HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: fletch@spf.trw.com (Fletcher Riggs)
Subject: Re: GPS, Loran, autopilots and cables
Organization: TRW Decision Support Center, Redondo Beach, CA
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 15:53:10 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.165552.25326@progress.com> gerard@progress.COM (Gerard Bras) writes:

>advax@reg.triumf.ca (A.Daviel) writes:
...
>>Re. Loran, mine dies around sunset. It's a pretty old set, but I thought that
>>there was some effect with the ionosphere stabilizing that affected the Loran
>>transmissions. Anyone else see this ?
>
>I've noticed differences in reception strength but never complete failure.
>If I were you I'd either have the receiver looked at or pony up the dollar
>three eighty it costs for a new one.  Since Loran uses low frequency radio
>waves (100KHz) atmospheric conditions can cause problems.  The most trouble
>I've ever had with mine was in Machias Bay this summer.  The Navy has
>a VLF antenna farm there for communicatiing with subamrines.  For me it
>meant total Loarn shutdown.

In the past I have had an occasional failure due to poor signal reception.
I have always assumed that it was due to interference from the Navy
facilities at my harbor entrance (Huntington Harbor, just south of Long
Beach).  Reception would be so bad that it (my Vector II) would fall back
into its initial search phase.  It would, however, always regain adequate
signal reception once I was underway.

That is, until this past weeked.  One Saturday (Oct 10) afternoon (1530)
the unit fell back into its search mode again as I left the harbor entrance
but this time it stayed that way for hours.  I say nothing but o's and c's
for signal strength all the way to Avalon!  I tried turning it off then on
but that didn't help.  I turned off my sonar and radar but that didn't help
either.  I thought my unit had bit the dust; less than 2 years old.  I
suddenly found myself applying some of the skills I learned in the Coast
Guard Auxiliary Advanced Coastal Navigation Cource.  True, Catalina is big
and hard to miss in the daytime.  Nevertheless I did realize how lazy I had
become in relying on the Loran to keep me on course.

That evening the unit worked flawlessly as an anchor watch and on Sunday I
had absolutely no trouble (all over the north side of Catalina and all
the way back to my slip).

I have no explanation for this event.  No unusual weather conditions (at
least non that were obvious to me).  I have not yet had a chance to speak
with others at my marina.  I am at present assuming that my Loran unit
was not at fault.  Anyone else had major black-outs such as this?

-- 
fletch@spf.trw.com 
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: mgp@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (michael.g.petersen)
Subject: Re: "OMC Sea Drives"
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 14:01:57 GMT

In article <1992Oct13.151406.16778@nntpd.lkg.dec.com> swist@took.enet.dec.com writes:
>
>OMC had a chance to get in on the ground floor of the bracket-mount
>market but lost it to aftermarket bracket makers like Gil due to ugly
>packaging and a lack of promotion/concerted effort to educate people
>about the advantages of this kind of mount.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a bracket-mount over a
conventionally mounted outboard?

Mike Petersen
/*****************************************************************/
From: Paul.Saltzman@f764.n153.z1.ship.wimsey.bc.ca (Paul Saltzman)
Sender: UUCP@ship.wimsey.bc.ca
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: What makes a boat a bette
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 15:28:00 -0800

LT>From: tarkkone@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Lauri Tarkkonen)
LT>Organization: University of Helsinki

LT>In <9210071606.AA28435@ssd.comm.mot.com> krueger@COMM.MOT.COM (Kevin
Krueger
LT>writes:

LT>>Over the weekend, I sailed a 31 ft. Hunter on Lake Michigan.  What I
LT>noticed
LT>>over two days of sailing is that the boat had better speed on close
reaches
LT>>than on any other point of sail.  I know from windsurfing and basic sail
LT>>theory that beam or beam/broad reach should be the fastest point of sail.
LT>>So I am wondering if there are certain designs which warrant a better
speed
LT>>when close reaching OR had we trimmed the sails incorrectly ?  Thanks for
LT>>any responses.

LT>>Kevin
LT>>krueger@ssd.comm.mot.com

LT>If the hull is capable of the speed and can carry the sail then
LT>close reach must be the fastest point of sailing according to the
LT>theory. On a close reach your boatspeed contributes to the apparent
LT>wind and you get more power than otherwise.

LT>The proof of this is easily seen on fast catamarans, say Tornado and
LT>ice yachts. In practice for many boats the broad reach or even the
LT>run will carry the boat faster, because the heeling moment of the rig
LT>is smaller and one can carry more sail than on a close reach or beat.
LT>My fastest log readings come on dead run, because I have been able
LT>to carry a once reefed main in 48 nots of wind, surfing for really
LT>long periods more than 15 knots. I would not evean dream about
LT>carrying as much sail in the same conditions on a close reach and
LT>I am positive that what ever sails I would carry my speed would
LT>be less than 6 nots. Here also the waves work against me while on
LT>the run I get some help.

LT>Hope you ger the general idea.

LT>- Lauri Tarkkonen
I sailed a hunter legend 37.5. it didnt point very well, so i spoke to
a rep. at the show and he asked two questions, 1 condition and age. 2
(this was the important one) is the mast rqake back. Well the sails were
in good to fair condition, but the mast was not raked at all. He
suggested a ten inch rake at the top of the mast. seems extereme so you
might want to check this out. I haven't sailed since the advise was
given so i cant tell you the outcome. if you do it let me know if there
was or wasnt any improvement.
thanks, PS...




 LT> * Origin: Ship to Shore Marine NET Vancouver Node




(604)540-9596 (1:153/764) LT> * S2SNet

 * OLX 2.2 * If this were an actual tagline, it would be funny.
From: eepare@gdr.bath.ac.uk (A R Edwards)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Questions about Bytes
Date: 10 Oct 92 17:16:21 GMT
Organization: School of Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, UK

Over here, in the UK, Bytes are at last starting to sell fairy well - 
the general consensus is that they are the fastest growing fleet, except
(perhaps) for the Laser II.

I do a *lot* of dinghy racing, the majority of it in Topper dinghies,
which are a single handed dinghy, rated a bit slower than a Byte.  I sailed
in this years National Championships, and as that was my first time in a
Byte I have to admit that it was a lot better than I expected.

The upwind performance was nothing too great, but off-wind they seemed
to go pretty well.  My main reservation about them was the lack of any
sacrificial plate behind the daggerboard ...... sailing into anything
substantial damages the daggerboard, and cracks the gel-coat on the hull
just aft of the slot.  Hitting anything at great speed could do considerably
more damage :-)

Overall, quite a nice boat, and a lot less demanding than a Laser.

- Tony -
Newsgroups: rec.boats,rec.boats.paddle,rec.boating,ingr.general,hsv.general
From: bblohm@boi.hp.com (Bill Blohm)
Subject: Re: Sailor's Sextant Wanted for use in  Video Production
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 00:29:17 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard / Boise, Idaho
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Terry, 

You ever get ahold of a sextant?  I have one, and can point you towards at
least two catalogs that offer them.

Bill

********************************************************************************
Standard disclaimers apply, even if nobody ever listens to me.
********************************************************************************

Bill Blohm     

bblohm@hpbs1686.boi.hp.com     \\
mage@hpbs202.boi.hp.com         ========\  You pays your money, takes your pick.
bill@hpbs202.boi.hp.com         ========/  They all reach me, or soon or late.
bill_blohm@hp4600.desk.hp.com  //
                           
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: finns@hal.nta.no (Finn Stafsnes FBA)
Subject: Re: 5 sailing questions
Organization: Norwegian Telecom Research
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 92 13:09:01 GMT

In article <JAMESM.92Oct13164044@lunch.austin.ibm.com>, jamesm@lunch.austin.ibm.com (James Miller) writes:
|> 
|> sailing question 1
|> 
|> (...) I'm thinking of drilling out the
|> holes in the aluminum shaft to accept a brass tube (with 1/4" I.D., to accept
|> the stainless bolt, and say 3/8" O.D.) of 1 5/16" length.  Then the aluminum
|> need only contend with *smooth* brass and the easily replaceable brass can
|> fight with the stainless bolt threads.  Does this sound OK?

By combining aluminum, brass and stainless steel I think you are asking for
trouble. If you add some water you have a galvanic cell (salt water is even
worse). Your aluminum rudder post may wear away even faster than today as
the electrolytic potensial for aluminum and brass are far from each other.  
 
|> sailing question 2
|> 
|> (...)  How much beneficial control of the main would be gained by
|> replacing the block abaft the tiller with a travelling block while retaining
|> the cockpit-centered block/cam cleat?

As the single part of the sheet works from the middle of the boom, the double
part, working from the end, is providing 4/5 of the total momentum (approx)
needed.  If you need more power to keep your boom down, instead of pulling it to
the centerline, a traveller at the after end will give you 4/5 of the reduction
in inboard pull compared with travellers at both points. Whether the change will
be worth th cost and work depends on how far outboard you can bring the sheet.
 
|> sailing question 3
|> 
|> Being pretty new at this, I'm quite confused about how to tune a rig.  "In
|> light wind and smooth water, adjust the sails for maximum flatness and a tight
|> slot to reduce turbulence and therefore drag.  In light wind and chop, adjust
|> the sails for greater fullness for increased drive..." 

My experience and my understanding of the theory is indicating flat sails in
heavy wind and full sails in light wind.  With constant wind you need fuller
sails in choppy conditions.


Finn
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: will@ogre.cica.indiana.edu (William Sadler)
Subject: Re: dingy bottoms
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 16:28:35 GMT

In <bartley.718488761@spssig> bartley@spss.com (Dennis Bartley) writes:

>Is there anything good (and legal) to apply to the bottoms of dingys
>(like Lasers)? I understand waxing the bottom is not recommended. I
>read in a book by Melges that he used to put dish detergent on his
>Star. Somehow I'de guess that's no longer allowed? 

As far as Lasers go you should just 600 wet sand the hull and make sure it
is clean.  Any speed advantage from products like "liquid speed" or whatever
will dissappear with your first lousy tack/ missed gybe.

Soap washes off pretty quickly.  Oil is illegal.

Wax is bad since it creates friction with the surrounding water.  A slightly
rough (600 wet sand) surface actually allows the water to "bond" with
the surface so that you have a layer of water passing through a layer
of water (at least that's how it was explained to me.)

Will
--
***************************************************************************
*   _______________\|/_      Will Sadler     will@cica.indiana.edu        * 
*   Laser 44888    /|\                       sadler@iubacs.bitnet         *     
***************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: heon@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (garry.j.heon)
Subject: Re: Wellcraft Fishing Boats
Keywords: fishing, recommendations
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 15:08:46 GMT

IMO Wellcraft does make a good boat.  I know people who own them and
are very happy with them.  I think the reason that the resale value is
not great is they are priced in the high end to begin with and because
there are alot of them on the market.  Supply and demand.


******************************************
* MY OPINIONS.............AT&T's NETWORK *
* Garry Heon                     AT&T    *
* heon@cbnewsg.att.com       Holmdel, NJ *
******************************************
From: roy@mchip00.med.nyu.edu (Roy Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Plotting keel templates
Date: 12 Oct 92 17:20:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: phri.1992Oct12.172056.25618
Organization: New York University, School of Medicine


	I just heard about a tool that might be of interest to some people
here; those racer types that periodically ask about keel shapes.  The tool
is called plotfoil, and was posted to comp.sources.misc in July 1992, as
issues 28-20 of volume 31.  I got it by anonymous ftp from ftp.uu.net in
usenix/comp.sources/misc/volume31/plotfoil.  The following blub is from the
distribution kit:

> This is a program that reads in airfoil data and generates PostScript code
> that will plot the airfoil on a PS printer. It interpolates between points
> and can understand the two most popular formats for airfoil data (sample
> data is included). It has various options for chord size, spar locations,
> sheeting allowances, and can also do multi-page plots (e.g. chord size > 11
> inches).  It has run on every system that I could find with a C compiler.
> The code generated has also printed on every PS printer I've tried. The
> README has details.

	I havn't had a chance to play with it yet, but it looks like it
might be useful for plotting keel templates.  It's really meant for plotting
rib sections for model airplane wings, but I don't see why that should make
any difference.
From: mike@gilligan.East.Sun.COM (Mike Roncadori)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: "OMC Sea Drives"
Date: 13 Oct 1992 13:16:52 -0400
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc. - Vienna, Va.
NNTP-Posting-Host: gilligan.east.sun.com

In article <1992Oct13.151406.16778@nntpd.lkg.dec.com> swist@took.enet.dec.com writes:
>
>There was some info about this in some magazine I read recently.
>(Powerboat Reports maybe?)
>
>OMC has in fact only recently completely discontinued the Sea Drive, so
>any representative models you see on used boats might in fact be quite new.

As has been pointed out, the chronology of my earlier post was
WAY off on this... Should have typed less, and read more...

Sorry! (He said as he slid down in his chair...)

-- Mike

------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: "Michael Smith" <p00004@psilink.com>
Subject: Re: dingy bottoms
Organization: Performance Systems Int'l
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 15:23:39 GMT
X-Mailer: PSILink (3.2)

Sorry, I was misled by the subject line. Thought it had some reference 
to unhygienic hindquarters.


Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: jfh@cs.brown.edu (John F. Hughes)
Subject: Amusement
Organization: Brown University Department of Computer Science
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 21:01:56 GMT


In the course of preparing the FAQ for this group, I made a typo in the
bibliography-maker, and truncated the last letter of the name of each book.
I've fixed it now. Still, for a while, it made for some amusing stuff. The
best was "FASTNET FORCE 1". One can imagine the headlines "Perhaps as
many as 100 sailors in the Fastnet race died today in a sudden freak calm.
The boredom overwhelmed many after just he first few hours. Others hung
on for an entire day...."

I suppose this is gallows humor, but...

-John
From: alanmoore@yang.earlham.edu
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: VHF antenneas and TVs/Best type TV antennea
Date: 12 Oct 92 12:54:04 GMT
Organization: Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana

Has anyone used their VHF (marine radio) antennea as a TV (UHF/VHF) antennea? 
How well did it work?  I have tried using a regular FM antennea at the top of
my mast which worked great for my FM radio, but sucked for the TV.  I'm
interested in actual exterience here, not theories...

What is the best TV type mast-mount antennea to buy (just in case the radio
antennea won't work)?  I have no experience with these type antennea, and given
the cost, I don't want to blow $50-$100 on something that isn't going to work
that well.

Please reply via e-mail, as I'll be sailing for the next few weeks...

Thanks,
Alan
alanmoore@mu.cc.earlham.edu
Newsgroups: rec.boats
From: gerard@progress.COM (Gerard Bras)
Subject: Re: Backing up
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 14:34:15 GMT

keith@iscp.Bellcore.COM (Keith Hawkins) writes:


>The other day I was having trouble backing up
>with my sailboat and turning at the same time.

Fear not.  You're not alone.

>Turning in one direction worked fine, turning the
>other direction did not.  In fact, the boat kept turning
>in the original direction despite havning the tiller
>pushed all the way to the other side.

If the boat has insufficient way then the rudder has no effect.  The
prop forces dominate and the stern walks over, generally to port.  WHat
you need is to get some speed up and then cut the prop so that the rudder
forced dominate.  Bear in mind that turning in reverse is sort of unstable.
Once the boat starts to swing it can really whip around unless you ease back
on the helm.  Go easy on the helm in reverse.  Putting it hard over is
counterproductive since a little goes a long way.  If it's over too far it gets
no "bite" on the water, acting instead as a brake.  This aggravates the
problems of stern creep.

Another thing to consider is that the prop is far more efficient going forward
than it is in reverse.  Therefore, even though you are backing up, you can 
often do your turning better by playing burts of forward prop thrust against the
rudder.  Doing this well takes a little practice.

Lastly, you will find that if you can plan your moves, that you can use
this tendency for the stern to walk over to port to your advantage.

>One of the guys in the marina said that was normal, that
>sailboats seem to back in one direction better than
>the other.

The guys in the marina are telling the truth.

>What causes this??

Propeller geometry.  Some boats do much better than others in this regard.
Fin keel type boats with relatively horizontal shafts tend to do the best,
for sailboats, while prop-in-aperture design tend to be a little trickier.
None the less, with some practice, you will find that you can maneuver the
boat using a combination of throttle and rudder.  The techniques are often
not intuitive though.  You can find pretty good info on all this in Chapman's.

BTW, single screw powerboats tend to have this vice also, although generally 
not as badly.  A powerboat with twin, counterrotating screws has no problems 
at all in this regard, and is in fact almost infinitely maneuverable. 
Outboards have solved this problem in the minimalist fashion by eliminating
the rudder and angling the thrust.

Another nail in the coffin of "Boat of type xxxxxx are best".  It all depends on
what you want to do.

cheers,
gerard
Newsgroups: rec.boats.paddle
From: scs8@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Sebastian C Sears)
Subject: Yough Boycott/Protest
Reply-To: scs8@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Sebastian C Sears)
Organization: Columbia University
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 22:49:57 GMT


	Anyone know if people are still boycotting/protesting against the
user fees on the Yough (in PA, ya know)? I'm going over there this weekend
and was wondering what to expect.

-------
Not bored, pissed. Word to wise (from the dumb):  CU Econ Dept. *SUCKS SHIT*
Sea-Bass Sears --> scs8@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu --> DoD#516 <-- |Stanley, ID.|
'79 Yamaha XS750F -- '85 Toyota 4Runner -- Perception Corisca  |    NYC, NY.|
Newsgroups: rec.boats.paddle
From: janis@unislc.uucp (Janis Huber)
Subject: Re: Westwater flow and water temperature?
Reply-To: janis@unislc.UUCP (Janis Huber,B1E05,5392)
Organization: Unisys, Salt Lake City
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 18:59:16 GMT

In article <1992Oct7.154647.21393@den.mmc.com> weiser@pogo.den.mmc.com (Matt Weiser) writes:
>In article <1992Oct6.225335.2012@nntpd2.cxo.dec.com>, susswein@anrchy.cxo.dec.com (Steve Susswein) writes:
>> 
>> 
>> Can anyone who ran Westwater last weekend tell me what the flow (cfs)
>> and water temperatue were?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Steve
>> 
>I think the flow was around 3500 (fri nite @ 5:00).  Don't have an exact
>number on the temperature, but our group was swimming around in it in just
>bathing suits (but not for long!).
>

The Colorado at Westwater is running 3200 now (Wednesday).  


						Janis

From: atb@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Andy Brown)
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 16:19:58 GMT
Subject: Re: Anyone going to Westwater?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: rec.boats.paddle

In rec.boats.paddle, ddennis@nyx.cs.du.edu (Dave Dennis) writes:

> weiser@pogo.den.mmc.com (Matt Weiser) writes:
> 
> >Is there anyone headed for Westwater this weekend?  It seems that it is
> >going to be popular - I've heard of quite a few groups (ours included)
> >putting in on Saturday.

hmm,  i heard that 700 people ended putting in over the oct 3/4 weekend.
most of these people were day trippers. (take that unverified rumor with
a grain of salt).  we (a bunch of squirt boat scum ... nothing more exciting
than splating on an unsuspecting raft) will be up there next
weeked.  front range forcast is for the 70's.  hope it improves from today
(cold!).  i also heard that is was running about 4000??? true???
the old flo-phone gave the state line 3160.
> 
> I am not going this weekend ("Frostbite Weekend" on WWater can be a zoo)
> We are running on the 17/18th instead.
> 
> If you are running in October, remember that you must still have a permit 
> to camp anywhere on the section.  This changed as of last year.
> 
> hope you called ahead as it will be busy, and I believe all the permits are gone
> 
> You can still blow through in a day if you
> want without a permit between Oct. 1 and April 30.

you only need permits if you are camping overnight on the weekend.  we camped
on the last weekend of april this year.  perfect weather and the river was
hummin' along at about 8000 cfs.

> 
> Dave Dennis
> High Country River Rafters

andy brown
low country desk jockies
Newsgroups: rec.boats.paddle
From: ddennis@nyx.cs.du.edu (Dave Dennis)
Subject: Re: Anyone going to Westwater?
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 92 04:00:19 GMT

tut@cairo.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill "Bill" Tuthill) writes:

>atb@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Andy Brown) writes:

>> best squirt rapid:  tunnel falls.  this rapid consists of two monster rocks
>>   that constricts the river to about a 20' opening.  the river probably
>>   drops 4 or 5 feet.  on the left side of the chute is a boiling, nasty hole.
>>   drop the squirt boat in the seam between the hole and the main chute.
>>   holy smokes, meltdown city!  you'll proably pop-up about 20' downstream.
>>   fun fun fun fun fun!

>Don't you mean Funnel Falls?  The first really serious rapid on the run?
>I always wondered what it would be like to swim into that hole on the left.
>Do swimmers have more buoyancy than squirt boats?  If so I assume they'd
>pop up sooner than 20' downstream.

Yes, he must mean Funnel Falls... Tunnel Falls is in Gore Canyon and is a fun
squirt rapid if you are up to it!


|Dave Dennis  (ddennis@nyx.cs.du.edu)  |
|"Ilegitimi non carborundum"           |
Newsgroups: rec.boats.paddle
From: bosch@rz.uni-karlsruhe.de (Gerhard Bosch)
Subject: Are there any people out there from Germany to get also
Organization: University of Karlsruhe, Germany
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 16:33:21 GMT

information about paddling here, maybe also in the border region to France.
From: Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Newsgroups: rec.boats.paddle
Subject: Re: Anyone going to Westwater?
Date: 15 Oct 92 10:00:55 GMT
Reply-To: Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk

tut@cairo.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill "Bill" Tuthill) writes:
> Do swimmers have more buoyancy than squirt boats?  If so I assume they'd
> pop up sooner than 20' downstream.

A little thought will reveal that swimmers have less bouyancy than
squirt boats.  Even with a full life jacket, not just a PFD, not much
more than a swimmer's head sticks out.  A squirt boater has a *little*
more than that out of the water.

... most of the time ...  

... well, some of the time ...  :-)

Sam