background image

Safety Recommendations 

 

Access Dinghies are designed with a hull form and other features which combine to 

give considerable stability.  There is a simple set of rules which we must follow to 

continue our excellent safety record and prevent any accidents.  The stability of 

the Access Dinghies are reliant upon the following factors. 
 

Centreboards

 

It is most important that the keel be fully down when sailing.  The hole one third 

down the keel is there purely to facilitate sailing off a beach, and under no 
circumstances should people with disabilities be allowed to sail around with the 

keel held in this position.  There is provision to lock the keel fully down so as even 
in a “knock down” it remains in place.   

The Liberty centreboard weighs 72kg and therefore must not be lifted manually.   
Always use a hoist to place the centreboard into position. 

 

Seating

 

Because the placement of sailor’s weight affects stability it is important that 
people remain seated low in the boat.  If a sailor needs support from strapping, use 

only quick release velcro straps to hold the sailor in place.  In no circumstances 
should any other strap fixings be used. 

 
Reefing

 

Being a displacement type hull extra sail area in strong winds does not mean more 

speed, all it does is push the bow too far into the water and make it more difficult 
to handle.  In a breeze it is therefore recommended always to reef to suit the 

stronger gusts. 
 

Towing

 

If an Access dinghy needs to be towed on the water by another boat, it is safer and 

easier to tie the dinghy close along side and remove the rudder blade so that it 
cannot be  “steered” in the wrong direction. 

 

Transferring

 

A pontoon system which enables safe, keel down transfer of sailors to and from the 
dinghy is available.  Using this avoids off the beach keel handling and transferring 

problems. It ensures that keels remain down throughout transferring. 

 

Discriminatory Keel and Reefing Adjustments

 

For safety reasons people with disabilities need the keel down and because many 

are unable to raise and lower the keel to improve sailing performance and also 
unable to adjust the size of the sail by reefing, it is discriminatory to allow anyone 

to make these adjustments during a race. 
 

 

 

Summary of Contents for Liberty

Page 1: ...1 Owner s Manual for Servo Assist Manual Registered and Manufactured by Access Dinghy Sailing Systems Pty Ltd ACN 56 079 318 031 Sail No Access Liberty Access Liberty ...

Page 2: ... of Craft The Access Liberty Specification 5 General 6 Maintenance Repairs 7 Safety Recommendations 8 Special Features of the Liberty 9 How to Rig a Liberty 11 Liberty Servo Assist System 19 Servo Maintenance Troubleshooting 24 Guarantee 26 Change of Ownership Form 27 ...

Page 3: ...ld be replaced If they become wet from salt water they should be hosed down with fresh water and allowed to dry PFD s and Children A properly designed PFD of the correct size will keep a child s mouth and nose clear of the water A child should be taught how to put on a device and should be allowed to try it out in the water It is important that the child feels comfortable and knows what the PFD is...

Page 4: ... number of people 1 Maximum weight of people 120 kg Maximum weight of additional load 30 kg LIBERTY Chris Mitchell Managing Director Access Dinghy Sailing Systems Pty Ltd Signed Date REF ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS STANDARD USED 2 General Requirements 2 1 Hull Identification No HIN ISO10087 95E attached to craft 2 2 Builders Plate ISO14945 2004 attached to craft 2 4 Owner s Manual ISO10240 1996 attache...

Page 5: ... 5 6 mtr Incorporating reefing drum in foot Jib Mast unstayed 3 5 mtr Incorporating reefing drum in foot Hull Positive buoyancy Heavily rockered for easy manoeuvrability Strong construction with solid bonded hull deck joins Seating design keeps helm weight low plus weighted centre board makes the boat uncapsizable Seating Fibreglass adjustable seat Controls Steered by manual joystick Mainsail is r...

Page 6: ... operated by hauling on a single continuous line For further information on reefing see How to Rig a 2 3 Access Dinghy page 10 of the Manual Included with your Liberty is 1 Liberty 11 Foresail Jib 2 Main Mast 12 Bobbin 3 Fore Mast 13 Mainsheet 4 Boom 14 Outhaul 5 Centreboard 15 Traveller 6 Rudders x 2 16 Painter 7 Rubber Box x 2 17 Jib Sheet with clew sheave 8 Rudder Box Pin x 2 18 Jib strut downh...

Page 7: ... to prevent UV and other weather damage These are available Access Dinghy Sailing Systems Do not let water remain in the boat when not in use This can accelerate the deterioration of running rigging finishes and electrics where applicable Winter Storage Remove electrics remove sails and fully cover the boat Repairs Contact Access Dinghy Sailing Systems who will provide the best advice along with a...

Page 8: ...from strapping use only quick release velcro straps to hold the sailor in place In no circumstances should any other strap fixings be used Reefing Being a displacement type hull extra sail area in strong winds does not mean more speed all it does is push the bow too far into the water and make it more difficult to handle In a breeze it is therefore recommended always to reef to suit the stronger g...

Page 9: ...nded mainsheet fig 3 one end going to a servo as sist sheet winch and the other through a conven tional swivel deadeye camcleat for manual op eration fig 4 Both these ends pass through a double block attached to the boom about 400mm back from the mast see fig 4 3 A boom vang is fitted which prevents the boom skying when running in fresh to strong winds see fig 4 Liberty Special Features Fig 1 Fig ...

Page 10: ...he con sole fig 6 5 The jib is self tacking with a diagonal strut between the clew and a claw at the mast which holds the jib flat and prevents twisting as the sheet is eased fig 7 view 6 The jib sheet is 2 part which gives the option of one end going to a servo assist winch and the other down to the camcleat on the starboard side of the console for manual operation fig 8 shows the jib sheet winch...

Page 11: ...eadrests and various types of seat belts are available fig 34 35 If fig 34 is in B W the yellow cross over shoulder straps will be hard to see Rigging the Liberty 1 STEPPING THE MAINMAST FITTING THE BOOM 1 1 With the sail rolled and tied up bob bin in place tied to the tack of the sail fig 9 carefully step the mainmast mak ing sure the foot is firmly in the step Fig 34 Fig 35 Fig 9 ...

Page 12: ... in fresh to strong winds not to flatten the mainsail when going to windward see fig 4 page 9 1 7 If the boat is to be sailed manually and has a 3 part sheet fitted to the boom use the following procedure a Unravel the sheet clear any twists and shackle its block onto the traveler and rig as per fig 2 page 9 b Pass the live end of the sheet through the deadeye and camcleat on the console and tie a...

Page 13: ...ull sail is not needed at this time release the outhaul and pull the port side reefing line till its knot stops at the starboard side cleat the reefing line on the port side aft of the console then haul on and cleat the outhaul fig 12 reefing lines 2 STEPPING THE FOREMAST 2 1 Before stepping the mast unroll the sail fit the claw and strut then attach the strut to the claw with the stainless steel ...

Page 14: ... 5 Presuming the jib sheet block is shackled to the bottom hole of the clewboard feed the sheet through the block and down through the deckeye to the turning block then thru the deadeye and the cam cleat then tie a stopper knot in its end see fig 8 page 10 fig 9 page 11 2 6 At the bow is the jib strut downhaul free it and attach its plastic hook to the lug on the front of the claw fig 13 page 13 2...

Page 15: ...vo Assist System 3 2 Presuming the boat is servo assist equipped it will be neces sary to set up the main and jib sheet winches to work in sync Commence by installing the bat teries and connecting the joy stick fig 17 showing battery with Y connector going forward around front of the centreboard case to second battery See fig 26 on page 10 for a typical joystick controller Plug the joy stick into ...

Page 16: ...t 200 mm outboard from the mainmast 3 6 If the jib sheets in hard first press the MO switch to disengage the jib sheet winch and use the joystick to further adjust the main sheet 3 7 If the main sheets in first either a un plug the main sheet winch the white plug is under the console on the starboard side of the centerboard case and then using the joystick wind in more on the jibsheet or b press t...

Page 17: ... The idea is not to flatten the sail along the boom as it should have enough slack to form a gentle curve fig 36 fig 37 5 REEFING AND FURLING THE JIB 5 1 Un cleat the jib sheet and downhaul before attempting to reef 5 2 Use the port reefing line to reef the starboard to unreef 5 3 Remember to cleat the reefing line after reefing use the clamcleat on the con sole port side or the sail will unroll 5...

Page 18: ...ng clips and pass the clevis pins up through the holes at the end of the tillers Re insert the spring clips fig 19 6 4 Fit the alloy joystick extension fig 20 If there is a problem of sailors acci dentally removing this joystick extension a spring clip can be fitted Contact Ac cess Dinghy for details Also in fig 20 are the two white cam cleats on the aft port side of the console used to cleat the ...

Page 19: ... DOWN OR THEY MAY CAPSIZE 7 4 USE THE LONG ALLOY PIN TO LOCK THE CENTREBOARD DOWN 7 5 NEVER USE SEAT BELTS OR HARNESSES UNLESS THE CENTREBOARD IS LOCKED DOWN Liberty Servo Assist System 1 OVERVIEW 1 1 Access Dinghies are extremely easy to sail servo assist and a severely disabled sailor can be very competitive against anyone Unfortunately however efficient servo assist equipment may be sheet and h...

Page 20: ...ead via a 32mm single hole rubber bung its yellow 9 pin plug connecting to the joystick 2 The smaller of the 2 aft leads plugs into the helm winch lead black plugs which should always be hanging on a hook just aft of the starboard side inspection port 2 2 These plugs except the yellow 9 way joystick plugs should be sprayed with cor rosion guard particularly the blue battery plug which is the one m...

Page 21: ...3 4 Spray the battery plugs with corrosion guard 4 THE HELM WINCH fig 23 4 1 The helm winch has limit switches which limit the travel of the tillers 4 2 There is a clutch which disengages the steer ing line drum from the servo motor allowing for manual steering To engage the servo assist steering it is easiest to engage the clutch by pushing the manual joystick hard over to one side and run the wi...

Page 22: ...ys a friction drum similar to the mainsheet winch 6 2 If the jib sheet slips re tension the drum by ad justing the tension spring nyloc nut and lock nut on port side of winch drum shaft or the rubber bands are giving insufficient tension Replace the rubber bands if they are perished or broken The rubber bands will soon be replaced with springs 6 3 The jib sheet tail should be tied off at the sad d...

Page 23: ...ig 29 where severe quadriplegia prohibits the use of a joystick Each sailor requires a personal module to guard against spread of infection This is an unnecessary added expense which can be avoided for most sailors who are better off using a joystick c Paddle switches great for people with severe CP and the like who have difficulty with fine finger movements and insufficient control of their breat...

Page 24: ...es of MO Switches a Finger controlled latched press button fig 26 page 23 b Magnetic reed switch latched activated by a magnet attached to finger cheek or other moving body part fig 28 page 23 c Sip or puff latched switch fig 29 page 23 NB Latching means the winch stays on when the switch is activated and must be pressed again to stop it Momentary switches are only on while being activated 8 MAINT...

Page 25: ...he tillers and at the joystick Adjust the lines so that the joystick tillers and the winch drum are all central When you run the motor look for the tillers to oscillate evenly port and starboard and that the joystick oscillates correspondingly If not adjust the lines till they are 8 11 If the sheet is accidentally run through the winch remove the winch rotate the threaded rod to release the rocker...

Page 26: ...the original boat and fittings and not to any subsequent alterations repairs or renewals b That if at any time during the guarantee period any parts are altered or repaired by any person not authorised by us then this guarantee will immediately cease and become void concerning that part or any other part affected by the work c That our decision on all questions relating to any defect shall be conc...

Page 27: ...ed with them under your name and address In order to enable us to keep this register up to date it would be very helpful if you could inform us of any change of ownership The form below is provided for you to photocopy and use to give us this information if you sell the boat Please photocopy or copy Do not cut this form out of the manual Change of Ownership Form Model Sail No Hull Identification N...

Reviews: