My goal was to install all of this together, yet having each system capable of disassembly if I did not want to run with any one part of it. Notice in the sailing pictures that I’m running without the wind generator and just the solar panels.  The wind generator pole runs through the SS machined guide, which is through bolted to a plate on the boom gallow’s centerline. If, I don’t want the extra weight of the wind generator, I unplug the “snap-apart” connector countersunk on the stern, unbolt the side guide pole and lift it out. It goes fairly smoothly and only takes about ten minutes whether I’m putting it on or taking it off. The bottom of the wind generator pole fits into and is bolted through a bracket I had machined that is through bolted and back-plated on the transom. The horizontal flat plate this sits on is about eight inches above the stern and is rock solid.  The two vertical plates, which support it, are far enough apart to give me full swing of the tiller.  The solar panels are mounted on double “L” shaped aluminum pole brackets that are inserted into the top of the SS boom gallow poles, then through bolted in position. There are two height settings for the solar panels—one about 5-1/2 feet above the stern and another a foot higher.

There are two aluminum bars across the solar brackets upon which the solar panel is mounted, to insure any loading due to wind or sea bears on them and not the panel itself. That’s not to say a wave couldn’t crash the panels, but if it did, neither the brackets nor the boom gallows would go with it. The bottom tier of all this is where the boom gallow poles fit into a machined bracket fitted on each side of the stern, port and starboard. That bracket—one on each side is actually two SS plates specially machined and welded together then back-plated and bolted through the aft end of the port and starboard side (it protrudes just beyond the transom). The inner part of this bracket is through bolted on the inside of the stern cockpit. Each is one sturdy piece and a solid part of the boat.  The boom gallows can also be disassembled by simply unbolting the lower poles from the inserts and taken off. Except for the mounting brackets, I am then down to the basic Flicka look

     The clearance on all the pole inserts is less than 1/64,” so when double- bolted from 180-degree directions with ¾” SS bolts there is zero movement or rattle of any of it. So far I’ve only had it out in 30-35 knots of winds on Lake Michigan on a beam reach and a run and there was not a shake, rattle or role to any of the conjoined parts. The upside to it all is I can generate nearly all the power I need 90 percent of the time. When I can’t, I have a 2000-watt Honda generator that plugs into my shore-power outlet.

     So, there is one of my fun and brain numbing Flicka projects with pictures. I am more than willing to entertain any comments, criticism or suggestions on the setup. I know we all have our own opinions of what a Flicka should be, and it will be fun reading your comments. If you have any questions, I would be more than willing to answer them. I also put together removable teak seats for the cockpit with Murphy snap-apart bolts. If anybody is interested, let me know and I’ll take some picture of them also. Flicka—what a great sailing vessel. Pride may be a deadly sin, but it sure is fun to pull into a new port and watch the people look. Sometimes, I just sit there and look at it myself. What a joy. 

Bill Overman

Mojo: Hull 209