagram if you email me directly.

Steve

Sailfast,

Can you tell me what the maximum width of an 18 square platform is . Is that fixed by the class rules ?

Others Can Tami give me an answer on that please ?

Wouter

Class rules impose no beam limit; I've heard of boats, experimentally, built as wide as sixteen feet. These pitchpole before flying a hull. The Nacra factory boats are 11 feet; I own two sets of beams and the shorter ones are 10 feet. Dennis Palin's homebuilt boat, unless I'm mistaken, is 12 feet. So it varies quite a bit.

Thanks alot Andrew,

We'll use 11 ft for the Nacra 18 sq. in the NMBR rating system and produce a rating on that. For one-off 18 sq. We'll I suppose going from 11 to 12 or 12 foot doesn't make sufficient different to warrent making seperate ratings for that.

We'll store the info though, Thanks.

Wouter

http://www.geocities.com/mec_coleman/18square.htm

Michael Coleman's 18 Square Pages.

Beam width isn't restricted, but hull length and sail area is.

If you add a chute, you no longer are class legal within the 18sq rules.

If you lengthen the hulls past 18ft/5m, you no longer are class legal. If you carry more than 18sq meters sail area, you no longer are class legal. This sail area does include the mast area, as I understand it.

Again, refer to Coleman's site, which has a listing of the class rules...

sea ya
tami

Now, as to the original question regarding bridle foil.

You can purchase the same extrusion as the foil in whatever length you want. I have a custom bridle foil made for the Sq although I've never bothered installing it - it is a single extrusion, though. It's cold outside so I ain't gonna run and measure it but I think it's about 8 feet or so wide.

As to where to get the extrusion? Performance Cats MIGHT be able to help you - I'd try also a local metal shop or fabrication shop. Be careful as to the extrusion profile, because you might have trouble finding the end caps you'll need.

I don't believe I'd weld 'em, though, but that's just me...

sea ya
tami

Is the low bouyancy (not sure about the spelling) up front a generic problem for reaching on 18sq? or is this a problem when using a kite only? Are there designs that stay within the 18ft limit with more buoyancy a bit more forward?
18 Sq with a kite, seems like some sort of ultimate beast...
Love to see some pictures posted!!

BR
Patrik

Also, are we talking about a Spinnaker, a Reacher, or a Kite? These are three seperate headsails and I've seen all of them mentioned in this thread.