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Amel 55 Hardtop & Mainsheet question

CW Bill Rouse
 

See the photo below. I believe this hardtop rigging of the mainsheet was an original Amel design that was later removed from the hardtop on the A55. I have photos of other 55 hardtops without this mainsheet rigging, so I tend to believe the photos, but do not know when or why this change was made. 

Does any 55 owner know why the hardtop mainsheet rigging was removed?

image.png
Bill
CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School
Address: 720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 
View My Training Calendar
Arno Luijten
 

Hi Bill,

Interesting observation.
I cant' give you a proper answer but using Yachtworld pictures I do notice this change happened around 2014, which I believe coincide with the mid-lifecycle update Amel did when they also revamped the dashboard with different switches etc.
The new solution does look cleaner although I still feel the lack of a proper traveller is a shame, even though they did bring back the rod-kicker which is dearly missed on our A54.
Given the way they rigged it in the latter solution I do think you should be careful with the main sheet when the boom is out. It may catch something and get snagged if the pressure on the sail is momentary lost because of sea motion
For abandoning initial solution, it does expose quit some forces at a point of the boat that has limited natural structural rigidity. Given how many boats use arches for the main sheet nowadays I suppose that is not a big problem.

Cheers,

Arno Luijten
SV Luna
A54-121
Jose Alegria
 

Hi Bill
Maybe Amel concluded the cockpit structure is not strong enough for support the main load forces particularly if the boom move quickly from one side to other. 
Cheers


Jose Alegria
Amel55 #03-MERIT
+351918663037
Josealegr@...



No dia 18/09/2021, às 16:51, Arno Luijten <arno.luijten@...> escreveu:

Hi Bill,

Interesting observation.
I cant' give you a proper answer but using Yachtworld pictures I do notice this change happened around 2014, which I believe coincide with the mid-lifecycle update Amel did when they also revamped the dashboard with different switches etc.
The new solution does look cleaner although I still feel the lack of a proper traveller is a shame, even though they did bring back the rod-kicker which is dearly missed on our A54.
Given the way they rigged it in the latter solution I do think you should be careful with the main sheet when the boom is out. It may catch something and get snagged if the pressure on the sail is momentary lost because of sea motion
For abandoning initial solution, it does expose quit some forces at a point of the boat that has limited natural structural rigidity. Given how many boats use arches for the main sheet nowadays I suppose that is not a big problem.

Cheers,

Arno Luijten
SV Luna
A54-121

CW Bill Rouse
 

Arno & Jose,

Yes, I can see all sorts of issues with the hardtop rigging, one of which is there is no hardtop on the Cabriolet and that means significant changes between the two models. Frankly, I would be a little hesitant about the first hardtop rigging and I can see these being pulled from the hardtop structure. But, maybe they changed to simplify the production between the Cabriolet and the hardtop.

Bill
CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School
Address: 720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 
View My Training Calendar

On Sat, Sep 18, 2021 at 9:52 AM Jose Alegria <Josealegr@...> wrote:
Hi Bill
Maybe Amel concluded the cockpit structure is not strong enough for support the main load forces particularly if the boom move quickly from one side to other. 
Cheers


Jose Alegria
Amel55 #03-MERIT
+351918663037



No dia 18/09/2021, às 16:51, Arno Luijten <arno.luijten@...> escreveu:

Hi Bill,

Interesting observation.
I cant' give you a proper answer but using Yachtworld pictures I do notice this change happened around 2014, which I believe coincide with the mid-lifecycle update Amel did when they also revamped the dashboard with different switches etc.
The new solution does look cleaner although I still feel the lack of a proper traveller is a shame, even though they did bring back the rod-kicker which is dearly missed on our A54.
Given the way they rigged it in the latter solution I do think you should be careful with the main sheet when the boom is out. It may catch something and get snagged if the pressure on the sail is momentary lost because of sea motion
For abandoning initial solution, it does expose quit some forces at a point of the boat that has limited natural structural rigidity. Given how many boats use arches for the main sheet nowadays I suppose that is not a big problem.

Cheers,

Arno Luijten
SV Luna
A54-121

Arno Luijten
 

Hi Bill,

Did they sell many of the cabriolet version?

Arno
CW Bill Rouse
 

Based on what I have seen, very few were sold.
CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School
Address: 720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 
View My Training Calendar

On Sat, Sep 18, 2021 at 10:08 AM Arno Luijten <arno.luijten@...> wrote:
Hi Bill,

Did they sell many of the cabriolet version?

Arno

amelforme
 

Hi All. Of I believe 68 Amel 55’s built, 3 had the cabriolet configuration. The demonstration boat provided to me by Amel was roundly disliked by almost everyone who came aboard. The guy who bought it after its service was complete made reconfiguring it into a hard top the primary codicil of his purchase agreement. And then there was two…  

 

All the best,

Joel

 

           JOEL F. POTTER ~ CRUISING YACHT SPECIALIST, L.L.C.

                                         The Experienced AMEL Guy

UNSURPASSED AMEL MARKETING EXPERIENCE AND PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

                                  Office 954-462-5869  Cell 954-812-2485

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> On Behalf Of CW Bill Rouse
Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2021 2:18 PM
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io Notification <main@amelyachtowners.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Amel 55 Hardtop & Mainsheet question

 

Based on what I have seen, very few were sold.



CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School

Address: 720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 

 

View My Training Calendar

 

On Sat, Sep 18, 2021 at 10:08 AM Arno Luijten <arno.luijten@...> wrote:

Hi Bill,

Did they sell many of the cabriolet version?

Arno

Arno Luijten
 

Well, call me crazy but Ireally prefer the cabrio version. For me it’s much more elegant…

Cheers,

Arno Luijten
SV Luna,
A54-121
Joerg Esdorn
 

For what it’s worth, the boat I test sailed in 2015 had the main sheet go to the mizzen mast, as does my boat.  There is a risk with that arrangement that the sheet will wrap around the corner of the roof if the extension is pulled out.  I avoid that by using the bingos you can see in this picture.  The bungee pulls the main sheet forward of the corner if there is little tension on the sheet like in a light air jibe.  

Joerg Esdorn
A55 #53 Kincsem
Currently in Trinite sur Mer
CW Bill Rouse
 

Joerg, thanks for that
CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School
Address: 720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 
View My Training Calendar

On Sun, Sep 19, 2021 at 9:04 AM Joerg Esdorn via groups.io <jhe1313=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

For what it’s worth, the boat I test sailed in 2015 had the main sheet go to the mizzen mast, as does my boat.  There is a risk with that arrangement that the sheet will wrap around the corner of the roof if the extension is pulled out.  I avoid that by using the bingos you can see in this picture.  The bungee pulls the main sheet forward of the corner if there is little tension on the sheet like in a light air jibe.  

Joerg Esdorn
A55 #53 Kincsem
Currently in Trinite sur Mer
Joerg Esdorn
 

You‘re welcome Bill.  And I didn’t mean bingos (whatever that is).  But bungee.   The dangers of technology.  Cheers Joerg

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