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Topics - nigelf

#1
Would any kind possessor of a redundant copy of Robin Steavenson's "History of the National 12s" be prepared to sell it to me? I had his "When Dinghies Delight" and "Marks to Starboard" when a youngster, both of which iI lent to friends who failed to return them but I gather the History is out of print. Any reasonable price plus postage willingly paid. N3535.
#2
If anyone with a moment to spare could assist with a serious gap in my slowly accumulating knowledge about modern N12 spreaders, I would appreciate that very much. My new Paradigm was collected with the spreaders on its Superspars carbon mast fixed by Rondar, apparently to avert the possibility of inverting the mast, although I knew even then that limited swing spreaders were probably universal. Most times when I have had the chance to look at other boats' arrangements the mast has been upright in the boat and with the spreader arrangement out of view. More recently I have seen a variety of settings varying from what appears to be removal of the inner fixing bolt, and the spreaders free to swing within the radius of the bracket to a more limited setting controlled by elastic round the front of the mast. Is there a recommended arrangement which could be described by a simple explanation? I tried to obtain information from Superspars but without response. I also assume that limited swing spreaders must go hand in hand with adjustable shroud tension - fortunately that is already provided and I have what currently looks something approaching the correct pre-bend setting of the rig. However the question of the swinging of the spreaders has me beaten for the moment.
 
#3
General National 12 chat / carbon spars
08 Jun 2010, 12:51
Many thanks Dare and Phil. I expect all the usual fittings to be on the mast when I get it and I shall examine very closely how they are all attached. I gave away my Lazy Tongs riveter some years ago along with monel and aluminium rivets - perhaps just as well! I was at Burghfield recently looking at the newer boats but they were out on the water most of the time and my photographs are generally of hulls and hull fittings. I used a Hawk wind indicator for many years. I see only burgees now, much cheaper to replace and no doubt I shall find out in due course how they are being attached. Years ago the rules required you to lower your burgee if you were retiring which implies a halyard. I assume burgees today are in place on a clip (screwed?) to the mast top. Out on the water I gather the danger areas are gybing without tightening the lee shroud and bearing away onto a reach in a breeze with too much kicker. I can see I have a psychological and a technical hurdle to overcome but the prospect of such light weight in the spars is exciting, not to mention the huge reduction in hull weight. My previous N12 was ll49 (a Jack Holt 500 derivative), mahogany planking, nailed and ribbed, built just before the glued ply boats came along. I am now on the wrong side of elderly but very enthusiastic about the new Paradigm 2 and hoping that my fitness level is still up to it. Nigel.
#4
General National 12 chat / carbon spars
07 Jun 2010, 05:42
After a lifetime with wooden and aluminium masts, I have carbon spars coming along soon with a new Paradigm 2. Carbon masts seem to snap when aluminium would have bent (to be straightened later). There is some guidance on potential pitfalls with carbon in the website but reports rarely give the reason for breakages. All advice to a newcomer to carbon spars will be most welcome.
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