Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - Jimlad

#1
Main Message Board / Re: Heavy Weather Jib
August 24, 2020, 08:35:56 PM
Hi Stu - thanks for the quick response!
I think what he's getting at is that we won't be able to sheet on as hard when close hauled because of the stays, and therefore won't be able to point as high as we might like. 
Yeah we do have a standard outboard track as well.  Not sure thats' going to help tho. 
#2
Main Message Board / Heavy Weather Jib
August 24, 2020, 03:01:50 PM
G'day all.  We're looking at purchasing a heavy weather jib.  Couple of reasons:
Firstly, we're looking at doing some Cat 4 offshore racing and the rules require that we have one!
Secondly, and a better reason, our current 140% on a roller furler is just not suitable for anything above 25kts.  We'd feel a lot more comfortable and sail better with a smaller sail in the inventory.

The Australian Yachting Federation rules define the Cat 4 requirement to be ""A heavy-weather jib  of area not greater than 13.5% x (height of the foretriangle (I) squared), and without reef points""  This equates to a size of around 20sq m. 

We've had a local sailmaker measure up and provide a design - see the attached.  He's designed it around the current track position and he reckons it'll be ""ok"".  But he does acknowledge that the relative positions of the jib-track and stays mean we probably won't get a real tight sheeting angle. Clew is going to be around head-height so viz wont be a problem. But we don't want to spend money on a sail that won't sheet well. It'll end up staying in the bag.

Question: What do others do?  We've seen some posts that suggest extending the track.  Others that have placed a small track on the coach-house top.  We're also mindful of the original design intent of the C34.  There's a reason why the track is the size it is.

Background: We sail on Sydney Harbour and coastal offshore.  It can blow a bit from time to time and we often find ourselves racing in 25-30kts.    Swells and very lumpy seas mean you don't want to be overpowered and you do want good visibility.     

Apparently it can also get a bit breezy on the Great Lakes and on SF harbour  :D so it'd be great to hear what others are doing. 
#3
Main Message Board / Re: White residue in heat exchanger
November 26, 2012, 10:59:52 PM
Ok, thanks everyone for your contributions.  Am pleased to report I am  writing this from this side of the pearly gates so the taste test did not finish me off.  Neither did it taste like Brie tho :-(
I think it is ZnO, probably from the decaying anode, that is accumulating in the right angle of the fitting.  I'm going to check it on the same cycle as my heatex anode ie 3 monthly
#4
Main Message Board / Re: White residue in heat exchanger
November 19, 2012, 01:42:45 AM
The good old taste test did not reveal any saltiness.  The paste feels coarse, not greasy, similar to a brazing paste flux.  My feel is that it is zinc residue but the colour is not quite right.  Zinc residue seems to be more of a dirty light grey. 
#5
Main Message Board / White residue in heat exchanger
November 18, 2012, 12:48:11 AM
This post reflects something Stu Jackson reported in 2004 but I thought it worth reposting as it'd be good to hear of other member experiences.
I have a M35B with the 3" heatex.  It's about 10 yrs old and every year or so I need to clean out gunk from the sea water outlet elbow of the heatex. See the attached pics. It is a thick white paste that is easily scraped out with one of the Admirals' s best kitchen knives, but why is it there in the first place?
I'm wondering if it is a build up of deposit from the sacrifical anode in the heatex.  I tend to have to replace these every 4 months or so. The heatex itself is fine and has no residue inside it.  It's a pain to have to check this every year and I'm thinking of getting a fitting with a 90 degree curve rather than the right angle which seems to trap the deposit.
Views anyone?

Stu's 2004 post http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=1487.0
#6
Main Message Board / Re: C34 Stowage chart
July 05, 2012, 03:09:07 AM
thanks everybody - great forum - i knew someone woulda had it
#7
Main Message Board / C34 Stowage chart
July 01, 2012, 01:55:59 AM
Does anyone have a good template for a stowage chart?  I'm doing cat 4's this season and as part of the safety checks I need a good stowage chart.  Rather than fiddle about with powerpoint I wonder if someone has already done this. 
#8
Main Message Board / Re: Genoa 135 Size for Tall Rig
March 03, 2011, 08:32:26 PM
I've just been reviewing options for a new genoa and finally went with a premium dacron one from Hood Sails.  I've chosen 140% with tell tales, trimming stripes, foam luff, UV sacrificial strip and leech and foot lines.  I'm doing some twilight racing and on Sydney Harbour in the summer evenings the winds are either light 8-13 kts or 20+.  My sailmaker is also cutting down the 8yr old original genoa to about a 110% and I'll use this in stronger air.  He's also rebattening the main and refitting the luff line on the main otherwise that's in pretty good shape for an original stock one.
Hood may not be the cheapest but for the price I'm also getting a sailmaker with 30 years experience who comes on board and measures up then comes on again for the fitting and test sail. I'm very happy with the service.

My forespar 18-22' whisker pole should suit the new 140% nicely too.
#9
Main Message Board / Fuel Gauge Test Procedure
October 13, 2010, 03:49:32 AM
I thought I'd post this useful fault fuel gauge / sender finding procedure, courtesy of the helpful guys at Cataline Engineering.
#10
 :clap
brilliant - what a great forum and its contributors
thanks guys
#11
Where would the forum recommend locating a new battery charger? Any preferred locations?
#12
Main Message Board / Re: Drive Saver
December 30, 2008, 08:39:15 PM
Dave, what did you do eventually regarding a flexible coupling?  which one did you choose?  and what were your experiences?  I'm considering the same route and think there may be a limited choice.  I have a MK II (1620) with an M35B and a PSS shaft seal and from what I read the only choice is a Federal coupling. 
#13
Main Message Board / Re: Cockpit sheet Bags
May 08, 2008, 03:49:21 PM
Thanks for the infomation everyone.  I went the easy but expensive(ish) option and called robert butler at Catalina spare parts and got some new bags shipped!  (Am looking at the Tides Marine mast track system now to improve mainsail handling - looks like the way to go.  I will report progress)
#14
Main Message Board / Cockpit sheet Bags
February 25, 2008, 02:20:48 AM
Anyone know where to obtain new sheet bags for the C34?  Mine are old, dingy and ripped.  They are 500mm by 500mm with three fastenings to the bulkhead.  Can't seem to find the same bags anywhere.  Most of the new bags only have two fastenings.
#15
Main Message Board / Re: door latches
August 06, 2007, 04:01:44 AM
hi there - which catalogue did you refer to to get the info on the cabin door latch?