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π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by π³πΏ jbkiwi ( Fleet Admiral)
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Hi Ian, the Optimist isn't too bad for room (main hatch is around 13"L x 6"w x 7"deep, - boat's 41"long) but half the useable length is under the cockpit, which, although you can get your hand back there, it's hard to attach anything successfully (as mentioned previously, most of the bits were originally fitted before the top went on, (see pic of winch set-up with rubber band tensioners going for and aft to stop the sheets tangling) 2nd pic of jib boom set-up as well.
I was after a 180deg boom arc so I could 'goose-wing' the sails downwind but as you said, not really necessary on a 'cruising yacht' (even though the full sized Optimist was a 22ft 1 ton cup winner.) I have started a drum winch set-up (complete drop-in module) which I might try later, but I like 'simple' and basic as there are fewer problems. The servo is fast and powerful and should do the job well. The expensive sail servos do exactly the same thing as this $25 servo does for probably 1/6 the price. The Australian RMG geared self tensioning drum winches can be up to A$330 from some RC sailing shops,! - bit much for a model of any type unless you are a serious armchair sailor. I was thinking of converting this yacht to NZs' Rainbow II, which won the 1 ton cup after Optimist, but decided I'd keep it as a Graupner model, as I've had 6 from the 70's (2 boats, 3 planes and 1 helicopter)- 2 of the planes I've re-produced from the old assembly drawings in the last 3 years. JB ▲
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Martin555
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Remove Ads π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by πΏπ¦ Ianh ( Commander)
β§ 77 Views Β· 3 Likes
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These older yachts don't have much room. I don't blame you for not wanting a Drum winch unless you can get the guides perfect they seem to tangle themselves up. It doesn't matter that you can't get the ideal 90 degrees as most sailing isn't done at 90 degrees. The best sailing performance is when you get an 'airfoil' in the sail then it really shifts.
Futaba do make a log arm sail servo, but at a price! Nice Buildππ ▲
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jbkiwi
Colin H
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π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by π¬π§ Martin555 ( Fleet Admiral)
β§ 73 Views Β· 1 Like
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Hi Jb,
It looks like you are starting to win the battle. Martin555. ▲
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jbkiwi
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π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by π³πΏ jbkiwi ( Fleet Admiral)
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Hi Martin, Re- be strange seeing her in the water after about 22 years
It will be like launching a new boat, as last time it had no radio gear and was just free sailing so my son (pictured) could see it going, (I'd sold the winch years previously and taken everything out) My son is now 27 and nearly 6ft so it's been a while, (boat is about 66" from mast to keel) JB ▲
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philcaretaker
Graham93
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Remove Ads π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by π³πΏ jbkiwi ( Fleet Admiral)
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Re snowing there, frozen pond etc,-
Hi Graham, - just to make you really jealous, this was my place at 7am on Wed morning, nice sea mist rolling inland, 20deg C clear skyπ,- but it only lasts till 9am then the wind picks up, (pos 12mph) and it could cloud over and start raining at the drop of a hat. Hard to plan anything during our summer. I suggested to my neighbour that he connected the downpipe on his house to fill his above ground pool which he assembles every year (about 1000 gals),- so he made up an 80mm system from the house, round his big deck/garage and into the pool. It had poured down a few days earlier so it looked promising, but no rain for 2 weeks. He filled the pool from his tap (we are on water restrictions still and it's illegal to use a hose without a cut-off/trigger gun). Cost him about $80 to fill it, and guess what, 3 days later it absolutely hosed down the whole day and he had so much water it overflowed the pool completely. He had to get his 3 girls to jump in and try and get some of the water out. He's gone away for a week and has had to turn the pipe around to run on the drive. I was chuckling away when it was overflowing, as I had suggested the pipe about a week before the first rain, which would have filled it no problem. Just been raining again yesterday quite hard and his pipe was going great guns. Pretty much always windy in summer here,( between 8-20mph avg) just enough to make going out in a 12ft dinghy hard work,- too rough to go fast and not pleasant for boat fishing, and at the moment, blazing hot, (still thousands out sunbathing, sucking up our dangerous high UV sun) JB ▲
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philcaretaker
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π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by π¬π§ Graham93 ( Vice Admiral)
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Looks great JB. π Looking forward to seeing it on the water.
βJust waiting for a good dayβ. Know how you feel! In addition to the Covid lockdown restrictions, it is -3C and snowing here. My garden pond is frozen solid - canβt even get PD Donald, the duck, out on the water π Graham93 ▲
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Martin555
jbkiwi
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π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by π¬π§ Martin555 ( Fleet Admiral)
β§ 48 Views Β· 1 Like
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Jb,
I bet that will feel strange seeing her in the water after about 22 years. Does the Mazda have a sun roof? LOL!! If the car starts wandering all over the road you will have to lower the sails LOL!! Martin555. ▲
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jbkiwi
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π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by πΏπ¦ Ianh ( Commander)
β§ 55 Views Β· 2 Likes
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Looking Good Love these old timers.
Good luck with the test Ianπππ ▲
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jbkiwi
Martin555
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π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by π³πΏ jbkiwi ( Fleet Admiral)
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Hi Mike, I don't actually belong to that club as they mainly sail the very expensive one class IOR boats, but as the lake is in a public space, anyone can use it. The club installed the jetty which is very handy for launching any boat type (if a little high) but the height doesn't worry them, as they drop their yachts in by the mast (as I had to do with the Optimist, - crook knees)
These guys are far too fanatical to be fun, -rules, rules, rules, electronic voice start countdown clock, strict class rules and stupidly expensive boats etc. You could buy a full sized sailing/racing dinghy for the price of these models. I prefer to just quietly enjoy modeling and not be told what and how I should do it. A lot of these guys have never owned a real boat but go completely overboard with these models, but there are some who have full sized Yachts and do this in between outings. There is also a club in a gated community in Orewa where I live, but only for residents. (see pic) When I first built this model back in 79, I mainly sailed it in the sea, as we lived right on a beach. A few fittings got a bit corroded, but it has lasted well being an original quality Graupner kit. There are always stainless fittings etc (now has wire stays replaced with stainless ) if I ever want to sail down the road in the big estuary. Still to take the airboat down on a calm dayπ JB ▲
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philcaretaker
Martin555
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π¬ Re: Graupner Optimist re fit
3 years ago by π¬π§ mturpin013 ( Admiral)
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I've been having a look at your club web site, its a very inviting piece of water, I bet your itching to get that new boat on the water
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Martin555
stevedownunder
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