Rocket 1888 by Jack12477 - FINISHED - 1:24 scale - 50' Gaff-rigged Ice Yacht

[Jack12477]

Hi Mark,  I don't have any first hand experience manning the tiller but from my observations riding on the ice boats there does not seem to be any significant vibration or kick, except if you go over a hummock, pressure ridge or open crack in the ice, then you really feel it - quite a jolt. But the tiller runner (as well as the fore runners under the runner plank) is designed to pivot vertically on a 1 inch diameter bolt that goes thru the chocks and runner, in addition the tiller runner has a fairly large rubber shock absorber between the runner and the backbone. So, normally the ride is smooth even over mildly rough ice (runner plank absorbs some of the roughness)

 

Yes, except for the fact that there is no hull per se, the rigging is pretty much like any other sail vessel. Almost all of the boats in our club are gaff rigged; we do have one Lateen rigged and one Marconi rigged.  Regarding the apparent wind, according to some articles I've read on the science behind why these boats go so fast, (in the simplest terms) the true wind pushes on the sail causing the boat to move forward and the sail to take the shape (form) of an airfoil (airplane wing); the apparent wind passing over the sail (airfoil) causes lift which in turn pulls the boat forward. This coupled with the almost complete lack of drag (friction) is what propels these boats to such high speeds. That's the most simplistic explanation - the science is a bit more complex. And the rules of navigation around other boats is similar also.  We refer to hulled boat sailors as "wet water sailors", while we refer to ourselves as "hard water sailors".

 

Yes it is a blast to sail on them. COLD but a blast. 

 

Here's a few more photos unrelated to the Rocket:

 

The "Fleet" gathered on the Hudson River in March 2014 (boats from our club plus several other clubs in NJ, CT, RI, Long Island NY) Note the 2nd boat in from the right with the number 1888 on the sail - this is Rocket from NJ the one I'm modeling here. The tall boat (6th or 7th in from right) with the American Flag flying from the gaff is our (HRIYC) class 1 boat (50 ft) Jack Frost. This is only a small fraction of the total boats still sailing.

 

 

The Cold Wave with her double cockpit ( don't remember what club she belongs to or who owns her)

 

 

And the traditional "pot-luck feast" on the ice.

 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2018 by Jack12477

[G.L.]

Ice sailing seems to me like big fun.

 

G.L.

[popeye the sailor]

wicked nice pictures!    glad you were able to repair the broken gooseneck.

[flying_dutchman2]

Catching up on your ice yacht. It is coming along nicely. Love the details of this scale. 

Marcus 

[Jack12477]

Been trying to fabricate the saddle for the gaff bridle, but haven't been able to make one that looks real on not way over scale. The look like the following pictures.

 

 

 

Tried using some 1/16 hollow brass tubing filed down on one side to make a U shaped saddle but does look right to me.  So I will keep experimenting.

 

Edited June 6, 2018 by Jack12477

[Jack12477]

In the meantime things may get side tracked with family - I got a call the day after Memorial Day (US Holiday) that my younger brother's cancer treatment has stopped working and he's gone into at-home Hospice Care.  He's been fighting it for the past 5 years. This cancer has no cure.  Drove up to western NY yesterday (550 miles round trip in same day) to spend some time with him and his wife.  So I may disappear for a while as I will probably be making quite a few more trips up to see him. 

[Landlocked123]

Jack- I’m so sorry to hear about your brother and I hope his remaining days are spent pain free and in the warmth of love from you and the rest of his family.

 

Best,

John

[Jack12477]

Thanks John.  He passed away this morning at 6 AM Eastern time.  Funeral arrangements haven't been finalized.  He was 75.

[el cid]

Sorry for your loss Jack.  My condolences to you and your brother's family.

 

Keith

[toms10]

Jack,

Very sorry to hear the news about your brother.  My condolences to you and his family.

Tom

[Haliburton]

Jack, sorry to hear that news and for your loss - Scott

[Jack12477]

John, Keith, Tom, Scott, thank you for your condolences. It's been a rough couple of weeks. His funeral was last Friday.  I'll be returning to the shipyard shortly.

[popeye the sailor]

so sorry to hear about your brother Jack........been  while since I've been able to view the scratch build forum {I get hung up in the kit forum}.   my condolences to you and your family   

[Jack12477]

Thanks Denis. 

 

Yes, I've been following your escapades with COG and RGL over there.

[cog]

11 minutes ago, Jack12477 said:

Thanks Denis. 

 

Yes, I've been following your escapades with COG and RGL over there.

He thinks he's having a hard time between the squealer and the nagger

[Jack12477]

59 minutes ago, cog said:

He thinks he's having a hard time between the squealer and the nagger

Und wer könnte der Nörgler sein?

[popeye the sailor]

nawwww.......they just left me in the dust    they're much better with the PE than I am    oh...no fair..............your speaking in tongues     

 

they didn't tell me that there would be a floor show too....I'd 'ave brought me costume   

[Jack12477]

9 minutes ago, popeye the sailor said:

oh...no fair..............your speaking in tongues     

That's okay, Denis ! Yes the Nagger-in-chief does try to obfuscate us Native English talkers with his European lingo from time to time. 

[michael mott]

Hi Jack, just catching up. So sorry to hear of the loss of your Brother.

 

Michael

[Jack12477]

Thank you, Michael.

[Jack12477]

First I would like to thank everyone for your expressions of sympathy on my brother's passing. It was much appreciated.

 

Back to the ice yacht build. 

 

After many failed attempts to make a bridle saddle for the gaff I decided to give up and use the split rings instead. Not having the machining or metal working skills and the extremely small size of the piece it was just too frustrating to continue.  The gaff is now rigged.  Next up is making the sails.  The Rocket as it exists today is rigged with modern sails with grommets instead of a bolt rope. I've got some very very tiny grommets I picked up in Michaels some time ago but there is no "anvil" for flaring the back side of it.  So I'm undecided as to whether I should replicate the modern sail or go with one that was probably used in 1888.  More research is needed on that item.

 

Photos below show the completed gaff as rigged.  The pulley blocks are Chuck's SYREN internally stropped 1/4 inch single and double blocks as are the cleats. The jig holding the gaff is copied from a jig Ed Tosti (@EdT) uses. (Thanks Ed for the inspiration. It's easy to build and easy to use.) The silver clips on the tip of the gaff is there just to provide some tension for the lines, the sail will provide the tension when completed. 

 

 

 

[mtaylor]

Nice work Jack.  The work around is sometimes the only solution.

[michael mott]

Looks great Jack.

 

Michael

[cog]

Jack,

I do not know the size of your grommets, but could you use a small drill like this to flare them:

[Jack12477]

I have to do a little experimenting, Carl.

[Jack12477]

Just a short update to let everyone know that I am still upright, ventilating, taking nourishment, and on the green side of the sod, as my Dad used to say. It's been so humid around here this summer that I've had no ambition to get into the shipyard and work.  And summer activities have also interfered.

 

I  did get the two sails cut out and sewn. I just need to attach the bolt rope, make some decals for the numbers, and attach them to the masts/spars.  I decided to forgo the grommets, couldn't get anything that looked right at this scale.

 

 

[michael mott]

Hello Jack, we are having a rough stretch here due to the smoke from the wildfires in BC, I think I prefer the smoke though to the Humidity.

 

Michael

[flying_dutchman2]

22 hours ago, Jack12477 said:

Just a short update to let everyone know that I am still upright, ventilating, taking nourishment, and on the green side of the sod, as my Dad used to say. 

😂 I like that quote 😂

Marcus 

[Jack12477]

Completed the ice yacht last night.  Could not find any scale grommets and attempts to make the from KS brass tubing proved to be beyond my skill level, so I opted to use a bolt rope instead of the more modern grommets used on the current real 1:1 ice yacht.  Photos of the model are attached below. Sorry for the picture quality, can't get outdoors for better lighting due to the severe wet weather we're having. 

 

 

And yes that is a "little person" sitting in the cockpit with their video camera ready to take a wild ride.

 

Edited November 2, 2018 by Jack12477

[lmagna]

Beautiful job on a fantastic subject Jack. I am glad that you made it through your loss and were able to finish it.

 

I am jealous of the Lego guy. You will have to post his movie when he gets his ride this winter!