Thread: Revising West Virginia Build

The plan calls for hardwood edge on the foil to minimize damage from impacts. The mist experienced GIS skippers have found that the trailing edge and the matching centerboard case frame are what suffers most. I used red oak, foil edges and CN case frames that match (the other frame parts are lightweight per spec).

I can say this about my boat and my foils: it takes very little fouling to ruin their lift and therefore produce horrible lee helm. Like, can't come about.

It is super easy to follow MIKs instructions on making the template and shape the foil. The template does create the sharp angles at the trailing edge. I highly recommend not deviating with the foils. At least not without more analysis. Maybe after you've sailed the standard foil, build up another to compare. But I was VERY upset when my foils did not perform correctly (due to lake weeds).


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One suggestion I saw was to only shape the part of the foil that sticks out of the boat, so the part in the cb case is left square and has maximum amount of bearing surface. Doesn't sound like such a bad idea on first hearing. Don't know what Mik would think of it.

The GIS foils has, as far as I have understood, proven to be very efficient and I would not deviate from the plans. I am also a Buehler fan (a Big Mel with the GIS as deck boat would be nice), but a) I think he talked about foil shapes on rudders for long keeled boats and b) his boats are not really about pointing high and sailing fast toward the wind... As Davlafont pointed out, the GIS foils, when built to plans will have the squared end that work almost as the foil was larger (I think Kamm had something to do with this idea, such as in a Kamm tail on a car?)

In my opinion shaping only the part that sticks out will be quite a bit more difficult to get right for little benefit.

I'd go with the oak.

Good luck

Pontus

Thanks, I was worried about the sponge qualities of red oak. Screw it, not gonna let it hold me up. If it proves to rot quickly, I'll just make another.

With a full length keel I see the difference. Makes sense.

John, the Red Oak will be saturated with epoxy and covered by fiberglass; worry not the rot.

Got my 6mm gaboon ply in on Monday. I bought it from Harbor Sales for 67.00 a sheet delivered. I haven't found a better deal around. The ply looks like luan to me, but this is 5ply and I can tell the faces are thicker than luan.

Once you spill out the money for plywood, epoxy, and lumber; this boat is gonna happen! Just waiting for the weather to get into the upper 40's or 50's so that I can clean out garage. I also like to do my cutting and sanding outside, so much easier to keep the garage clean.