Re: [Paddlewise] Klepper spraydecks and rudders

In a message dated 1/7/2002 5:33:01 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
matt_at_sabine.acs.psu.edu writes:

>     I plan to mostly sail and paddle solo in Lake Erie and other open
> water, which means I'm looking into spraydecks.  Because I feel like I
> might like to take a passenger on occasion, and being a frugal guy I think
> I should get a double spraydeck with two "person hatches" and just plug
> the front hatch up when I'm solo. 

I have a Klepper Aerius II, I use a Balogh Batwing rig with a 32 sq. ft. sail 
mounted midships behind the front paddler and sometime schooner-rig it with a 
24 sq. ft. sail in the front.  I also use the outriggers.  I sail it from the 
rear sea when I am solo and also when I have a passenger in the front. 
Usually I don't use the spray deck but when I do, I only use the two hatch 
version and cover the front hatch.

It works well solo from the rear seat in light winds say 15 mph or less but 
as the winds increase it begins to leecock and gets harder to sail upwind, at 
about 25 mph I have trouble making progress upwind.   It would then be 
necessary to have a front passenger or to put ballast in the front.

For solo sailing, I have been thinking of moving the the midships mast aft 
and putting a seat in the middle solo location.

> 
> Question 1a is:  where do folks who solo sail an A II like to sit?
> 

For light winds it doesn't matter, for strong winds it's best trim the hull 
and use ballast or sit in the middle.


> Question 1b is:  where do folks who solo paddle an A II like to sit?
> 

For little or no wind wind it doesn't matter much, the midship position is 
better for strong winds or use ballast to trim the hull.


> Question 1c is:  does a solo spray deck allow any bow-stern position
>                  flexibility?  Does it need to?
> 

I don't know, I don't have one.


> Question 1d is:  am I dreaming if I think I'm going to make a double
>                  spraydeck work for either solo sailing or paddling?

Probably, but most of the time I don't use a spraydeck.


> 
>     When sailing an Aerius II with the Klepper S4 rig, I read in Ralph
> Diaz's great book that the standard Klepper rudder isn't so good.  So,
> 
> Question 2a is: does anyone have any experience with the "Balanced" rudder
>         blade from Long Haul Products?  
> 

That's what I use, it works well but you can also reverse the Klepper rudder 
blade to make a balanced rudder, I tried that too, it works fine.  Ralph Diaz 
described the method in his newsletter at one time.  It's a good idea to 
attach a line or bungie to the rudder to make sure it stays down and forward. 
  Ralph describes that as well somewhere.


> Questino 2b is: does anyone have any other suggestions for sailing blades
>         for the Aerius II?
> 

I'm not sure what a "sailing blade" is.  A different rudder blade?  A 
leeboard?

Tony Niilus


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