Summary of Contents for Falcon F18
- Page 1 Owner’s Manual Revision Date: 2013-02-06 Copyright 2012 – Falcon Marine LLC – 9008 Marlin St. – Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 USA – 321-799-4841...
- Page 2 The Falcon F18 is a performance boat built and designed for racing. A basic understanding and knowledge of spinnaker rigged performance sail boats is required to properly set up this vessel and operate it safely.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Contents Hull Assembly Trampoline Assembly Line Feeds and Rings Trap Bungee Mast Rotation Mast Assembly Spreaders Diamond Wires Main Halyard Spin Halyard Standing Rigging Bridal Assembly Stepping the Mast Rudders Surf System Rudder Alignment 10.0 Spin Pole 11.0 Jib Sheet System 11.1... - Page 4 1.0 - Contents Box contents as they are unpackaged Some parts may vary slightly from what is pictured. The exact contents may differ depending on model and options. Hulls, Line and rigging kit, Spars, Foils, Castings and tramp. Sails and spin hoop not shown.
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Page 5: Hull Assembly
84 1/2” apart as measured from the centerline of each hull. The hulls of the F18 are canted outboard 3 degrees. Use a wedge on the base of the foam blocks to set the hulls so that they are at this 3 degree canted position. -
Page 6: Trampoline Assembly
a bead of silicone around the bolt holes and another small amount around the perimeter of the beam landings. This will seal the holes to help prevent minor leaking of the boat. Now install the bolts and tighten to 18 to 20 ft/lbs with a torque wrench, always making sure the hulls have not shifted. - Page 7 In the rigging box, locate a bundle of lines labeled “Tramp Lacing”. This bundle should contain: 1 piece 25 foot long 2 pieces 12 foot long 2 or 3 pieces 30 inches long Begin by lacing the rear of the trampoline first.
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Page 8: Line Feeds And Rings
Repeat this procedure on the opposite hull. Note at this point the tramp will be loose. Make sure that the trampoline and tie bar are centered between the hulls. Now proceed to tighten the rear and then each side lacing taking care to keep the trampoline and tie bar centered between the hulls. -
Page 9: Trap Bungee
Locate 2 of the 30mm stainless rings and lash them similarly to the trampoline tie bar at each of the outer most cut outs. Note: Place the lashing outboard of the trampoline tie line, on each side, to prevent the ties from wearing on the trampoline. Set aside the remainder of the kit to install in later steps. -
Page 10: Mast Rotation
Fig 4A Fig 4B 6.0 – Mast Rotation Find the 5/32” (4mm)line labeled “Mast Rotation”. Feed this line through the cleat located on the hull just aft of the dagger board trunk, and then under the tramp. Bring the line back up through the tramp at the grommet located in the center of the tramp just aft of the storage pocket. -
Page 11: Mast Assembly
7.0 – Mast Assembly 7.1 - Spreaders: Attach the spreader arms to the fittings located approximately ½ way up the mast. Use the barrel nut to adjust the rake of the spreaders such that they are equally positioned and a straight edge placed between them will provide a gap of approximately 56mm measured between it and the mast. - Page 12 Once the yoke is attached slide the whole base assembly back onto the mast extrusion and secure with the 2 #10 screws on the side. 2/3rds of the way up the mast is located 2 strap plates for the upper diamond wire attachment.
- Page 13 If the track to wire setting is the same on both sides, you can adjust the barrels equally on each side until the desired rake is attained. Once the spreaders arms are even on both sides and the desired starting rake is achieved, apply slightly more tension from the diamond adjuster bolt at the mast base.
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Page 14: Main Halyard
mast failure or collapse. For a better guide to mast tuning, please refer to the tuning guide located on our web site. www.falconmarinellc.com Warning Warning: Always tape spilt rings to prevent them from coming loose during sailing. Sailing with loose diamond wires can lead to mast failure or collapse. 7.3 - Main Halyard: Attach the main halyard line to the main sail hook as shown. -
Page 15: Standing Rigging
7.5 - Standing rigging: Find the shrouds and forestay wires and attach to the lower hole in the mast hound with the 5/16” bow shackle as shown. Note the forestay wire should be placed in between the 2 shroud wires on the shackle. Find the trapeze wires and attach them in the upper hole of the mast hound with the ¼”... - Page 16 Attach the shroud adjuster and loop shackle to the hulls using a ¼” clevis pin as shown. Temporarily set the shroud extensions to their longest setting until the mast is raised. Note the bent loop shackle is provided to secure other lines. This should be placed on the forward side of the side stay connection.
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Page 17: Stepping The Mast
The F18 race version comes with the jib and downhaul assemblies continuous and permanently spliced into the front cross bar of the boat. Make sure these are clear of the mast attachment with the jib controls located forward of the cross bar and the downhaul assembly located aft of the cross bar. - Page 18 One person should stand on the tramp at the rear beam. The second person should walk the mast up to the person standing on the tramp. They should then raise the mast to their shoulders and walk forward extending their arms pushing the mast into a vertical position with tension on the shrouds.
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Page 19: Rudders
9.0 Rudders 9.1 – Surf System: The rudders will already be installed in the heads with ¼” bolts. Tie the short piece of 3mm line to the horns of the rudders in a loose loop. Connect this line to a 16mm block that is run through the inside of the tiller arm extension. Inside the tiller arm is another 4mm line running from the front of the arm around the block and exiting through a jam cleat located on the inside face to the tiller arm. - Page 20 Install the rudder assembly on the gudgeon pintles so the angle of the rudder arms aims inboard. Pin the rudders in place with the retaining clip in each of the lower gudgeons. Note: the rudders will not stay attached to your boat if they are not properly pinned prior to use.
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Page 21: Rudder Alignment
Also it is very important to ensure that you have selected a final mast rake setting and are properly trimming your sails while sailing. The F18 is a performance boat. Improper sail handling and trim will often transfer to the steering system in the form of lee or weather helm. -
Page 22: Spin Pole
rudder system will not solve helm issues if other items on the boat are being used or set improperly. 10.0 Spin Pole Locate the spin pole and the line labeled “tack Line” in the rigging box. Feed the tapered end of the tack line into the spin pole starting at the large oval hole located approximately 1 foot from the base on the side of the pole. - Page 23 With the 30 inch long piece of 3mm spyder line tie a lose loop from the forward eyelet to suspend the spin pole from the bridal assembly. At this point the pole should be 6-8” below the bridal junction. Tie each end of the spin pole bridal lines to the bow of each hull. Ensure the pole is centered between the hulls.
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Page 24: Jib Sheet System
11.0 - Jib Sheet System In the rigging box is a kit of lines labeled Jib clew control. 11.1 - Jib Rotation Limiter Tie the 3mm X 7 foot long cored line to the center of the jib traveler car. Feed this line then through the ferrule eye mounted approximately 1 foot forward on the spin pole. -
Page 25: Jib Sheet
the Dyneema line will terminate in a 2 16mm block and connect to the sheet. 11.2 - Jib Sheet There is a 4mm continuous line run through the forward beam for the jib sheet. At each beam opening there should be a stainless steel ring on this sheet. These rings will be lashed back to the bent loop shackle attached to the forward side of the side stay connection on both hulls. -
Page 26: Boom And Outhaul
Note that once the line is tied, the jib sheet can easily be removed from the pole by sliding the blocks slightly forward and providing slack to the lines around the pole. The complete jib assembly can then be easily slid the length of the pole when disassembling the boat, eliminating the need to tie off the blocks each time. -
Page 27: Downhaul Assembly
13.0 – Down Haul Assembly Slide the down haul removable bracket assembly onto the base of the mast. This will side into a notch located on the mast base on top of the rotation arm. The assembly will be fastened in place with a ¼” clevis pin and split ring. 14.0 - Mast Rotation-Quick Release Connection Locate the line assembly called “quick release rotator assembly”... -
Page 28: Mainsail
Note the halyard lead block on the F18 is located directly below the boom tang and not at the mast base as on other Falcon models. Continue to pull on the halyard line while making sure the sail is feeding properly into the sail track while being raised. -
Page 29: Lowering The Mainsail
halyard hook at the top of the mast. Pull firmly on the foot of the sail several times to ensure that the ring is fully attached. Feed the halyard slack back into the mast and through the hole in the base of the mast. Coil up the halyard line and tuck into the storage pocket to keep out of the way. -
Page 30: Downhaul
19.0 – Downhaul The Falcon F18 has a continuous downhaul line system integrated into the front beam. This line is fed through the removable down haul bracket that should now already be attached to the mast. As the down haul line exits from the front beam there should be a stainless steel ring located on each side. -
Page 31: Outhaul
20.0 Outhaul Secure the ¼” shackle located at the end of the boom to the clew of the mainsail. By pulling on the line extending through the cleat inside the boom end the outhaul will be pulled tighter. Note that the sail is cut so that the outhaul will automatically become tighter as down haul is applied to the sail/mast. -
Page 32: Spinnaker
the jib line and feed it back to jam cleat located on the port side, top face of the front beam. By pulling on this line the jib luff tension will be increased. Warning Warning: Ensure the rig is properly tensioned prior to applying jib down haul. If the jib is tensioned and the rig is lose, halyard or sail damage will likely result. -
Page 33: Tack Run
22.2 – Tack run: With the line kit will be a 9 foot piece of 3mm bungee. This bungee will tie to the large nylon ring that is now fed through the spin halyard. Feed the other end of the line through the rear most center grommet in the trampoline and then port to the outer ring attached to aft end of the tramp. -
Page 34: Attaching The Spin
Note if the tag line is lost it is easiest to feed the wire back through the beam using a short piece of stiff wire. There are many other lines and bungee systems already installed in the beam, so it works best to try and feed the tack line over the top of the other systems already strung inside the beam. -
Page 35: Spin Sheet
To raise the sail first pull the tack line to its full extent. This line should automatically cleat under the front beam. If the line does not cleat check to make sure the line is routed properly and that the tack release line is not tied too short. The tack line should pass freely through the release ring, if the lines are tied too short, the ring will put pressure on the line and not allow it to fully seat in the cam cleat. -
Page 36: Righting Line
each side of the boat. Going first to the large spin ratchet located on the hull feed the spin sheet through this block following the arrow stamped on the block. Then run the line forward and through the smaller ratchet block located on the front beam. Mirror the same thing on both sides of the boat. -
Page 37: Sailing And Beaching
25.0 - Sailing and Beaching Remember these important guidelines while using your catamaran: Caution • Be familiar with your area and its hazards, especially overhead power lines and underwater obstacles that could damage your craft • Know what the weather may have in store for you while you will be out. - Page 38 If the boat does go turtle, sit on the leeward hull as close to the transom as possible and the bow should rise. If not, pull the righting line around the windward hull and apply gentle pressure until the hull begins to rise. When the boat is sitting flat, make sure all the sail sheets are uncleated.
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Page 39: Trailering And Storage
Contact with electrical power lines can cause serious injury or death. 28.0 - Design Category Design category “C2” Coastal and inland coast or protected waters. The “Falcon” F18 is designed to the F18 class association rules for racing and is set up as a race boat exempt status. Specific Information This catamaran is capable of supporting the crew even when swamped. -
Page 40: Maintenance
29.0 – Maintenance • Inspect rigging for signs of wear, corrosion, kinks or frayed wires. Damaged or worn wires can easily break during sailing. • Check all threaded connections. The Optional swaged rigging gate fittings are threaded and need to be inspected every sail. •... - Page 41 FALCON F18 – Maximum capacity 2 persons plus gear total 200kg (440 lbs)