I've been looking around for some insight on wand tension but I'm not having much luck. Specifically, how much wand tension should I be using for different wind conditions, upwind vs. downwind, flat water vs. waves. How much tension is too much/too little. Anyone have the answer to these questions?
Monday, August 8, 2011
Wand Tension ?
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5 comments:
Hi Bob,
To summarise loosely:
Flat water = minimal tension
Choppy seas = more tension
The idea being that if the wand is clear of the water, you want it to shoot forward as quickly as possible which in turn will drive the flap up and bring the boat back down.
If you've got a smooth control system you shouldn't need too much tension to make the wand shoot forward.
I'm not an authority on this and I'm sure there are many better informed sailors out there that can be more precise?
Cheers,
Phil
Flat water I don't use any bungee at all. Waves as Phil says!
Just tie off the bungee with a rolling hitch or run it through a small cleat? What diameter?
thoughts, please...
John
Thanks for the info guys. That's kind of what I was guessing, but its nice to get some confirmation. I'm using a fairly large bungee that is cleated next to mast. I only pull it about 6-8" when sailing.
If the chops up and you need to lower the boat to prevent crashing out of waves and fipping then,
1 More wand elastic tension. Its sensitive so no point hauling on tons, also I use real light elastic 2mm. Think of this as making flap move faster so quicker reaction time.
2 Increase gearing so flap reacts with greater range to wand movement ie flap has great "authority" over altitude of boat.
To go fast you need to be as high as possible with flap going as slow and with as litle range as possible, so you need to get used to skating on the edge of control.
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