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Seahorse Magazine
Issue 277, March 2003
The latest production one-design from Farr Design made its debut at
Terra Nova Trading Key West Race Week to the delight of all those aficionados
hungry to see new ideas in deck layout and hardware innovations. The
Farr 36's low freeboard, flush deck, generous cockpit and economic use
of hardware gave the boat a refreshingly clean and open appearance, an
impressive feat for any boat but especially so for a production design.
As always the devil is in the details, and this first boat built by
DK Composites in Malaysia shows an astounding degree of detail for a
production raceboat. The use of a computer-controlled milling machine
in the fabrication of the hull and deck tooling was in part responsible
for the impressive number of small but essential components in the layout.
Note, for example, the angled seats for the through-deck blocks used
in the genoa fairlead system, the nice radii made on the through-deck
exit ports, and the fairlead angle numbers moulded into the nonskid.
The moulded-in foot supports and angled backstay block chocks also show
considerable experience from previous boats contributed to the process.
Having the mainsheet, genoa fairleads, spinnaker sheet twing, backstay,
traveller and outhall lines led under deck leaves few lines left on deck
to tangle, trip over or wash over the side.
Other hardware-related innovations include the use of black powder-coating
on the stainless pulpit, stanchions and pushpits to cut down on running
light glare at night; the low-profile Hella Marine LED low-amperage running
lights are less likely to snare the foot of the kite in sets, gybes and
takedowns;the liberal use of Equip Lite Spectra/phenolic blocks cuts
down on weight and leaking fastener holes; the low-profile Spinlock line
guides for the spinnaker tack line keeps reduce toe-stubbing, line-grabbing
and other calamities; and the Equip Lite shackles used on halyards save
weight and minimise accidental openings, though two hands are sometimes
needed for operation.
Other parts have been custom made by DK to enhance appearance and funtion.
Carbon-fibre deck plates are founded through the boat to protect the
deck's carbon-foam laminate, and are beautifully shaped, finished and
installed. Flush-fitting and well-shaped carbon plates are also positioned
over the under-deck mainsheet exit forward near the shrouds. The beauty
of the carbon tiller reportedly spurred Forespar into getting their carbon
tiller extension into production to match. The polished stainless chainplates
were custom cast by Edson, and below the waterline the keel blade features
a weed cutter installed in its leading edge. In a nice touch that blends
appearance with low-profile function, nearly all the exposed fasteners
ondeck are stainless hex-keyed bolts with broad pan heads, backed up
down below with matching T-nuts.
Published with kind permission from Seahorse Magazine
Article appears on page 51, Issue 277 March 2003
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