Second KISS Rondar 505 comes to North America |
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Updated November 8, 1999 |
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The KISS premise is that newcomers to the 505 class need inexpensive, ready-to-race-505s that are do not have overly complex control systems. Rather than chasing down non existent used Waterats, Lindsays and Hamlins, you simply buy a KISS Rondar. In order to reduce the cost, Rondar needs to build these boats in batches, with identical rigs and foils, to develop some economies of scale. Rondar intends to build these batches during their slowest period, in winter. Of course nothing precludes the boat being customized, either by the North American dealer, Guck, Inc., or by the owner, in order to have the boat set up exactly the way the owner wants it. I very much like the layout of the boat as delivered, and intend to race it that way without making any changes. Some Improvements over the first KISSThe second rigged KISS Rondar 505 is very similar to the first -- the first is 8698 now owned by Steve Yates in Kingston Ontario -- with a couple of minor changes in rigging layout. Mast Ram Included
One key change is that the boat was delivered with a mast ram, as the KISS specification now includes a strut-and-track-on-mast style mast ram, while the first KISS had the mast ram added afterwards. The KISS specification calls for a ram down control led to the centerboard cap, and perhaps a pin stop for a ram up control. Some Waterats were rigged this way. I do not know exactly what mast ram track
and car will come with other KISS Rondars, my mast ram was installed by Guck, Inc., not
Rondar, and is a Harken car and track, which is all Peter Alarie could find on short
notice. The Z-spar mast ram system that many of the European 505s use would work well, as
would a Ronstan car and track combination. Better Centerboard Up and Down Controls
Other changes are that 8734 has a better centerboard up and down control system that allows the CB to be pulled all the way up, or all the way down, with one pull on the appropriate control line. The up line runs down the starboard side of the centerboard cap, the down line is on the port side. Both can be reached from normal upwind position, or further aft in the boat as when blast reaching. Since both up and down are the same line, there is never any line lying loose on the cockpit floor. Both lines run over the alloy tube thwart,
making them easy to grab and pull. I did not have a problem with the centerboard controls
on the first KISS - some others who tried the boat did not like them - but this system is
better. Even Better Rake and Tension System
The first KISS had very neat shroud and jib halyard tensioning systems, but the second KISS has a subtle refinement to the shroud and jib halyard tensioning systems.
A 2:1 system at the rail reduces compression on the boat. It is led to a 6:1 along the diagonal bulkhead and then led aft to a further 2:1. As with 8698, both shroud and jib halyard are led to the centerboard cap just forward of the mainsheet swivel jammer, though those neat Holt Allen angled cleat bases with integral fairleads, aft through small Ronstan Series 19 blocks (so you can pull on from any direction). The neat difference is that they are the same control line, and that as you pull one on the excess line is taken up by the other. No shockcord takeup is needed, there are no loose lines on the cockpit floor. Very nice. No Loose Lines!
In fact, virtually every control line on the boat is either endless, has a shockcord takeup, or is forward of the diagonal bulkheads. There are NO LOOSE lines on the cockpit floor, and the only loose line ends on the entire boat are the main and jib halyards which live forward of the diagonal bulkhead, the spinnaker pole topping lift and pole downhaul, which also live forward of the diagonal bulkhead, the ram down control line on the centerboard cap and the cunningham (aka smart pig) at the very back of the centerboard trunk, and the cunningham is short enough it does not reach the cockpit floor! The clean layout without lots of loose lines makes the boat less intimidating to newcomers and prospects, but also makes it easier for experienced 505 sailors to sail. Lever for Jib Halyard adjustment
In other respects the KISS Rondars are nearly identical. Both use a neat lever pivoting from the forward end of the mast step extrusion, as a jib halyard tensioning system. The lever works very well for the jib halyard system, as we normally increase the shroud tension as we rake. In other words, as we rake, we tighten the shrouds more than we ease the jib halyard. This limits the travel required for the jib halyard such that a lever is ideal, and much neater than a block cascade led back into the cockpit. The lever provides so much mechanical advantage that I am considering reducing the tackle on the end of the lever to reduce the overall mechanical advantage. Spinnaker Pole SystemThe KISS Rondar has the spinnaker pole topping lift led to a cleat on the back of the mast, below the gooseneck and to a block below the cleat so you can pull from any direction. It is easy for the crew to reach it, and the tail hangs through the mast gate into the area forward of the diagonal bulkheads.
The outhaul is led to a cleat and block - so you can pull through the cleat from any direction, on the underside of the boom, close to the gooseneck. While the first KISS had a floating-block-that-jams-against-bulkhead (like the Waterat standard) pole downhaul, the second KISS uses a shockcord takeup under the foredeck, and a line with an adjustable positive stop. So the downhaul has a positive stop and is easily adjustable. The downhaul tail lives forward of the diagonal bulkhead. The boat comes with a trolley system that uses a small stainless ring sliding on the shockcord rather than a swivel block. This has worked very well so far. KISS Rondars come standard with a Z-spar fork outboard pole end, and a Proctor inboard end with the piston retained. The spinnaker pole fitting on the mast is slightly lower than the US standard making it both easier for normal sized crews to get the pole on the mast and reducing the spinnaker pole's tendency to invert the mast on heavy air three sail reaches. Jib Sheeting
The jib sheets are led from the clew to turning blocks on a fore-and-aft track on the inside face of the seat tanks, then forward to a turning block and cleat, similar to what many Waterats and Lindsays have. The jib tracks come with the plastic ends to protect your wetsuit legs or the back of your legs. The boat does not come with barber haulers standard, but
most North American 505 rarely use them. They can easily be added if required by the
owner. Mainsheet System
The mainsheet is a typical US split bridle mainsheet, though mounting points for a center bridle are included on the boat - at each end of the alloy thwart - if an owner wishes to use that system instead. Apart from the mainsheet system, the photo
at right shows the simple control system layout. While the only control led to each side
is the vang, every control you expect is on the boat, and easy to use. Spinnaker Sheet System
The new Ronstan auto ratchet blocks are standard on the spinnaker sheets. High quality Marlow spectra cored line is provided for spinnaker sheets. The stopper balls are included. The twings have neat -- very light -- stainless steel rings that slide on the spinnaker sheet.
The twing is a single line going across the boat, as the famous Dumptruck was rigged, actually a system that has been widely used in the 505 class. As some top teams in Europe and the UK choose to do, the boat does not come with guy cleats. These can be easily added should an owner prefer to have them. The stopper balls on the sheets are set so as to keep the pole just off the forestay, and the guy is cleated in large Ronstan cam cleats just above the ratchet blocks. Well Underweight
The boat was weighed at Rondar as part of the measurement process and was 16kg light. 16 kg of lead were supplied with the boat.
Clean Simple LayoutThe KISS Rondar specification was developed largely to address two issues that were being raised by non-505 sailors (prospects) who looked at a 505 at SailEXPO. They thought a typical 505 was too complicated and too expensive. While experienced 505 sailors probably disagree with this reaction (at least the second one), the KISS Rondar addresses these issues. It is a simpler, cleaner layout, with almost no loose lines in the boat, yet has all the necessary adjustments. Vang is led to each seat tank and has a shockcord takeup, while rake, tension, cunningham, ram, and CB are on the CB cap. Outhaul is on the boom, and pole topping lift on the mast. Everything is easy to use, but the boat is not cluttered or complicated. 8734 Being Raced by Ali Meller
Ali Meller picked up 8734 the morning after it was delivered, and was racing it in a local event with his home fleet the very next day (Ali and Stephan von Klaudy won the first race!). The new KISS Rondar now lives at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, and will frequently be sailing from there. Both Meller's KISS and Romey's KISS are expected at the upcoming Florida Midwinter Championship, while Meller raced his KISS at the Pumpkin Patch regatta at WRSC. "This boat is gorgeous, and at under $12,000 WITH sails, its an incredible deal" said Meller. "The boat has very high quality foils, and fittings, and is very well laid out."
Meller bought a completely standard KISS Rondar with the addition of a Rapide trolley, a Pinnell & Bax top cover, a Silva compass and a Rondar compass mount. He bought the boat without the standard North or Ullman sails as he already had North sails for the boat. Alarie and Guck, Inc. bought a bare hull KISS and were intending to rig it for themselves, but chose to sell it (rigged) when approached by several interested people. Dustin Romey moved the fastest and made arrangements to purchase the boat. Several other people have expressed an interest in more KISS Rondars.
 KISS Description from
Guck, Inc. web siteKISS Rondar
Debuts at Worlds |
