OVINGTON BOATS Musto Skiff User manual

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INDEX Page No
1. INTRODUCTION 2
2. SPECIFICATION AND DRAWINGS 3
3. SAFETY INFORMATION 6
3.1 Design Category 6
3.2 Loading 6
3.3 Safety Equipment 7
3.4 Capsize Recovery 7
3.5 Air Tank 8
3.6 Man Overboard Prevention and Recovery 8
3.7 Use of Outboard Engine 10
3.8 Towing, Anchoring and Mooring 10
4. COMMISSIONING 11
4.1 Preparation 11
4.2 Mast 11
4.3 Boom and Kicker 12
4.4 Hoisting Sails 14
4.5 Completion 14
5. SAILING HINTS 16
5.1 Introduction 16
5.2 Sheeting the Sails 16
5.3 Sitting Positions 16
5.4 Tacking 16
5.5 Gybing 17
5.6 Golden Rules 17
6. TUNING GUIDE 18
6.1 Rig Tension 18
6.2 Mainsail Downhaul (Cunningham) 18
6.3 Kicker 18
6.4 Outhaul 18
6.5 Foils 18
7. MAINTENANCE 19
7.1 Boat Care 19
7.2 Sail Care 19
8. WARRANTY 21
Total number of pages 21

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1. INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on choosing a Musto Skiff, an International One Design World Sailing class
from Ovington Boats. You can find details about the Class and Class Association at
(www. mustoskiff.com)
This manual has been compiled to help you to operate your craft with safety and pleasure. It
contains details of the craft, the equipment supplied or fitted, its systems and information on its
operation and maintenance. Please read it carefully and familiarise yourself with the craft before
using it.
If this is your first craft, or you are changing to a type of craft you are not familiar with, for your
own comfort and safety, please ensure that you obtain handling and operating experience before
assuming command of the craft. Your dealer or national sailing federation or yacht club will be
pleased to advise you of local sea schools, or competent instructors.
Please keep this manual in a secure place, and hand it over to the new owner if you sell the
craft.
PLEASE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONSULT THE CLASS RULES (available on
the class Association Website) BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES AND ENSURE THAT
ALL CHANGES ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CLASS RULES
From all at the Musto Skiff Class Association and Ovington Boats, Happy Racing!
EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY TO DIRECTIVE 94/25/CE
I declare that the craft described as:
Musto Skiff
complies with the following Standards:
ISO/DIS 9094-1, ISO 10087, ISO 10240, ISO/DIS 11192, ISO/CD 11812, ISO/DIS
12215
-
1, ISO/DIS 12215
-
4,
ISO/DIS 12217
-
3,
1SO/DIS 14945,

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ISO/CD 15085.
Signed____________________________________ Date__________________
Chris Turner (The date does not indicate
Managing Director the date of manufacture)

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2. SPECIFICATION AND DRAWINGS
Identification
Hull Identification Number (HIN): G B O V B
Record the HIN of your boat in the space above – it is moulded into the starboard side of the
transom.
Dimensions
Length Overall (LOA)
1
: 4.55 m 14.93ft
Waterline Length (LWL): 4.26 m 13.98ft
Beam: 1.35 m / 2.35m 4.43ft / 7.71ft
Draft
2
: 1.1 m 3.61ft
Air draft
3
: 7.06m 23.16ft
Displacement, Light Craft Condition: 82.5 kg 181.88 lb
Towing Weight inc. trailer & covers: 180 kg 396 lb
Maximum upwind Sail Area: 11.8 m
2
1270ft
2
Maximum downwind Sail Area: 27.3 m
2
294 ft
2
Notes:
1 Spinnaker pole retracted.
2 Draft measured with centreboard down.
3 Air draft is distance from water surface to top of mast, excluding any wind indicator.

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Figure 2.1 : Profile

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Figure 2.2 : Deck Plan

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3. SAFETY INFORMATION
3.1 DESIGN CATEGORY
The Musto Skiff is a Design Category C boat. The definition of this design category is:
•Design Category: C – ‘Inshore’
•Description of Use: Designed for voyages in coastal waters, large bays, estuaries,
lakes and rivers.
•Wind Force (Beaufort scale): Up to, and including 6
•Significant Wave Height, H1/3: Up to, and including 2m
The Musto Skiff complies with this design category, subject to:
•The crew having suitable skill and experience.
•Satisfactory construction and maintenance of the boat and equipment.
Users of this boat are advised that:
•All crew should receive suitable training.
•The boat should not carry more than the maximum load.
•Bilge water should be kept to a minimum.
•Stability is reduced by any weight added high up.
3.2 LOADING
The maximum recommended load for the Musto Skiff is 160 kg and the maximum number of
persons that it can carry is two.
The breakdown of the maximum load is:
Load item Maximum, kg
Crew, 2 persons 155
Personal effects 5
Manufacturer’s maximum recommended load 160
The minimum crew weight recommended for capsize recovery is 70 kg.

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3.3 SAFETY EQUIPMENT
It is your responsibility to ensure that all necessary safety equipment is obtained and that it is on
board and readily accessible while the boat is in operation.
3.4 CAPSIZE RECOVERY
Risk of Capsize
Capsize is an inevitable part of small boat sailing and the Musto Skiff is no different in that respect.
As a racing craft, there is a high likelihood of capsize if the Musto Skiff is sailed to its limits. You
should practice capsize recovery until you are totally familiar with it.
Capsize Recovery Technique
Should you capsize your Musto Skiff :
•if the spinnaker is up, it should be doused, and the mainsheet un-cleated.
•if the boat inverts, it should be pulled onto its side so that the rig is horizontal. This can be
done by simply standing on a wing and pulling on the centreboard. It sometimes helps to pull
it up with the aid of the wind.
•
After that there are basically two situations to recover from:
•when the rig is lying on the water, pointing downwind;
•when the rig is lying on the water, pointing upwind.
Both methods may take some practice, but they are proven methods to continue sailing after a
capsize.
Rig Pointing Downwind
You should be on the centreboard.
Use the spinnaker sheets if necessary to pull boat upright. When the boat gets to about 45 degrees,
you should climb in, either over or between the wing tube. Endeavour to get hold of the tiller and
mainsheet as soon as possible.

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Rig Pointing Upwind
This is quite often the position the boat ends up in, especially if time has been spent getting the
spinnaker down or recovering from the inverted situation.
You should be on the centreboard, holding onto the spinnaker sheets and using them as the righting
line.
As you start to right the boat, the wind will help. As the mast tip leaves the water, you should then
climb into the boat in front of the shroud, walk across the boat in front of the mast to the new
windward side to prevent the boat capsizing to the opposite side.
With the helm on the new windward side the boat is ready to sail off straight away.
Minimum Crew Weight
The Musto Skiff can be recovered from a capsize by a single competent sailor of minimum weight
of 70kg. This has been demonstrated during the testing of the Musto Skiff for its certificate of
conformity.
3.5 AIR TANK
The Musto Skiff is equipped with an air tank to provide buoyancy in the event of capsize or
swamping. The air tank is formed by the hull and deck mouldings and consequently the following
points should be noted:
!Do not puncture the air tank.
!If the air tank is punctured, do not use the boat until the air tank is properly repaired.
If in doubt, contact Ovington Boats for a repair procedure.
!If adding any fittings to the boat, ensure that any fasteners that penetrate the air tank
are suitably sealed to keep the tank watertight.
3.6 MAN OVERBOARD PREVENTION AND RECOVERY
Working Deck and Handholds
The working deck of the Musto Skiff, which is intended to be occupied afloat, is the whole boat
from its aft end to 500mm forward of the area on which the mast is stepped, as shown in Figure 3.1

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Figure 3.1 : Working Deck and Handholds
The designated handholds covering this working deck, which have been tested for strength in
accordance with ISO 15085, are:
•the aluminium wing to deck join ( Aft )
•the aluminium wing to deck join ( Forward )
Crew Overboard Recovery
To recover a crew member from the water:
The MPS is designed to be sailed by one person. Therefore it is recommended that you ensure
adequate safety cover is in attendance before launching.
•The helm should bring the boat just downwind of the person in the water.
•The helm should balance the boat using a combination of body weight movement and sail
pressure.

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•The crew should board the boat via the windward gunwale using a combination of the
following handholds: the windward shroud, the trapeze wire and the foot/grab rails in the
bottom of the boat.

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3.7 USE OF OUTBOARD ENGINE
!The Musto Skiff is not designed or equipped for use with an outboard engine and is not
capable of modification to be safely used with an outboard motor.
3.8 TOWING,ANCHORING AND MOORING
Towing
If it is necessary to tow a Musto Skiff, use the following procedure:
•Secure the towing line around the base of the mast.
•Fully raise or remove the centreboard.
•Stay at the tiller. In the event of loss of the rudder, sit aft.
Anchoring
The Musto Skiff is not designed or equipped for anchoring and this should not normally be
attempted. You should remain in control of the boat at all times when it is afloat.
If there is no alternative to anchoring, the anchor line should be secured around the base of the mast
and you should remain with the boat. If the boat must be abandoned when anchored, it is best left in
a fully capsized position.
Mooring
The Musto Skiff is not designed or equipped for mooring and this should not be attempted. You
should remain in control of the boat at all times when it is afloat.

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4. COMMISSIONING
4.1 PREPARATION
Your Musto Skiff comes with all parts included and ready to sail. In order to commission it, you
will need the following tools:
•screwdriver;
•adjustable spanner;
•pliers;
•PVC (electrician's) tape;
•if you have one, an ISP rig tension gauge.
!Do not use a knife to cut through packaging and boxes containing boats, parts and
fittings - you may damage the contents.
Before rigging your Musto Skiff, fit the rudder stock as follows:
•Remove the R-clip from the rudder pin.
•Position the rudder stock with the stock gudgeons between the transom gudgeons.
•Push rudder pin through all 4 holes (it may be stiff) and fit the clip to secure it.
It is a good idea to leave the stock on permanently – it is a good place to fit the lighting board.
4.2 MAST
Rigging the Mast
Your Musto Skiff mast will come in two pieces.
To assemble, simply slide together and lock with fixings.
Once your mast is assembled, all you will need to do is:
•fit the trapeze wires to the mast by inserting the T-terminal into the upper slots in the sides of
the mast.
•attach the forestay by inserting the T-terminal into the slot in the front face of the mast, below
the spinnaker halyard exit sheave.
•attach the shrouds by inserting the T-terminal into the slot in the sides of the mast, below the
trapeze terminal.
•

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Stepping the Mast
Attach the lower shrouds to the aft shroud plates. Ensure all halyards, forestay and trapeze wires are
fitted and pulled down clear and untangled.
Stand the mast adjacent to the mast step. Lift vertically, and locate the mast heel into the mast step.
Attach the lower shrouds to the mast. Whilst one person holds the mast.( Always leave the lower
shrouds attached to the boat. )
Attach the forestay to the U bolt mounted on the forestay / spinnaker throat, and tension removing
the slack. At this point the mast is secure.
Attach the shrouds to the boat. Take the slack out of the rigging using the forestay, to the desired rig
tension.
Measure the mast rake, by attaching a tape to the main halyard shackle and hoisting it to the top of
the mast. Measure to the top of the upper pintle. ( As a starting point, the rake should measure
7000mm )
Attach the trapeze wire to the elastic that exits the holes in the wings.
Threading the Spinnaker Halyard
Ensure you tie off the hoist end of the spinnaker halyard to a point on the lower mast, so you do not
lose it up the mast whilst threading the tail end.
Take the halyard from the front exit sheave of the lower mast and thread it forward under the chute
sock and through the pulley that is attached to the rope that pulls the bowsprit out.
Thread the rope aft past the mast on the starboard side under all other ropes, feeding through the
cleat and associated guide and flip flop block, and from there take the line to the adjacent flip flop
block on the port side, passing it through the floating block attached to elastic between these two
blocks and then up the spinnaker chute sock to the bow. Finally, tie the rope off so you do not lose it
up the chute. ( It is a good idea to use the tiller extension to push the rope through the chute. )
4.3 BOOM AND KICKER
Attaching the Boom
The boom attaches with a pin at the lower gooseneck. Take care not to scratch the boat with the aft
end of the boom.
Thread the mainsheet through the ratchet block on the deck, ensuring the ratchet is operating in the
correct direction. Take it through the aft boom pulley down to the pulley on the strop and back up
to the forward boom block, and finally back to the becket on the strop where it is tied off.

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It is useful to tie the free end of the mainsheet to the elastic line extending from the transom,
the spinnaker halyard passes through the block that is attached to this elastic.
Kicker and Kicker Control
The Kicker strut (kicking strap) is made up of two components.
The sickle shaped lever stays attached to the mast at all times. The forward end of the lever fits to
the mast in the same way as the boom does.
The two parallel beams are permanently attached to the bracket on the top of the boom.
The kicker control line passes from the pulley attached to the mast heel and through the block and
becket 255mm up from the base. It then passes through the block attached to the end of the sickle
lever, and finally back to the becket on the block attached to the mast.

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4.4 HOISTING SAILS
Rigging the Spinnaker
Shackle the two ratchet blocks to the eyes port and starboard 1m aft of the shroud points, ensuring
that these are operating in the correct direction, and that you pass the sheets outside all rigging,
except the trapeze lines.
Un-flake the spinnaker on the port side of the foredeck. Attach the halyard to head of sail, the tack
line to the tack and the sheets to the clew.
Take the downhaul line from the chute mouth and thread it through the lower eye in the sail from
starboard to port, then up to the upper tie off point and secure. From inside the boat, pull the
spinnaker down through the chute, being careful not to snag it on the trolley. Thread the port sheet
through the port ratchet and thread the starboard sheet inside the halyard around the forestay and
through the starboard ratchet.
Once again, look up to make sure none of the lines are twisted.
Attaching and Hoisting the Mainsail
If your sail numbers are loose, see separate notes on where and how to fix them.
Unroll the mainsail on a flat surface. Make sure the battens are in very tight and tie them off. Roll
the sail back up again and place it on the boat. Position the boat with its head to wind. Attach the
mainsail halyard to the head of sail using the provided shackle, feed the sail into the mast track and
pull the sail up, using the halyard line exiting low down on the mast. Place the large webbing loop
on the clew over the end of the boom and tie the outhaul to the clew eye. Fully hoist the sail.
Attach the two components of the kicker lever together, engaging the cut out notch of the sickle
onto the cross bolt of the two arms attached to the boom. Wrap the two sides of the tack envelope
around the mast and boom, and zip down halfway from the top. Coil up the tail ends of the mainsail
and place in the Velcro bag on the inside of the envelope. On the bottom of the envelope are two
webbing loops, these should be used to attach the two cunningham swivel hook pulleys that have
the blue rope through them. Attach the lower tack strap and tension to prevent excess load on the
zip.
4.5 COMPLETION
Fitting the Centreboard and Rudder
Both the centreboard and the rudder blade are daggerboards. The rudder simply slides into the top of
the stock, and is pushed down as the boat leaves the beach. The centreboard fits in the same way,
neither should be forced - make sure you have the angle correct and they will slide firmly into place.
Both blades may be very tight in their housing when they are new.

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Taping
You are now almost ready to sail! But first, tape up all shackles and clevis pins and anything that
looks as if it could snag the spinnaker.

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5. SAILING HINTS
5.1 INTRODUCTION
Firstly, the Musto Skiff is a skiff – it will feel different.
A light fast planing skiff needs one or two different techniques from those used in sailing more
conventional boats. It will soon come with practice and is not only great fun but also very
rewarding.
Here are a few tips.
5.2 SHEETING THE SAILS
The mainsail has to be constantly worked and adjusted to suit the wind and balance the boat.
Use the sails to balance the boat before you move, i.e., when a lull comes, sheet the sail in first
before you dive into the boat to try and balance it.
The Musto Skiff is fast – sail it fast. Find the line upwind that will give the best performance. Don’t
luff hard to de-power upwind, but feather gently and ease the mainsail. The Musto Skiff is a very
light boat and will stop if luffed hard in a gust.
The boat is more stable when at speed and less so when stationary – keep the sail sheeted and the
boat moving.
Keep some sheet tension on the mainsail when going downwind with the spinnaker flying – this
helps support the rig, but more importantly it keeps the boat speed up.
When a gust comes – bear away under it. If you let the mainsail out, the power goes and you will
roll in backwards. The boat is light, so all you have to do is pull the tiller towards you and go faster,
easing the spinnaker sheet as you go.
In the lulls, luff up a little to keep the speed on and the apparent wind strength up, bending your
knees if you are trapezing.
5.3 SITTING POSITIONS
The Musto Skiff has a fast planing hull. In light winds keep the weight forward moving aft as the
wind increases.
5.4 TACKING
Move into the boat and disconnect the trapeze hook, this is best done by de-powering. To do this
luff slightly or ease the sail.

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The tiller extension should be passed around the back of the boat. Stand up and face forwards,
place the tiller extension down on the new windward deck, sit down on the new side and then
change hands.
Facing forwards all the time enables the helm to say in control of where he is going.
Reattach to the trapeze on the new tack.
5.5 GYBING
The key to a successful gybe is speed – therefore the sails must be kept pulling and set at all times.
Assuming you are on the wire and moving at full speed:
•Bear away and ease the mainsheet a little to enable you to come into the boat.
•Once you are in, un-hook and pull the slack out of the windward spinnaker sheet.
•Bear away in a wide arc, steering the boat onto the new gybe.
A useful tip here is to place the tiller extension on the new side of the boat.
•Cross the boat and sheet the spinnaker onto the new side as soon as possible, getting on the
wire if practical. Allowing the boom to flip onto the new gybe.
•
With practice, Gybing in the strongest wind is both fast safe and a really satisfying thrill.
5.6 GOLDEN RULES
After a capsize, ensure you get to the tiller as soon as possible to gain control of the boat.
Never let the mainsail fully out in a gust when sailing downwind with the spinnaker up. Steer the
boat to the gusts and lulls, adjusting the spinnaker accordingly.
Always ease off the kicker before going downwind. Do not gybe in strong winds with excessive
kicker on, otherwise undue strain will be put on the mast.
When recovering from a capsize get sailing straight away.
Go into the gybe fast and flat in a wide arc.
Avoid jumping into the mainsail during a capsize.

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Tie a stop knot in the mainsheet at a point that prevents the boom from hitting the two sets of
shrouds.