Log of SV Free Spirit and ships company

The chronicles of the schooner Free Spirit and her crew, embarking on an open ended journey upon the great rolling heap. Free Spirit is currently pursuing humanitarian and commercial goals in the Dominican Republic, on the island of Hispaniola. Working under the Ocean Reach USA and Paradigm Research banners, she is serving as logistics headquarters, workshop, and development laboratory for many ongoing projects. This is the log of her journey.....

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Friday, March 10, 2006

The Call of the sea... Is Collect.


The call of the sea. Jackpot bay, PWS ,Alaska - from the deck of Laura Ann 2

The phenomenon, known to sailors since there were sailors, is perhaps as haunting as it is expensive. Witness one sailor, who owns four boats over 24 feet, three under 12, and not a whole lot else. (please, please, please buy my 42 foot Benford, on ebay, and my 24 footer!!!) (but you can't have the 24 footer until august. Until then, she belongs to me and Prince William sound!)

Anyway, preparing for our voyage has shown me just what sailing the world costs - everything youv'e got, a little or a lot. Except for those with more money than sense. (in which case, feel free to PayPal me a few mil)

So begins my seven month yardsale, made global courtesy of Ebay, the P2P marketing genius.
(stuff zealots take note! here's your chance, if you know me and have coveted any of my stuff, make me an offer! :)

Things We're giving up to go to sea:

3 Automobiles
2 Motorcycles
Everything in our house we're not taking with us
Our house, for a 600 SF cabin on the hilltop
Immunity from motion sickness
A proper telephone
A Stationary anything
Uninterupted sleep you can bank on
The coffeeshop girls (at least the ones in Fairbanks)
(i'm not absolutely certain that Laura cares about this with the same zeal as I do)
Not really having to pay attention to the weather
Bunny Boots (think bugs bunny meets michelin)
Three other boats
Not worrying about sleepwalking kids falling overboard
Traffic
Being dry, and total confidence that this is not a transient condition
Washing Machines
(i'm not absolutely certain that I care about this with the same zeal as Laura does)
(Just joking, beautiful - No, Really!!! @--;----- ; )
People stealing our mailbox, right off the pole
Relative certainty that we are not about to be set upon by piratical machete wielding ne'r-do-wells.
Not having to know what all those damn flags mean.
Electric bills
Heating Bills
Other peoples bills
Proximity to Family and friends
The Midnight sun
The Aurora
An oven that holds an entire cookie sheet
.
.
.
Ad Infinitum.

You see, Gentlereader, each thing taken is replaced by one given. Each discarded burden replaced by another. It is indeed a change, but as with the changes upon the vast rolling oceans, as ever as it is different, always it is likewise the same.

It is, you see, A Sea Change.

posted by CT | 9:21 PM

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Introducing Propcalc 4.0

Use Propcalc to easily match your hull with your engine, transmission, and propeller
Put the known data in the top fields, then hit the Update button to get the answers.
Results, of course, should be verified by a Naval Architect or qualified surveyor.
Data is provided for three bladed propellers of average type
For two or four bladed props, use the modifiers shown below.

Fill out the fields as follows:

Vessel LWL (ft) = Waterline length
Vessel Disp (lbs) = Vessel displacement
(max) HP = Rated Engine Max HP
Engine RPM max = Engine RPM at Max HP
Engine RPM cruise = Desired or estimated cruise rpm
(Cruise or Max) Kts = Speed to work the calculations for
Slip = Propeller efficience. 45% is average for a displacement cruiser.
Gear ratio = 1: Gear ratio of transmission
SL Ratio Adj. = This value will be added (or subtracted, if a negative value) to the calculated S/L ratio.

Key information:

If the "hp required" is greater than the "cruse HP", you have your cruise RPM set too low for your engine parameters.
If the "hp required" is significantly less than the "cruse HP", you have your cruise RPM set too high for your engine parameters.
If the "hp required" is greater than the "Max HP", then your target speed is too high for your engine/hull parameters.
The S/L ratio is calculated automaticaly based on your input. It can be adjusted if necessary, but normally it should be left alone.
If the calculated S/L ratio exceeds S/L MAX, then the results are likely to be non-predictive. Try a lower speed requirement.
SL Ratios of 1.1 - 1.4 are typical of displacement hulls. Semiplaning or planing hulls can go higher.

Typical propeller slip values:

Sailing auxiliary, barges, etc less than 9 Kts............45%
Heavy powerboats, workboats 9 - 15 Kts....................26%
Powerboats, Lightweight Cruisers 15 - 30 Kts..............24%
High speed planing boats 30 - 45 Kts......................20%
V bottom race boats 45 - 90 Kts...........................10%


Note:

it is possible to get irrational answers by irrational input , I.E specifying excessive speed for hull type and length
Any attempt to exceed hull speed (1.34 times the square root of the waterline length in feet) with a displacement hull are likely
to fail unless the hull is extremely fine (multihull) or otherwise exceptional. In such cases, an S/L adjustment would be in order.

2 and 4 bladed props:


For two bladed propellers, multiply the diameter by 1.05, and the pitch by 1.01
For four bladed propellers, multiply the diameter by .94, and the pitch by .98
PROPCALC
  Inputs:
Vessel LWL (ft) =
Vessel Disp (lbs) =
  (max) HP =
  Engine RPM max =
  Engine RPM cruise =
  (Cruise or Max) Kts =
  Slip =
  Gear ratio = 1:
  SL Ratio Adj. =
   
    Solutions:
  Prop rpm max =
  Prop rpm cruise =
  Pitch =
  Diameter =
  Static Thrust =
  Cruise HP =
  Cruise HP% =
  SL Ratio =
  DL Ratio =
  SL Max =
  HP Required =