Posted by: Ken Smith on November 30, 2005 at 23:58:57:
In Reply to: Re: Shimming runners posted by Bob Gray on November 30, 2005 at 19:31:27:
But the important thing is WHY to shim.
Some adjust runner alignment on the ice ehwith squares and string. I cna't really knock it, Ron Sherry is the winningest skipper and that is his method. But I followed Meade Gougeon's advice years ago and have always glued my chocks to the plank. If you adjust chocks on teh ice, then there is no need to shim.
My program:
1. With a great set of runners, align and glue the chocks. There are several methods, and as loog as your method includes deflecting the plank as if loaded, and seting the runners in the plank at the correct "pitch" angle, then you method is ok.
2. Get the rrunner edges into the correct profile (light table and shim stock to check) and straight, using a gunsight or laser level, see the stuff under the main headings.
3, Get pairs of runners parallel in the chocks by shimming and or sanding. This can be checked on the plank with a dial indicator (see #1 but now you are adjusting runners, not chocks). Or, use a spare chock on a table and and a laser level or gun sight. Every runner should align with every runner.
Number three took a lot of time to get once, hut is easier to maintain once achieved.
Good luck!
Sail this weekend!