Trailer Balance

First post as new Rocket owner. Hull #10.

Wondering about the tongue weight on the trailer. It seems awefully high. Maybe that is because I've been towing a boat half the weight, but 2-3 guys can't even lift it.

Has anyone tried moving the axel slightly forward on the trailer? That would help tongue weight as well as turning radius.

As long as there is still decent tongue weight and axel is behind keel, should be good right?

Thoughts?

Rocket #10 is for sale

Well, the day has come to do something different, and our Rocket 22 is now for sale. Ours is one of the last fully equipped boats to leave the factory, and comes complete with assymetrical and symmetrical spinnakers (both very "crispy"), Quantum sails, carbon spin pole and all spinnaker controls, mast pad, extra rudder and tiller extension, Nissan 4hp outboard, trailer, like new running rigging, HydroHoist, deck cover, TackTick T075 system, anchor, paddle, fenders, docklines, etc. The boat is in excellent condition, having only been sailed about 10 times in the last two years.

Broken Boom

Raising the keel on Monday the boom broke. The gooseneck fitting, which is mounted on a plate that slides into the boom and is glued in place, let go. The result cracked the carbon fibre for a short distance on both sides of the boom. The boom is 2 years old. Rocket Boats refuses to replace it or it seems, to do anyting about it. In fact, Ivan has yet to reply to my emails. In terms of support, that attitude dooms the boat as a class in my opinion.

Thought the group would like to know.

Brian

Spiinaker and jib together

Have others experimented with launching and recovering the A-Spin while leaving the jib up? Also what about sailing with the jib and spin up and if so, in what conditions? I have seen pictures both ways, particularly with other sport boats, and wondered what others are finding is best, from both a launch and retrieval basis, and from boat speed with the jib up or down while the spinnaker is up.

Craig Berg
Hull #5

Traveler purchase

I've followed Jonathan's lead and added additional purchase to the traveler. I changed the singles on each side to fiddles, adding two parts per side. So far, the load is lighter in a breeze and is still smooth to adjust, making it easier for the driver to adjust on the fly. It does involve more string though.

Furling

I have been out a few times now this sping, made new mistakes every time out and am having a blast learning this new boat. I am having some trouble with the jib furler and wondered what others have done with theirs. In particular, the furling line going aft to the cockpit comes out of the furler at a fairly sharp angle, so at times is quite hard to furl the sail in, particularly with the wind up. I was trying to think of an arrangement to get the line coming out of the furler at the correct angle (ie: going down at an angle towards the keel) then back to the cabin rooftop to go through the fairlead. It only has to come down maybe a foot. Perhaps a block attached by a line to the small bulkhead at the front of the boat will angle this line down. Anyone else with this problem? Any suggestions?

Secondly, when we unfurl, the jib will generally not unfurl all the way. It seems the turnbuckles on the top of the forestay stop the furler from turning easily. The forestay leads into a fairly large turnbuckle at the top, then to the fitting that goes into the mast. It will turn under high pressure, then does not want to turn back as the turnbuckle lays against the mast and is under too much pressure to easily turn. Anyone else address this issue? Maybe I need a new forestay that goes straight to the mast fitting, without the extra turnbuckle at the top?

Thanks for any comments.

Craig Berg
Hull#5

I gave the following answer to the new owner of 2214 about how to tune the rocket rig, and I thought I might as well post it here so everyone can enjoy. Understand, that what follows is what I have found for my Rocket, and the numbers maybe different for yours.



It is fairly straight forward to rigging the boat, but getting the boat up to speed takes some finesse. I would recommend acquainting yourself with some literature out there on carbon masts, if you haven't already. Getting the mast into column using the cap shrouds is probably the first thing. Do this on a windless day! I keep the D2 shrouds loose until you have enough turns on the mast screw to induce about 4 inches of pre-bend. Put a few more cranks on the screw until the lowers are still loose and there is enough turns on the mast screw to give the D2 about 10 on the loos gauge (22 on the Caps). Once you start cranking the screw, when you get to 24 on the caps, the D2 should be about 14, and the lowers about 5-7. Recheck that the mast is in column (measure from the top of the main halyard to the same point at the deck - port and starboard). I hope that helps.