additional lateral resistance

has any one given thot to using the mirage drive fins as a source of additional lateral resistance while sailing? putting the pedals together puts the fins down and they should act as an additional dagger board? oe have i just spent too much time in the sun?

mick

I do this often and think it helps me point a little bit tighter to the wind.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Right that putting the pedals together creates surfaces that look like daggerboards. And there should also be less drag since they are in-line with one another. Beyond that, there might be some useful lateral resistance, but it is compromised by the fact that the lower parts of the fins are designed to twist off. So they will tend to move to a position with zero angle of attack relative to the waterflow. Tightening the tensioners on them will maybe prevent this to some extent.

I think really it's likely a toss up between any gain in lateral resistance and and the added drag of the fins.

I don't think my AI2 centerboard is nearly enough lateral resistance. I've just installed daggerboard trunks in my haka benches, and am about to experiment using them with an old mistral windsurfer centerboard. Picture below shows the haka bench side on with the dagger in place.

Mike, I LOVE the idea of modifying HAKA to do new tricks, but I tend to think that adding skegs or integrating some keel into the AMAs would accomplish this better. Without giving up HAKA space or requiring you to manage 3 daggers near shallows. Wish Hobie had done this. Other Tris do. The Wave and Getaway do.

Our Islands have large/offset daggers, which tends to favor a port tack. (The older AI's have it closer to the centerline though).

Ever seen videos of a TI really flying on a starboard tack in swells? The daggerboard has little grip and exits the water completely at times.. The leeward AMA is doing a lot of the work.

When Hobie finally went with longer Amas and a larger dagger on the AI, it should have improved pointing. I would like to hear what KBob and others think about this.

Let us know how the dagger works out on the lake. If you want to take this idea ALL the way, bend those daggers into foils and put them on both sides! (And buy lots of rudder pins).

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The Wind Is Your Friend...