Anonymous wrote:
We fitted an Aries to Badger when we had to replace the original rudder. The replacement rudder had only a little bit of balance. This was removed later, when we fitted a skeg. the Aries was satisfactory and in fact the click mechanism was brilliant. If you wanted to alter course to avoid a ship for example, you would pull the string a few times to alter course and the pull the other one an equal number of times to go back on course. We led them to the control station. in fact they don't work at exactly 6° increments, I assume because as you click the sails sometimes counteract the gear, or the tiller gets loaded more - whatever, it works less crudely than it sounds. I think this is the best thing about the Aries, only beaten by a Brown stick.
The Aries is awkward to fit. Alan has one on Zebedee and swears by it.
I think your ferro keel will make for a more responsive boat than the long keel: when we fitted the Aries, we still had the ferro keep and it worked fine. I think the skeg and rudder we ended up with on Badger was a good arrangement and can't understand why Jay doesnt shown it on what is supposed to be the plans of Badger, or why he doesn't use it on his design.
Hi Annie, I value your input. I picked up the Aries for $200 and am going over it on my workbench this weekend. I need a few pieces but it seems they are still available.
Alan kindly shared pics of his Aries installation. I must learn how to get pics up on the forum to contribute back.
So with 2 Badgers having done serious miles with an Aries this seems the easiest "plug and play" to get me going. Two lanyards led to the control station will make for simple remote course adjustments.
many thanks,
David.