Legs

[Tohbi]

well, i didn't receive any advice concerning the handling of my latest enterprise: conversion of a 1/3 model of 'stars & stripes' from tank test to actual sailing boat. i guess not many people have sailed this type of craft.

perhaps the members can help me with a design for legs, the stanchions that hold a hull upright when it is sitting on the hard. before i design chainplates for this boat, i would like to see if sockets for legs can be incorporated. anyone have experience with this modification? thanks

[gonzo]

Can you give some more details? The shape of the hull, the offset of the chainplates ( inboard or outboard), draft, etc.

[Tohbi]

well, the shape of the hull is exactly like the america's cup racer, since it is the developmental model from which 'stars & stripes' was built. since the boat will touch bottom occasionally, unlike the racer, i've been thinking of abandoning the wing. a friend [architect] thinks i can design a kind of daggerboard wing that can be retracted in skinny water. i don't know and i'd like some advice on this issue.

the shape of the chainplates is problematical since i haven't designed them yet. i thought the chainplate area would be a good, reinforced point to attach the legs, and designing the pattern into the chainplates could be a good idea, but i'm open to all suggestions.

turning a flat-out racer into a single-handed cruiser is something i haven't seen done [maybe with good reason] and i don't want to proceed until i have some advice "from the pros."

[gonzo]

As I understand it, this is a 1/3 replica of the racer. The legs or stanchions I've seen or worked on were on a different type of hull. Barges, offshore platforms and shallow water fishing boats have anchori legs. They are fitted in a tube and slide up and down. On a boat like yours, the legs could be fitted at an angle. However, it will take a lot of interior space. Do you live in an area with big tides?

[Tohbi]

sometimes i sail the northern waters of the sea of cortez where the tides goes out, seemingly, a quarter mile of so.

yes, storage is an issue and i'm hoping to find a conveniently stored plan.

[gonzo]

How about legs on pivots? They can have a pin attached to the chainplate hardware. When sailing they pivot up and get lashed to the lifelines or the side of the hull.

[Tohbi]

pivoting stanchions? now there's an interesting idea i hadn't thought of. might look a little funny but they could be attached when in the proper waters and it would be more convenient than digging them out of the cabin each low tide.

i guess tying the top to the shrouds would keep them from spreading apart? and the keel resting on the bottom keeps the boat from moving fore and aft?

so, where would one find the pivoting mechanism?

[gonzo]

You could fabricate it with a flat plate that gets through bolted to the hull. Weld a pin to the plate. The leg can be made of square pipe with a reinforced section where the hole for the pin is.