|
Last update,
December 9, 2007
Planning
Planning is mainly getting ready for a building
project and knowing what this site will do for you. There are no longer any
options here on the site. There will be links for your viewing but the process
of options has been discontinued. We know now after 8 years the direction needed
is for a clean, competitive
racing boat that is easy to sail. The process is to craft very little
and buy as much on the market as possible. Giving options does not serve that
purpose. As you build, you can innovate and make your own options.
For
those that would like to build in the more traditional structured deck way , all previous
projects have been retained here for references and noted on the menu bars were
appropriate. We just do not include them in the EC.
The amount of material and photos here is immense. Please do not be
intimidated by the scope. It is believed here that a photo essay can bring clear
understanding, if not when immediately viewed, at least through osmosis as you
pour over it. To some the process is tedious, to others it is needed. The end
result is the same…sailing an EC12 and having fun.
As
you begin to read here, take notes and references that will help organize your
ordering of parts and materials. The Electronic Checklist (EC) will be your last stop
heading into the shop.
Construction Drawing
So, in the planning phase, there is a big
picture, one that is on a single large sheet of paper. You might find this document of value in
your studies, particularly if you will be building a structured deck for the
boat. It contains all the templates needed to produce deck supporting
ribs and other parts used in the construction process. There is mounted one on the wall in the shop
here at DMYC for reference.
You can
order this drawing from the
Class
Store at the class website and it will be mailed to you.
East Coast
12-Meter Manual
Optimizing
the East Coast 12-Meter Manual
These are the famous EC12 Manuals you may
have heard about. Some very capable EC12 sailors in the Northwest and following
some serious studies and testing, prepared these two books. In many ways what
you see here in a website format is what they presented in book form with
excellent drawings. Some of the building information has evolved into more
refinements and simplicity but the first book is still a reference piece for the
serious EC12 builder. The second book, published a couple of years later,
contains very good discussions as to why certain considerations should be made
in the building process to enhance the performance of the yacht. While some of
this may seem extreme to a modeler it presents the concept for understanding and
in that lies the value of the book. If you are really interested in the finer
points of modeling and EC12 performance, this will be interesting reading to you.
These manuals, cradle plans
the EC12 drawing and a
booklet on sail making are available from the
Class
Store through arrangements with
Ragged Symmetry Publications. The sale of these publications assist the class
administration and operations.
Note: If you have read or been involved in a building project before using this
site, it is not the same. Options have been removed and we are suggesting a path
and present it in the process.
Channels
You are allowed to use any or all of the
following: Rudder, winch, jib trim and twitcher. The EC will go with
three and not including the twitcher. Here is some information on jib trim:
Jib trim allows you to adjust the sheeting of the jib independent of
the mainsail. This ability allows you to control changes to the slot between the
sails as conditions may change on the course. You can improve the boat's ability
to point up into the wind when running a tight delicate lay line by opening the
slot. On the other hand, it allows you to close the slot to backwind the
mainsail when the boat is overpowered. It allows positions in between to
provide good sail stability in maneuvering situations. Movement of the jib makes
minor changes in the Center of Effort (CE) of the sail plan and hence, changes
the balance of the boat on the water. Downwind, the jib can be adjusted for the
wind angle off the aft beam or dump load when overpowered. The jib trim set up
that you will see here will produce 3-4" of movement, a range to do all
these things.
The twitcher
is a 5 to 6 inch arm mounted atop a servo wheel that
will pull a sheeted jib to a side desired during the downwind run. This give the
ability is to place the jib on the opposite side of the mainsail to produce the
"wing on wing" set immediately. The other thought to do this is to
properly weight the forward end of the jib boom, creating a balance that effects
little resistance to a following wind passing down the deck on the opposite side of
the mainsail. This is a delicate balance that often requires some swinging with
the rudder to achieve the "wing on wing" set.
Equipment Board
Building and sailing experience has reduced the
many options of the past to just one; an aluminum sheet platform mounted on the
lead ballast for the RMG Smartwinch and includes hardware for the winch line
sheeting system.
Sail Winch
The RMG SmartWinch out of Australia is the
finest and most technologically current sail winch in the world for the EC12 and
many other models. This is what you want for a new build and even refitting an
old boat.
Ballast
Some hull manufacturers produce their own
lead keel ballast. Some adventuress modelers will pour their own. Ballast
sources are listed on the Ordering page.
Multiple ballasting will be
discussed at its phase.
Deck
By far the most popular
over the years has been a structured deck base with a fiberglass resin balsa covering. However, this
has changed with the availability of
a sturdy lightweight molded deck. It has made the build easier with less parts,
faster, less messy and provides the racing properties sought for years. Oh
yes...more money too.
The Molded Deck
Structured
Deck
Sails
There is a list of the sailmakers and their
services and product on the
Suppliers List.
Here again, there is only one choice
within reason. That is an A size suit of sails and of medium weight material.
Laminated Mylar has been the overwhelming choice. 1.4 and 2.0 millimeter Mylar
is entering the market (2007) and has performed well. Shown in order: TriSpi40 Laminated Mylar
(1 oz), PX75 (1.3 oz) Laminated Mylar and 2.0mm Mylar. 505 cloth material has
just arrived at this writing and is for air at 3 mph or less. It is currently
very new by manufacturer but has history as a good light air cloth.
We will not recommend a particular sailmaker
or cut of sail. The presumptions are too great for what may be your style of
tuning and local sailing conditions. If you and the locals have preferences then
you will have a sailmaker in mind. If you don't, then it will not matter as all
make good sails. Call the sailmaker and let them know that you are new to the class
and ask their recommendations.
TS40 sails have been the most popular
material for some time for all around needs. This material provides good
stability in winds to around seven or eight miles an hour. They will work beyond
this but require more knowledgeable sail tuning.
The
1.2 jib and 2.0 drafting Mylar sails will perform well in this range. 2.0 jib
sails are also available. This cloth is limited and specific to certain
sailmakers.
The
PX75 material has been on the scene since 2000 and shown to be quite versatile with reasonable
performance in light air and then to heavier air around 15 mph. It is durable,
is holding its shape through use, far less wrinkling from storage and appears to
be more forgiving to poor tuning.
More information on sail
materials
Any of these materials are good for the
beginning sailor. All sailmakers stock the TS40 and a few the PX75 material. A
suit of both materials would be good in your inventory. A few offer the drafting
Mylar that is growing in popularity.
Deck and Rigging Hardware
What will be
seen here is that which is crafted for the market for the most part.
When the projects shown here
was
undertaken to produce documentation for this website, there was an attitude that
if it was offered we would buy it. The major source of these parts is
Mike
Zellanack at that time and to date. However, since that time others, like Larry Ludwig,
Bob Dudinsky (RMG Marine) have been
producing fine pieces. Sail Etc, an English supplier Graham Bantock, produces
for many classes with some suitable for the EC12.
Some is crafted here for specialty reasons. You will see this. Visit the
Ordering page and the
class supplier's listings on the class website as a resource for
parts.
Research fo
your choices can easily be
made within a week. Once you have completed your research and
know the choices for the new boat, the Ordering list will assist you in the
parts and supplies you will need. They are not needed here as ordering would
be best in its own phase and only complicate this section.
Top of Page
| 
