PC Jay - Two Week Sailing Adventure

[saintpeter]

I would give anything to have an aft/skeg-hung rudder. The steering on the standard Illingworth/Primrose design is the fundamental weak point of the TopHat.

[Phillip]

How do you mean Saintpeter, I find I can turn mine on a dime, even at slow speed.

[Shaun]

What a fantastic adventure Jakub, thanks for posting it, with pictures and video too!

I too have found the Mutton birds very friendly at The Broughton's, with birds flying into the mast and landing on the decks at night.

Jakub, I'm interested how you find the steering with your transom hung rudder downwind?, I think there would be less roll from side to side with the rudder further aft?
Cheers

[Ianb]

Wow Jacob! A really good story. It would make a great basis for an article in Cruising Helmsman. Shows how much fun and adventure can be had without being a gadzillion millionaire with a 50 ft modern yacht. They might even pay you for the article!

The other article I would love you to write is details of your fishing techniques. Clearly you are a wiz, and it would be most interesting to those of us who never manage to catch anything, even when the fish-finder/echo sounder is showing heaps of fish.

On the design issue of the stern mounted rudder, I think the gain in cockpit space would be benefit enough. However the other benefit could be less weather helm in a blow. Do you find this?

[Jakub76]

Thanks for the enthusiastic replies.

As for the changed handling from the modifications I afraid I have not had the chance to compare with a stock TH. I can tell you though that I have very little steerage in reverse and weather helm is an issue especially in gusts on a broad reach. Is that the same with your stock THs?

[Democritus]

Belatedly...well I just bought a 25 with Transom-hung rudder. It's in to have all the maintenance done in one (OUCH!!) hit.
Looking to discover whether others are known. Previous owner said 'made that way' Engine is Yanmar inboard.