Still learning - questions with pic links

Submitted by chester on Fri, 06/24/2011 - 18:33
Forums: 
Owning, Rigging, and Sailing the Flying Scot

In this first picture, you'll see a base for the mast - but not the one that the mast is stepped on. What's this additional base for? (And where would I read up on the boat so as not to bother folks with simple questions like this?)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21806090@N08/5866665949/

In the second picture, link below, you'll see the deck of my old FS and some cleats. What's the old silver colored cleat for - just tying up to a dock? The jib fairlead block is clear, and the flat ratchet block that the jib sheet runs through. But there's no cleat for the jib sheet - is this just old-style oversight? Unless it's the cam cleat forward of the ratchet block, which would serve the jib sheet coming from the opposite side of the boat and is quite inconvenient and in the way if there's a number of people of board. Any other ideas for what that cam cleat would be? Does everyone have a cam cleat for the jib sheet now, just next to and inside of the flat ratchet block?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21806090@N08/5867219566/in/photostream/

Thank you!

sawyerspadre

Fri, 06/24/2011 - 19:15

Your boat is set up for cross-sheeting. You are right, the jib sheet comes across. You can bow-string the sheet to get jib tension,but it is not the best angle to pull. My boat was like this when I got it. If you are going to race seriously I would go right to seat cleats for the jib.

The other cleat is multipurpose. I took mine off, as I sit near that area and got them under a hip enough to get bruises. If you have three and it's windy someone will be sitting on those. You have to cut them off. The screws will be corroded fast in the cleat. You have to cut down through them with a hacksaw almost down to the boat. When the saw is almost down the boat, hit the cleat and it will break. Then spin the screws out using the two halves of the cleat as a lever. Confused, call Harry.

The second mast step is for the old way of raising the mast. Before the mast hinge, you would stick the butt of the mast in the stanchion and raise it, and attach the forestay. Then on the LOOSE rig, you would lift the mast up onto the higher step. The mast hinge eliminated all that and the snug and tight rigs of today can't be done this way.

Have fun.

Phil Scheetz
FS 4086

sawyerspadre

Fri, 06/24/2011 - 20:04

Hot Wheels is right. Where are you located? Fleet nearby? If you are near eastern PA, we have a great fleet at Lake Nockamixon. Saturday racing gets in off the water between 2 and 3. See you tomorrow?

You can check out boats in a fleet and find the best setup.

Phil Scheetz
FS 4086

chester

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 07:15

Phil- We're at the Jersey shore. We don't race, but we sure enjoy getting out on the bay to sail, sometimes with a number of friends. The Flying Scot seems great for that - better than some much bigger boats!

Thanks!

sawyerspadre

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 16:15

There are several good fleets at the shore, from Red Bank all the way down to Cape May. Tom's River and Stone harbor are pretty active. Monmouth Boat Club is Red Bank is a great fleet.

Our fleet goes down to a regatta in Avalon each year. This year it's in Aug, I think.

Phil Scheetz
FS 4086

Anonymous (not verified)

Sat, 07/02/2011 - 14:44

Chester, thanks for asking the question about the cleats and to all who've provided answers.

I've had my Scot since last summer and have already added a few upgrades but I've really been puzzled why the cam cleats were positioned forward of the ratchet block. Now here's the kicker.. the cam cleats are turned 180 degrees on my Scot! Now I understand, apparently that was a previous owners solution to the jib cross-sheeting setup. When single handed sailing, I've found it virtually impossible to cleat the jib sheet after tacking. Although yesterday I was trying windward sheeting for the first time and since the sheet was already in the cam, it was kind of easy.

Thanks to you folks, I plan on immediately removing that devilish silver jam cleat and investigating jib seat cleating or simply moving the jam cleat aft where it belongs.

Oh I wish the Unofficial Scot Site was back up, seems like every time I do a search there's a link to it and I need pics.

Thanks!