WWW.RLYACHTS.NET
RL24, RL28, and RL34 Trailable Yachts from Rob Legg Yachts

RL Yacht Owner's Discussion Forum

Your Name:
Email Address:
Password:	( Needed to edit or delete this message.)
Message Title:
Text of Message:
Add an Image:		An image can also be attached to this listing. Click "Browse" to select the image file on your PC. It can be a JPEG or a GIF file. The file will be uploaded to the server, scaled to fit, and will appear beside the entry.



Replying to:	Transom modification to reduce drag on RL28 when sailing. I am floating an idea to reduce the drag caused by water inside the outboard well on an RL28. Currently on Swan there is a bottom cover that is a real pain to get into place and lock down and then remove. In fact I don’t use it. I have thought about improving the current locking method of 4 barrel bolds but the whole exercise is still difficult as it disrupts helming. I also have real concerns that in an emergency that it would take way too long under pressure to get the cover unlocked and out and the motor back down into the water. The main problem is that the water comes through under the boat as lamina flow and then hits the lower part of the transom in the well and lifts and swirls thus taking energy away from boat speed. Guessing it may lose 1/2 a knot as well as creating sufficient noise to spoil the serenity of sailing. If I cut away as much of the transom that hung down into the well as possible then the water would continue to flow through and maintain lamina flow no (or less water) swirling and less noise. I have yet to make any real measurements but I believe that cutting away to the base of the lower rudder support would do the trick (150-200mm possibly). It is possible that by doing this the strength of the transom and in particular the rudder support may be compromised. The solution may be to fabricate an aluminium strip (spar)or even angle bolted to the transom just above the new outboard well opening to which the rudder support could be welded or bolted. This spar would need to be of sufficient length to go across either the whole transom or a reasonable length to tie it together. A possible added advantage is that the complex lifting and tilting arrangement required for the large Honda 15 (which also takes up heaps of room in the cockpit) could be modified to allow simple tilting to at least get the propeller free of the water as it would stick out just behind the transom. I can’t see this costing a fortune although there is some work involved in glassing around the cut and fabrication of the alloy strip. As I said, no measurements taken yet but I am wondering if anyone else has thought about this method or any other comments.