Picked up some 65# test spectra braid at the bait/tackle shop. I'll be rigging new sheets for the main and jib for the double haul setup.

Should be a good day Sunday for more sea trails. Maybe Scorp1 will bring the video camera and String bring his fleet so we will have something to match race with.

Got my China Team all ready to go with new in and out haul geometry so I now have full travel. Added adjustment sheets to all the sail points so I should be good to go. As long as the snow holds off till late tomorrow I will be sailing.

Stringfly <>++++++

String
Like to see some close ups of your China Team. Is it the same hull as the ENTZ?
Boomer

65# spectra braided line (sold in tackle shops under the name Power Pro), is even smaller than the AQ braided line they are using for the sheets.

All sheets for the Sail Arm have been revised. We shall see how it goes on Sunday. Now using one full sheet for each Sail. No more "Y" pattern with the Double Haul rigging. Now running 2 sheets from the radio try tie off, thru the Sail Arm, out the transom tube, over the roller, under the guide, thru the traveler ring, then to each boom as factory rigged.

Was thinking about my Jib Sheet Guide to prevent fouling the sheet under the mast step.

At first I was going to drill a pilot hole in the Plastic Mast Step/boom Vang part, then thread an Eye Screw into it. I only had one size at home, which was too large. I also didnt want to risk damaging the mast part on Saturday night prior to sailing.

I then found some of my 1/8 Fuel car racing parts. Found this little fuel line holder, inserted a short piece of antenna tubing into a section of silicone fuel tubing, inserted it into the holder, and attached to the mast step with a tie strap. This should work well for testing performance of the additional sheet guide.

We had a good day at the lake today. Light erratic Air trials early, followed by some nice steady 2.5 - 3.5 knots later in the mid afternoon.

Rigging working much better. Sheeting in light air still can be improved. Might perform better with a few tweaks to the sail shape and mast rake for the wind conditions we had today.

Still had some water intrusion. It appears to be coming from the keel area. Looks like the epoxy job on the Keel Tube could have been much better. I used some grease around the Keel Bolt and on the top of the keel, then when installed into the hull slot it pressed out any excess and sealed nicely. No more water (at least not a couple cup fulls as before) after greasing the keel.

This boat keeps performing better after each trip. She points well. Accelerates nicely, and very responsive.

Parks Team China performed well today. All our boats (TT China Team, Kyosho SeaWind, and Aquacraft Vela) look to have equal boat speed. And the Fleet gets lots of attention everytime we take them out to the lake.

Well, when you bring Sailboats almost no wind. Scorp and I ran some FE boats waiting for the wind to come up. Perfect glass for those. But 4 sailboats in the water and wind finally came up late in the afternoon. All working good. Scorp running my Black Hawk 32 but wind was pretty light but did great. Vela I think had the edge in the light air. Some great shots I think

Stringfly <>++++++

Hey JD,

Did your new sheeting arrangement work better?

Also, just from looking at the pictures online it seems the Vela sits a little ass heavy. Not good for light air...not good in general...Anyway to shift some weight forward?

Brian

Boomer,
Yes it's the same hull as the ENTZ just different colors. No complaints with the hull, beautiful finish and great working hatch. Mainly, just issues with some of the weak(plastic) chain plates and hull/sheet attachment points which I replaced with metal fittings. I did not put on all the scale winches. bowsprit, wheels and railings... just stuff to foul sheets and break off. Liked the cleaner deck look. I did end up doing a double line haul to get enough in haul and out haul and did use a servo stretcher to get 180* on the arm. Have enough in and out haul now.

Stringfly <>+++++

Originally Posted by RG-sailor

Hey JD,

Did your new sheeting arrangement work better?

Also, just from looking at the pictures online it seems the Vela sits a little ass heavy. Not good for light air...not good in general...Anyway to shift some weight forward?

Brian

Brian,
Double Haul sheeting works much better.

It looks like the way they have designed keel/bulb and constructed craddle adds some nose up attitude to the deck (about 2 degrees)

Today Vela seemed to be the first boat underway once we all sitting in a lull.

I cant recall where I ran across this suggestion, it wasnt my original idea, but I'll sure use it on my boat.

When I changed the Sail Sheets from single haul to double haul, the risk of the sheet(s) getting fouled inside the hull with radio gear/mounts increased.

I took a piece of lexan I had lying around and cut to fit over the radio tray. Used a small piece of velcro hook/loop to hold in place.

Worked perfect. Now I lowered the risk of fouling the sheets inside the hull. This smooth lexan cover prevents the sheets from falling into openings in the radio tray, or fouling with the battery holder or wiring.

Easy to remove for battery service or removing the receiver.

Good call, I have used that trick before myself.

One of the things about the boat looking bow up is probably due to the NOT straight or correct waterline on the graphics...

Brian

String
Super looking boat! Thanks for the pictures, gives me a better understanding of the boat's set up. Looks like all the boats at this point are matched well.
Should interesting to see how they are do in some heavier wind.

Thanks again
Boomer

Originally Posted by RG-sailor

One of the things about the boat looking bow up is probably due to the NOT straight or correct waterline on the graphics...

If the deck is suppose to be parallel to the surface of the water, then I believe the keel bulb is set up at 88 degrees to the deck. With it resting flat on the floor, the deck is definately nose high a couple degrees.

Something I'll keep in mind as I set up my standing rigging and mast rake.

Next Sunday forecast is 55 degrees, Mostly Sunny, Wind SSW at 9 mph

Where and what size is your battery pack? The only reason for saying anything is that it just looks a little bow high. That particular design is modeled after a Americas Cup boat and it should have the ass out of the water more. Could just be a design flaw of the bulb CG being a little too far back. The fin looks to be in the right place and the over boat dimensions are really nice looking. You just might try moving some weight forward to see if you can level it out more.

It would especially help in light airs.

Looking good!

Brian