I have discovered that the bows on my Prindle 19 are 2.5 inches closer than the sterns while the boat is sitting on the trailer. Have not measured rigged yet but it can't be good. I can't find any wiggle room to change with the bolts and mounting points. I wondered why light air speed was so slow. Now I know I'm doing a snow plow if I can't get the windward hull up! Anyone have ideas? Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.
Salud

I would suggest you start by measuring diagonal lines such as port aft crossbar bolt to starboard main beam bolt. Then compare this to the opposite diagonal measurement. This will tell you if your platform is square to start with. A forestay that is too tight will make the bows toe-in also but this doesn't seem to be your problem if your boat isn't square with the rig down.

Is it possible that the asymetrical hulls make the distance between the bows different than the sterns?

John,

Try measuring diagonally from the bridle tang to the outer rear cross beam bolt. Log and compare the figures.

Then set up your boat and with the sails up and sheeted in moderately, remeasure. The boat should square up. The hulls flex under load. A further measurement would be with someone in the hiking position.

Now the question is in real light air how well are the hulls aligned.

Thanks Mark. I'll try that but I'm guessing tension on the forestay will just bring the bows closer yet. Last ditch effort may be to wallow out the holes in hulls where the rear crossbeam mounts until the bows come out a bit, then shore them up with a little thickened epoxy. The measurements you suggest should help alot with that. I think I will try everything else first and save that as my winter project.
And thanks for the reply, Jake but P-19s have symetrical hulls.
Salud

Grady
Slow down.
Can a few other p19 owners check this? I am not sure it is a bad thing, or necessarily wrong.
If the centerboard is to work, it has to have an angle of attack on the water ( angle relative to the direction the boat is taking) Maybe as much? as three degrees. This means at three degrees the front of the hull is tracking about ten inches off the path the rear of the hull is taking. Now if the hulls are toed in, then the windward hull is running straighter thru the water than the leeward (which has to run **** because it is lined up with the hard working dagger/centerboard)
So if the boards are to both be down, and expected to work at all, and assuming one leeward board can do the job, then some degree of toe in is always beneficial. So off the wind, verry light air may be theoretically slower, but I would guess the benefits outweigh this one instance. Incidentally, assym. hulls are according to my tape, always toed in (dependent on where you call the centerline).Also 2 1/2" is less than one degree off.
Grady. Hows about you drill a heavy air hole pair in your front crossbeam inside your existing, and a light air hole pair in your rear crossbeam inside your existing?
Anyway, if you are the Grady I think you are, you're too damn fast already. That H20 shook you up?

I just went and measured mine, on the trailer in the shed, and the bows are 1/16" farther apart than the sterns at rest and unrigged. I expect the platform, from the main beam aft, flexes very little under load but the bows may come in measurably. In the Worrell in 2001, Jamie's boat got mashed at Jensen and they sailed the rest of the race with the main beam tweaked enough to bring the bows 4" closer together than the sterns. Yes, it was slow, and yes, we had hell tuning the rudders.
Look forward to seeing you at Port A!

Thanks for the replies. I'm the Texas Grady. I think you may be referring to a Bill Grady (no relation) with a very fast P-19MX whom I met last year in Biloxi. Guess I'll just keep sailing for the rest of the year as is and decide what to do then. New sails have helped alot but it still feels sluggish in light air. I'm sure my svelt 240 lb. self has nothing to do with that! Andrew, the fact that your boat's hulls are significantly more alligned than mine tells me something needs to be done. Thanks for taking the time to check. I don't think we can make Port A this weekend so come see us in weeks to come at the dike.
Salud