Asymmetrical helm
My old Tornado cat has strong weather helm on a starboard tack and strong lee helm on a port tack. Obvisouly some asymmmerty somewhere. Any suggestions on where to look? Using sail trim I have to stall the main on one tack and luff it on the other just to make the helm managable.
Thnaks, Michael



I sailed my 5.7 that way for a year. I put levels on the mast,thinking one shroud was shorter, checked rudders, diagonals etc. I looked for a bent mast, & made sure rudders were the same geometry. I measured the ends of the hulls & found they were not in alignment. I finally pinned it to a front beam that had a slight kink, right near the connection to the starboard hull. This forced one hull into a lean, & pointing off center. I replaced the front beam.
E C Hilliard
Nacra 5.7
Bombardier Invitation

Edchris177 wrote: I finally pinned it to a front beam that had a slight kink, right near the connection to the starboard hull. This forced one hull into a lean, & pointing off center.
Nice find.
It wouldn't take much of a kink to give this effect.
sandrimr check the crossbar beds in the hulls for integrity.
A sloppy mount (fiberglass or hardware) would give the same effeect.
Edited by klozhald on Dec 13, 2011 - 08:50 AM.
- 19 Forums
- 8,517 Topics
- 75.8 K Posts
- 0 Online
- 37.7 K Members