Weather Helm – Nauticat 33

[Anonymous]

I’ve recently purchased a ’76 Nauticat 33. I experience considerable weather helm on most points of sail with the mizzen raised. The solution is to lower the mizzen, but then I loose the additional power it generates. Other solutions would appear to be to increase the size of the headsail (mine appears to be 100%) and/or to install a bowsprit. Has anyone advice on this issue?

[Anonymous]

My 1973 Nauticat 33 suffers from the same problem, main reason being the small size of the skeg mounted rudder . I do not think that a larger genoa will help because the sheets enter the hull behind it’s turning point.

Unless there is a brisk wind abaft the beam to give the boat sufficient speed through the water for the rudder to be effective I do not hoist the mizzen. If the wind is before the beam and tacking is necessary I have to have the engine ready to help her round.

Also, unless the wind is sufficiently aft to enable goosewinging, I find it better to not hoist the Main when running before the wind because it shades the genoa which has much greater pulling power.

I may be missing something here.

John C.

[Author]

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