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My boat uses a foil uphaul system originally conceived by Doran Oster, ace Rave sailor. It was revised by Eric Arens.
Then, revised again by myself. For a basic idea of how this works and photos to help explain it, go to doranoster.com This system not only allows the Rave pilot to raise the ama foils from the pilot's seat, it also gives the skipper
the ability to manually adjust the flaps to any angle . The result of this installation will allow the pilot to raise
and lower, at will, the ama T-foils from the seat and to adjust the flaps on those foils to whatever angle you
may need for any particular point of sail. The DRAWINGS TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE will give you a simple
crane system to raise the foils. It's a good design, it's durable, it's inexpensive and it works. There was the factory's
uphaul design that fastened to the shrouds. I prefer the system presented here, but the factory's
design is not as cluttered as this one.
If you wish to have clear copies of the necessary drawings snail mailed, write to me at deanhubb@yahoo.com and include your return address.
The CAD drawing below is a work in progress. Check back each month to see any revisions.
In the photo below notice the red/white line running to a beige colored line that runs to the blocks at the ama foilbox
and up to the crane that lifts the foil . The red/white line is connected to the beige by a micro block. The
red/white line is the line that is hauled upon when you want to raise a foil.
| Control Deck: A Very Busy Playpen |
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Notice the block on the red uphaul line (red with white tracer) on the photo to the left. It has a baby shackle
attached to the block; (the shiny piece above the micro block). The block is the connection to another micro block
on a Spectra uphaul line (beige colored) that runs to the uphaul crane base/support at the foilbox and then up to the top
of the crane. So, these back-to-back blocks (red/white and beige Spectra) are connected by their shackles.
There is probably a better and cheaper way to rig this but these blocks allows`less line to haul into the cockpit
while raising the foil. Using the uphaul line to adjust the flap for maximum lift before attempting to raise
the foil also eases the lift when going to shore to beach the boat.
| Stbd Side: Hole in hull, red uphaul line, block |
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The The red line with the white tracer in the photo at the right is the foil uphaul line for the port side. The
line is secured inside the hull with a figure eight knot and a big flat washer just ahead and below the blue jib sheet camcleat.
That's where the line is coming from in this photo. So, the line is secured inside the hull by the knot on the washer.
From the hole in the hull the red line runs out to a Harken micro block that is near the aft part of the tramp about
midway out on the trampoline. (Scroll back up to see the photo with the trampoline.) Then, back to the starboard
camcleat on the deck, then routed through the port side camcleat, out to the micro block on the port tramp, then through a
hole in the hull on the port side of the hull where it is secured inside the hole with a washer and figure eight knot.
The
red line on each side connects with the beige coloured Spectra line on the tramp via back-to-back micro blocks connected with
a baby shackle. The top of the crane shown in the photo below and detailed on the hand sketches near the bottom of this
page.
The solid red line in this shot is, of course, the release for the foil latch. Ignore it for these uphaul instructions.
The uphaul crane is the vertical aluminum tube. Notice my own machined support at it's base in the foil box. It's
turned from a solid block of aluminum and the tube is stuck into the top of the block. This is costly and more money than
necessary for this crane but it gives the crane a good support base. The previous design had the crane held in place
with a bolt across the foilbox. That bolt "wallowed-out" the hole in the crane so I came up with this more robust
support. Near the bottom of this page is a scaled drawing for making the crane base as shown in this photo.
If you want the Autocad .dwg file or a .dxf file, drop me a note at deanhubb@yahoo.com. and I will send it to you by U.S. Post. You can see the beige coloured Spectra line going through a double
Harken Micro block where it goes up to the micro blocks at the top of the crane (See top of crane photo above) Notice
the yellow line with black tracer. That's the wand release line that allows the wands to "freewheel"; a factory option and
well worth having. I simply used one side of the double Harken micro to route the wand release line up to the the wand. String
does become a bit messy on this boat and this was one way to route the wand release to the cockpit. The swivel helps
to keep the line and blocks oriented toward the pulling source (that would be YOU in the driver's seat). Doran's
system as shown on his site lifts the foils by the wand's round pivoting arm (for lack of the proper term). This system shown
on this page lifts THE WAND LEVER as shown and dimensioned in one of the hand sketches at the bottom of this page. It
is IMPORTANT to locate the drilled hole in the lever exactly as shown on the sketch.
In this shot you can see the red foil uphaul line toward the middle of the tramp. Ignore the same coloured line up forward
on the tramp. That's just a painter I was using on this day.
The uphaul line in this pic looks like it is going toward
the mainsheet camcleat. Actually, just forward of that camcleat is where it goes through a small hole in the hull and a big
flat washer at the end of the line with a figure eight knot inside the hull. That is where the effort comes from. You're lifting
the foil against the pressure on the line from the hull. It WILL NOT hurt the hull. HD Poly is the poor man's carbon fibre.
It's really tough stuff. I've had this system for five years.
The red/white tracer uphaul line goes
through the micro block lying on the tramp where it connects with another micro block for the beige uphaul line going
to the crane. This is a rather convoluted system and you could route it differently but this works for me. I would welcome
any suggestions from a bulb bigger than the forty watt that I use to think with.
The drawing below is for "Version 2". Ver. 2 did not have the pivot block support. Version 3 (shown in the
photos) simply added the pivot block support at the base of the uphaul crane
The drawing below is for the optional pivot block support as shown in the photos above at the base of the uphaul crane.
Be sure to print the four hand sketches at the bottom of the page, too. With the sketches, you will be able to
build the simple system and make your own modifications. This design can be simplified to your needs.
The four sketches below will give you a good idea of Version 2. The pivot block support for the uphaul
crane is not necessary but will keep the hole from wallowing out where the bolt goes across the bottom; it's pivoting
point. The pivot block also spreads the load slightly better.
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