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Congrats on a purchase I feel you will not regret.

The tall rig is really only 2 feet more than a standard.  On ours, a standard, the main was very difficult to bring to the top.  I (mistakenly) put lithium grease in the track on the mast and on the guides attached to the sail.  This made a mess as the greasy aluminum oxide got all over the sail.
It did however help in getting the main up all the way.  But that was last season.  This season I cleaned the sail guides and as much of the mast groove as possible.  I then used WD-40 which also is not recommended, but it has worked well and has not stained my sails.  I also learned that winching from the cockpit is a lot more difficult than pulling the halyard at the mast before it turns in the blocks at the deck to go to the winch.  There is a lot of drag between the winch and the top of the sail on mine and I am suggesting that you may have a similar problem.  Have you tried pulling the main up from the mast where the halyard goes up while your mate takes up slack with the winch?  It sure seemed to me that the hardest was that last foot and I'm sure it's just from too much drag in the hauling components.

Recently while working upwind I encountered a right of way decision.
Another sailing vessel, with sails down motoring full speed close to shore made a bee line for my position as I worked upwind along the shore all sails up enjoying top speed.
I was tacking often and when the depth got into the mid teens I would tack away from shore.
Meanwhile another vessel is coming from behind heading right for us. My wife was concerned by his approach from behind and my reply was "I have the right of way and why is he heading directly at a s/v working up wind?"  As I was approaching the shore and running short on depth I decided to tack which would put me on a soon to be collision course with the motoring sailboat whom still had not decided to give me any room.  He had not changed course and I had yet to see the sides of his boat.  Our positions were such that he should alter course 10-15 degrees toward shore to pass behind me.  His course was still aimed about one hundred yards in front of me.  As our point of impact steadily got closer I broke this rule:  I was the stand on vessel and should not change course.  I began to turn into the wind to slow down, when sails began flailing I turned back as little as possible. I repeated this zigzag 3-4 times  The other vessel still did not change course. Our courses and wind direction indicated that if one of us did not alter, we would be T-Boned by this vessel.  Wind was 11-13kts and luffing was violent.  I slowed my progression without losing steerage, so that the collision would be avoided and I'd pass a few yards behind him.  As soon as it was evident to me that the collision was avoided the other sailor made a too late "drama queen" evasive maneuver  and then began shouting heretofore unknown statements that likely concerned my knowledge of the col-regs.  This operator never made an indication he would change course when I tacked into his path.  They were in close proximity and should have immediately angled toward shore.  He did not and since I was unsure anyone was at the helm I decided to zigzag and pass behind at roughly 135degrees off perpendicular to his course.

Since this incident was in July, and it still bothers me, I'd like to have the situation critiqued by the seasoned sailors and their vast experience on this board.

Thanks!!

so where's the poll to fill out?

Found it!  Go to "HOME" , "QUESTION OF THE MONTH: then "Age Demographic"  which is a different place than  where i saw all this input here.  ( I'll get used to this forum stuff eventually)

If you don't mind my asking, my curiosity has gotten the best of me.

Where how and why are you using these on a 34?  (I had to google belaying pin too)

The engine panel.  It leaks around the fiberglass housing and it leaks around the panel within the housing. (i used regular non silicone interior/exterior caulk on the engine panel housing and made a new cover for the instrument panel) The vent for the horn is 12 holes with direct access to the inside of the boat.  If you no longer have the clear cover, the guages are not water proof at their edges either.  About bedding: Dont forget the stern cleats, blower vents, water/diesel fill ports.

Same thing happened to me.  I had taken the caps off the HX and removed all the chunks of corrosion from the original zinc, removed 6-8 old impeller tips, Put in a new impeller. Cleaned the raw water intake screen and overheated when trying to come back in.

I found that after removing the impeller and putting it back in, blowing the raw water hose out to insure no clogs or bags in the intake that all it needed was some water in the radiator.

About 2 cups and I was off and running.   I'd checked the antifreeze coolant level only a few weeks earlier and it looked fine.  But somehow it got low enough that it would not cool the engine.

Speed seal uses an O-ring not a gasket. You only need to compress the o-ring to form the seal. 
The thumbscrews need only be turned until they stop.
Not sure if it works on mine either, the threads are in the cover.

You have a serious problem if you have enough oil coming out the crankcase breather to run the engine.
The smoke you see coming out of this hose should be blowby which is combusted fuel already.

I've had mine 1 year.  I really like it.  I never sailed anything but a sunfish before.  It's easy to handle and easy to work on with help from this forum.  It's not a racer but the performance is respectable even with my blown out, 20year old sails.  It's perfect for 2 and with some patience can handle 2 teens... (they won't be there long any way ) 

YOU WON'T FIND ANY UNBIASED OPINIONS IN HERE!  LOL!

Best of luck!

Good question!  Was this related to not putting the trans in reverse or neutral while sailing?  the two things in the warnings from the manual?   I've left my trans in fwd a few times while sailing but only for a few hours.  Would this really wreck the trans?  Maybe the PO of her boat owned mine!   I changed my oil and it came out like 20 year old molasses, I couldn't use a ketchup pump on it if I wanted to!

How do you know your tube got to the bottom and you got all the oil?  Not for nuthin' but it is a mute point if the oil is changed every year in whatever way.  However I have been finding that in 20 years many of the things I'm doing to my boat are for the first time.  In that respect I'd rather pull the plug and let it drain for real.  Using any variety of pumps from the top does not give me that 100% feeling of completion.  But that's just me being a maintenance technician 25 plus years...

"Do it nice or do it twice" I always say.

I've always used vinyl bags, like 2 qt ziplocs in tight quarters on machines at work.

I just reached under the engine loosened the drain plug, placed the bag with the top rolled to retain it's shape and went on about other things while the oil drained.  Filling did not seem to be a big deal right out of a quart oil bottle.  I dribbled a little, but nothing a paper towel doesn't remedy.

I like to make certain things in the bottom of any unit come out with the oil if they can.

I think this thread was about salvage rights in the first place, sorry that would be my fault.

Just one last question if I may, (or you could let me know to start another thread)

I've tried to ask this three ways already, I hope the posted question is in the right context..

What's the water level inside the boat where water comes over the side and imminent failure to be buoyant occur?

I hope no one knows from personal experience.

Ron, I hope we can get the rest of that story soon!

Thanks!!

Thanks for the info, (I was trying to be gentle, maybe it didn't read that way) 

I'm not so much second guessing.  That story sort of shocked me and undermined my confidence a bit.
I was being incredulous if that's the right term.  Just glad it didn't sink. 

So what was the other problem? the one where he couldn't shed the water?

As a newcomer to all this I'd like to ask a couple dumb questions:

1.)  is'nt a maday a bit extreme for that situation? 

2.)  won't a bilge pump out run a pack gland failure?

3.)  I have 3 pumps as you all know ... the bilge pump, the manual, and the shower sump. 
      Is a dripless pack gland failure really that big?

4.) Get to any slip and stuff a walmart shopping bag in and around the prop shaft... not a good idea? well yeah you have to go over the side, but...

Just wondering...