Legacy modifications made during first season

[Pete H]

Hi Guys,

I have nearly finished my first season as a Legacy owner. Although the Legacy is a great little boat after our first outing it became obvious to me that for how I sail, motor and cruise some changes/additions had to be made.

First, the outboard bracket may suit some outboards but it didn't suit my needs at all. I am using a six horse Evinrude four stroke and on the existing bracket it was buried way too deep, was difficult to reach and steer with, while reaching the tilt control, neccessary when raising the motor to the sailing position, verged on the impossible without falling overboard. So after the first trip I replaced it with an adjustable one that allows me to raise and lower the outboard with ease. In fact I run it in the fully up position which raises the power head about eighteen inches above standard and cures most of my complaints above (the tilt control on the Evinrude is still difficult to reach, terrible design IMO, will do something about that over winter).

Jib down haul led back to cabin top, essential IMO.

The rudder blade, this seems to come part way up , which makes steering difficult and also induces weather helm. I fitted a rudder down haul line (partially elastic shock cord so that it can still come up if I hit the bottom), this line passes through a stainless steel eye under the tiller to a jam cleat on the under side of the tiller towards the front, where it is easy to haul the rudder down or release it for raising. The rudder up haul line will get similar treatment soon so that it too can be controlled from the steering position.

I fitted a TillerClutch to control the steering for short periods to allow letting go of the rudder to tack the jib, take a compass sight, grab a drink etc. I saw this advertised in Small Craft Advisor so ordered one. Beautifully built, works well, simple to use.

Over winter I may add some storage inside the cabin; also the one cabin light on the bulkhead is very strange and is in my case usually blocked by gear. I intend to fit some more useful cabin lighting, LEDs of course.

The Wind in the Willows had it right about mucking about in boats, I am looking forward to some low stress mucking around time in the workshop over winter.

In summary, the Legacy is a very well built, pretty little boat which is fun to sail or motor. We've had a great first season.

Best wishes for your upcoming sailing season.

[kickingbug1]

   pete i have a question for you in regards to your tiller clutch. although pretty pricey i am considering one for my 16. my question is ===is the only way to release the tiller is to pull up on the lever or can it be left free?

[EclipseGuy]

If you are talking about this Tiller Clutch:

http://www.wavefrontmarine.com/

then this is the same one I have on the Eclipse. It stays in either position, free or locked. You do not have to hold it in either position.

I have used those knob based tiller tamers on many other boats, but with the Eclipse I decided to try this Tiller Clutch. I found that the Tiller Clutch is more intuitive for me, and it is quicker to lock and unlock. I like it better than the knob based tiller tamers.

- John

[EclipseGuy]

Also, when I installed the Tiller Clutch I tied one end of the line to a fitting on the starboard side, then I ran the line through the clutch, then I tied the other end of the line to a snap shackle. The snap shackle connects to the fitting on the port side.

This allows me to release the tiller (for lifting it out of the way) by simply opening the snap shackle. Opening the snap shackle releases the tension on the line, and with the Tiller Clutch in the the free position the line simply slides through it when I lift the till up and out of the way of the cockpit.

- John

[kahpho]

Hey Pete,

I found your post very interesting in that my list of things to do after the first season with my Legacy matches yours almost exactly. They say great minds think alike. Though I'm not claiming any greatness.

My very first add-on was a jib down haul. I bought the same tiller clutch. And I bought some LED lamps for the cabin.

Now all I need is a dry day to finish some of the other to do's and some wind this season!

Glad you're liking your Legacy too.

mel

[Pete H]

Hi Guys,

The tiller clutch I bought is the WaveFront Marine one, in answer to Kickingbug's question it clicks on and clicks off and can be left set in either position.  I attached a cam cleat on each side of the cockpit, so the control line can be adjusted or released from either side.  This device works really well and is good old solid American engineering (think HarleybDavidson rather than Hyundai).
Cheers
Pete H

[skip1930]

" The rudder blade, this seems to come part way up , which makes steering difficult and also induces weather helm. I fitted a rudder down haul line (partially elastic shock cord so that it can still come up if I hit the bottom), this line passes through a stainless steel eye under the tiller to a jam cleat on the under side of the tiller towards the front, where it is easy to haul the rudder down or release it for raising. The rudder up haul line will get similar treatment soon so that it too can be controlled from the steering position. "

Common problem. I had had enough of those 'pop-up' rudders. When the IdeaSalor rudder was installed a hole was drilled clean through the rudder and aluminum rudder head. At first a snow blower shear pin was used to keep the rudder down while going through sea weed and latter two lanyards, one pulling the keeper pin and the other, the pin itself. Have never had to pull the pin yet.

skip.

[Mike K]

Thanks guys for all your recommendations on mods.  For those that don't cost a lot of $$, I have already implemented them on my new '13 Legacy. 

I really like having the jib downhaul, as it's safer not having to go up on the exposed foredeck.  I know it won't last long, but I bought cheap 1/4" line and small landlubber pulley from Home Depot.  I just tied the pulley to the bow roller hoop (where the jib tack also ties on), fed the line from the jib halyard through the top jib hank, through the pulley and then to the mast area and back into the cabin.  It works great so far, without fouling the jib sheets.

I'd really like to get the adjustable motor mount and tiller clutch mods.  Both seem like great additions.  However, after buying the new boat and a new SUV to tow it this year, I have to save my pennies to be able to get them.    Maybe next year!

Mike '13 Legacy "Santosha"

[brianb]

This is our first season with our Legacy too.  I think the adjustable motor mount would be a fantastic idea.  Our torqueedo is easy enough to tilt up but still tends to drag in the surface of the water a bit while sailing.

I plan to install a tiller clutch too.  I think it would be a must for single hand sailing.

We have a jib downhaul but I want to switch to a roller furling jib over the winter.  The extra time hanking the jib on and off on each sail plus trying to see around the jib when returning to the dock was not ideal.

I'd like to get a foiled rudder as well.  The stainless steel one works ok but definitely stalls at slow speeds.  There were several times in light winds when the jib overpowered the rudder and had to be let out to regain steering.