SHADOW ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
SWELL CATAMARANS
Shadow Assembly Instructions SHADOW ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
SWELL CATAMARANS Shadow Assembly Instructions
Disclaimer While the content of this document arises from careful study, the author cannot in any way guarantee the suitability of any recommendations made, and shall not be under legal liability of any kind in respect of or arising from the content of this document or any error therein, or the reliance of any person thereon. The author makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, of any type whatsoever.
Author: Tim Swinburn Draft 3.0, September 2002
© Loday White Ltd 160 Tower Street, Brightlingsea, Essex, UK
Loday White Ltd (UK): Phone +44 (0)7050 260201 • E-mail [email protected] Loday White Ltd (France): Phone +33 (0)240 623 555 • E-mail [email protected]
http://www.swell-catamarans.co.uk
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Table of Contents
Introduction 3 Daggerboards 27 Hulls & trampoline 5 Rudders 27 Trampoline 5 Crossbar & tiller 27 Spinnaker blocks 6 Maintenance 29 Dolphin striker 6 Before every sail 29 Mast 7 After every sail 29 Spreaders & diamond wires 7 Periodically 29 Main halyard 9 Annually 29 Rigging the mast 9 Parts and accessories 31 Raising the mast 11 Accessories 31 Trapeze adjusters 12 Spare Parts 31 Mast rake and rig tension 12 Mast rotation 14 Mainsail downhaul 14 Boom 14 Lowering the mast 15 Mainsail 17 Batten tension 17 Hoisting the mainsail 17 Downhaul 18 Outhaul 18 Mainsheet 18 Traveller 18 Lowering the mainsail 19 Spinnaker 21 Outhaul, halyard, downhaul, sheets 21 Hoisting the spinnaker 24 Dropping the spinnaker 25 Foils 27
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SHADOW ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS Section
Introduction The Shadow is a single-handed catamaran with mainsail and spinnaker. It has been designed for high-performance sailing. The boat uses simple control systems and high quality fittings, with the lightweight hulls constructed from 1 Kevlar foam sandwich for maximum durability. These Assembly Instructions are intended to assist you in assembling the Shadow, provide guidance with initial settings and make recommendations for sailing the boat. These two icons indicate vital information for the safe ICON KEY assembly and use of your Shadow, or suggested settings Vital information from Yves Loday or Tim Swinburn. Suggested setting Vital statistics SCHR handicap 1,07 Portsmouth yardstick 723 LOA 4,80 m Width 2,40 m Spinnaker 9,90 m2 Mainsail 12,95 m2 Mast height 8,0 m Weight (ready to sail) 99,0 kgs Hull construction Kevlar ™ foam sandwich
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Hulls & trampoline The hulls and beams are supplied ready assembled, with the following tasks required before sailing the boat for the first time. Trampoline 2 The boat is supplied with the trampoline and spinnaker chute fitting attached to the front beam. To ensure even tension the trampoline is secured and tensioned by five ropes: two cords which feed from the front beam through the trampoline to the rear beam, by a securing rope from the rear of the trampoline to the rear beam, and by two spinnaker block ropes from the side of the trampoline to the hulls. 1. Unroll the trampoline from around the front beam and attach the two trampoline cords to the hasps on each side of the rear beam. Tension each of the cords in turn, and secure with half-hitches.
2. Feed one of the spinnaker block ropes down through the eye in the trampoline, so that the spinnaker block shackle is above the trampoline.
3. Feed the spinnaker block rope through the stainless fitting by the daggerboard, then through the webbing loop on the side of the trampoline. Fully tighten the rope and secure with half hitches.
4. Repeat steps 2. and 3. for the second spinnaker block rope.
5. Feed the trampoline tube through the rear of the trampoline. Attach the rear trampoline securing rope to the centre of the tube so that the trampoline can be tensioned outwards from the centre to each side.
6. Feed one half of the trampoline securing rope around the hasps on the rear beam and the trampoline tube, as shown in the picture; secure with half- hitches. Repeat for the other half of the trampoline securing rope.
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7. Tension the trampoline by pulling through all of the slack in the rear trampoline securing rope, working from the centre out to each side of the trampoline. This may need to be repeated several times to fully tension the trampoline.
8. Re-tension the two trampoline cords on each side of the rear beam, to take up any slack.
9. Re-tension the two spinnaker block ropes, to take up any slack.
Spinnaker blocks 10. Attach the auto-ratchet spinnaker blocks to the shackles in the trampoline. The pressure at which the ratchet mechanism engages in the spinnaker blocks is adjustable, by turning the nut at the end of the block.
Dolphin striker The dolphin striker below the front beam must be tensioned to resist downwards pressure from the mast and rig during sailing. 11. There is an adjuster nut and a lock nut, which should both be loosened to ensure that there is no dolphin striker tension already applied, then adjust the first nut until it is just finger tight on the dolphin striker.
12. Make a mark on the thread above the nut (with a permanent marker), and then tension the adjuster nut with a spanner until the mark is approximately 6mm above the nut.
13. Lock the adjuster nut in place by tightening the lock nut down onto it.
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Mast The rotating Shadow mast uses a lightweight aluminium extrusion, with strength and gust response provided by adjustable spreaders and diamond wires. A mast spanner on the base of the mast controls mast rotation, with 3 control lines led to the sides of the boat. A powerful downhaul system provides control over mainsail shape and power, with control lines led to the side of the boat. Spreaders & diamond wires Spreader rake and diamond wire tension determines the response of the mast (and therefore the mainsail) to gusts and to crew weight. If the spreader rake and diamond wire tension are set correctly the mast shape will remain stable and powerful to a suitable point for your crew weight; then as the wind becomes too powerful the forces in the rig will exceed the supporting tension of the diamond wires and the mast will flex and start to de-power the rig.
The Shadow has three settings for spreader rake, selected by the clevis pins attaching the rear of the spreaders to the mast. A. Maximum power (spreaders fully forward): suitable for heavier A crews, or light winds. B
B. Medium power: suitable for most crews and wind conditions. C C. Minimum power (spreaders fully raked): suitable for lighter crews or strong winds.
My spreaders are in the ‘B’ position, which suits my (75 kg) weight well. I am fully powered up in 15 knots of breeze, but can still manage the boat in force 5 gusting 6 conditions.