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Reshaping The Rudder

Reading Time: 6 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch Why the rudder should have a different shape of the keel fin. Which shape was chosen in advanced boat building in the 1970s? What is recommended today? What helps to avoid the stalling effect? How you determine the ideal profile for your boat. Following the first article on suitable bushings for the rudder bearing and the …

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Rudder Reinforcement

Reading Time: 5 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch Whatever moves on a boat wears out and eventually needs to be repaired. Even the rudder blade. After stopping the noise at my Swede 55 with suitable bushings as described here, I noticed that it was still rattling. The question was why. So I dismantled it in the fall and loaded it onto the luggage rack …

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New Rudder Bearings

Reading Time: 6 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch Everything that moves on a boat eventually wears and needs to be taken care of. The story of old and persistently replaced rudder bearing bushings until a suitable solution was found. One of the issues that bothered me for some time aboard Gamle Swede was the rudder, specifically the guide of the rudder shaft in the …

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Weight Matters

Reading Time: 6 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch An overlooked and notoriously underestimated topic is the weight of the boat. How heavy and thus under-rigged is it? Will it sail in light winds at all? And how much extra load, provisions, and luggage can it handle? Five examples. Cement mixer or sailboat? Today, cruising boats are considered as floating weekend flats. Whatever we appreciate …

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Buyer advice: Knockout Criteria

Reading Time: 4 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch Buying a boat is a risky step. Dreams, emotions, the desire to do something really different are big, fuelled by a kind of midlife crisis and some money. Some even do it without a midlife crisis and little money. So let’s look at the knockout criteria when buying a boat. A boat is perceived as promise …

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Pros and Cons of Headsail Furling

Reading Time: 5 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch Headsail furling has obvious advantages. For cruising, where comfort is paramount, the cloth is removed from the cockpit when wind picks up, before mooring, or in case of an emergency. Further, this winding technique, which is in use now for decades, conveniently adjusts the sail area. This is interesting for charterers, all new to the sport, …

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Refined Swede 55

Reading Time: 2 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch The advantage of modern Cruising Square Metre boats or Cruising Skärgårdskryssare like the S30, Jubilee S40, or Swede 55 is that they come in durable and nearly maintenance-free fiberglass. So you enjoy your precious time aboard. Added to this is the well-thought-out construction of the largest model. The deck and superstructure of Swede 55 were made …

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Swede 55 As Vindö

Reading Time: 2 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch Every sailor admires the Vindö cruising boats from the Swedish west coast. Vindös are seventies compromises worth looking at, made of a rock solid and easy-care fibreglass hull with a teak deck and a handsome mahogany superstructure. A tempting mix of practicality with the traditional look and feel aboard. The Dream of Lasse Ristikankare. In the …

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Square Metre Boats: Sail Area

Reading Time: 4 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch Different to other sailboats, the true Skärgårdskryssare or Square Metre Boats, also known as Skerry cruiser and their modern successors for family sailing are designated by sail area instead of their length or a formula. For example, the 15 stands for the smallest 15 m2 class, the 22 for the 22s, and so on all the …

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Anchor Storage

Reading Time: 5 minutes→ Artikel auf Deutsch Swede 55 can be enjoyed as built in the 1970s. Believe it or not and even if the DIY-enthusiast finds it difficult: you can simply sail this boat as it is: with one exception: Unfortunately, the yard did not consider an important issue at the time, anchoring. An anchor that you can easily deploy and store …