Minimus II Completes Her 1st Sea Trial

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  • 29 Sep 2020 18:03
    Reply # 9272333 on 9152076

    Thanks for your supportive words, Howard.  I suppose it goes with the territory that these outside-the-box experiments engender a mix of excited anticipation and self doubt.  So, when they do work out, it's especially sweet.  

    We look forward to further testing of the two self steering modes of Minimus II in higher wind and sea conditions.  For various reasons though, getting her out to the coast and launched is a somewhat complicated process, so that will have to wait until next spring. 

    Meanwhile, I'm interested in trying the 'mizzen-as-windvane' self steering mode on a monohull.  We have a small (5.5 meter) swing keel monohull that I use as a test platform.  I've already made the junk mizzen and, over the next few months, hope to get it fitted to the boat and tested.  I hope to post on the results later in the winter.    

  • 29 Sep 2020 04:05
    Reply # 9270978 on 9152076
    Deleted user

    Exciting stuff!!   I look eagerly forward to these updates, each containing original outside the box innovative solutions and thinking!   The heroes of my youth were not sports figures or movie stars, or musicians, or military figures or political leaders.  They were men who dared to think and act outside the box, and beyond convention.  Notably Buckminster Fuller.  The JRA is rife with such mavericks, which makes it an exciting and dynamic environment.

                      Thanks for taking the time and effort to share.


                                                     H.W.

  • 28 Sep 2020 23:18
    Reply # 9270615 on 9152076

    Right, all points of sail from close hauled through downwind. 

    A fair 'trade' indeed:)

  • 28 Sep 2020 21:20
    Reply # 9270374 on 9152076

    Up to 45 degrees to the wind.

    That's a fair trade for the type of voyaging you have planned I would say.
    (Pun intended.)


  • 28 Sep 2020 17:44
    Reply # 9269868 on 9152076

    We just got back from another round of sea trials in Minimus II.  We spent two days and a night offshore and were quite pleased with the results, especially her self steering ability.  Winds were light throughout, but we were able to self steer on all points of sail.  

    As our intended use is for tradewind voyaging, it appears she'll do very well. 

    Here's a link to our report, which includes some videos:

    http://omick.net/adventure/minimus_ii/sea_trials/second_sea_trials_september_2020.html

  • 24 Aug 2020 19:14
    Reply # 9187359 on 9152076

    We look forward to ALL the future episodes David.

  • 24 Aug 2020 18:29
    Reply # 9187280 on 9152076

    We're also very interested in knowing how far either side of dead downwind the delta configuration will self steer.  We plan to get Minimus II out to the coast again for more extensive sea trials next month and testing that will be among our priorities. 

    We also have a system set up for self steering on other points of sail.  It involves using the windward mizzen as a large wind vane, with steering lines running from the boom through blocks to the tiller bar in such a way that the mizzen corrects the course.  Given that the boat tracks very well and is light on the tiller, it just might work.  If we get out again, I'll post more detailed info and hopefully a video explaining it better.

  • 24 Aug 2020 02:58
    Reply # 9186161 on 9184749
    Deleted user
    Anonymous wrote:

    Howard did you see the short clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZXSNTT45d8 of a scale model of Minimusll self steering with her foresails in delta configuration?


    Hans:

         I did see it.... very nice, but that was a dead run... I'm interested to hear more on how it self steers closer to the wind.   

                                                                      H.W.
  • 23 Aug 2020 01:52
    Reply # 9184749 on 9152076

    Howard did you see the short clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZXSNTT45d8 of a scale model of Minimusll self steering with her foresails in delta configuration?

  • 22 Aug 2020 19:51
    Reply # 9184307 on 9152076
    Deleted user

    I've been enjoying this thread, and the blog &c that was linked.   Many of the conclusions I've reached parallel those of the author.  The project is impressive in many ways...but then logical simplicity impresses me far more than complexity.   I look forward to more on Minimus II.  Note that I am using MDO myself in a boat project (1/4" thickness)... it's actually pretty nice stuff, far less cost than marine ply, and better quality than the inexpensive fir marine ply I can get locally, and it uses waterproof glue.    It's comforting to know that someone else is using it.   Mine is epoxy sealed, and is not in direct contact with the water.   After reading this, I would probably have approached the project differently, but that's water under the hull so to speak..........


                                                    H.W.

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