SteveNeedsToRelax wrote:
What is a leach/leech? I've seen the term thrown around....
Ahoy Steve and welcome to ye forum!
Hobie, having been caught up in the sailing business for so many years, took a look at the Mirage Drive fin and decided it was just like a sail, except for the fact that it was "upside down" and in the water. So the nomenclature for the fin assumed that of the sail.
To review, the three
sides of the modern sail are named
luff (forward side),
foot (bottom side) and
leech (back or "aft" side). The three
points on a sail are described as the
head (tip),
tack (bottom forward corner) and
clew (bottom back corner).
So when you see that
the clew adjustment tensions the leech, that means the screw in the back of the (optional) Turbofin can be screwed in to tighten the back side of the fin (or sail).
Now, when you see the term
mast (metal rod that supports fin) and
outhaul (where back of fin attaches to the Drive frame), it will all make sense, right? Don't feel bad; I have to look it up myself all the time in the sailing encyclopedia!
Quote:
Also. As far as lubricants go, I am in the power equipment business, and WD-40 is generally the lamest of lubes to use-especially with snowblowers. CRC's PowerLube works great if you can find it. I'm sure everyone has their favorite lube, but we find that WD40 just washes off too quickly for us... so I can only imagine what it does/doesn't do for kayaks in water. As far as grit retention, I would not think that holding grit is so much an issue as to keep me from using lubrication. (Anybody here ever ride a dirt bike?)-Steve
I'm no expert on lubes, but WD-40 may not be as useless as it appears. If the WD-40 is employed
after the fins are used, it is pretty good at chasing moisture and preventing corrosion. The fact that it quickly dissipates in the water is of no negative consequence. The water itself is an adequate lubricant for most parts; the main bearing surfaces are greased with a marine lube.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but "standard" oil is not a good choice for
motorcycle and bicycle chains for the very reason that it attracts dirt and accelerates wear. Chain lube, on the other hand, is an oil/wax combination that lubes, coats and seals the chain to keep dirt, grime, etc away from the wear points.
Depending on the circumstances, turbid, muddy waters contain suspended particles; surf conditions and "beaching" the fins expose them to sand. These particulates can stick to petroleum products and grind away at unsealed bearing surfaces, whereas they would tend to flush out otherwise with water. Those who have had military weapons training learn right away that oil left in actions is an excellent way to jamb weapons because of power residue and dirt that can stick to the lube!
Just my opinion.