[C320-list] Steering Wheel

[Scott Thompson]

All boats have a good bit of weather helm when reaching if the sails 
aren't trimmed well.  I haven't noticed the 320 to be especially bad in 
this regard, and is better than many boats I've sailed.  If you 
experience a lot of weather helm try easing the traveller or mainsheet.  
(Ease the vang some too, but don't overdo it.  You want to be able to 
ease the main considerably without flogging the top of the sail.)   Make 
sure the jib leads are positioned forward of where they'd be for sailing 
closehauled so that the jib luffs evenly.  (This is when those 
adjustable jib cars pay off.)  I can balance my boat fairly easily in 
reaching conditions without much difficulty, and speed usually goes up 
when I do.  C320's don't like to be pushed over on their side!  The mast 
rake might make some difference in weather helm upwind, but probably not 
much difference reaching.  Sail trim will be far more important than 
mast rake once you crack off the wind a bit.

Of course if they've reduced the mechanical advantage of the wheel then 
the boat will feel like it has more weather helm than the older models 
even though it doesn't.  When comparing one boat to another you should 
gauge weather helm by rudder deflection, not by pressure on the wheel.

Scott Thompson

P.A.Ogilvie wrote:
> Hi Annie.......... Nice to meet you at the Catalina Xmas cruise!! Our 
> new Cat 320 "Rindercella" (a long 'Spoonerism' story) , has only 1 
> turn full lock also, so maybe that's the gearing on these later 
> models?? Certainly different to our Cat 28Mk2. How much lateral play 
> should the rudder stock have when in a sea, or moving the wheel left 
> and right? Should any movement or noise be heard?? (Viewed through the 
> emerg tiller access port).
>        Does anybody have any information on the weather helm of 320's 
> when reaching?? Our dealer/salesman in Australia indicated the 310 and 
> 320 have a bit more helm than others?? Any comments?? Does the mast 
> rake have any effect, or simply the sail quality as per previous notes.
> Phillip Ogilvie
> Hull #1064
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Annie Bennett" 
> <annie at sydneyprivatesailing.com.au>
> To: "C32 List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2006 11:12 PM
> Subject: [C320-list] Steering Wheel
>
>
>> The new Topcat 3 has arrived and is looking beautiful.  The engine seems
>> particularly quiet and I like the push button to stop the engine.
>>
>> A question - how many revolutions do other people's steering wheels do?
>> Topcat 2's wheel does 2 complete revolutions.  Topcat 3's wheel only 
>> does 1
>> complete revolution - which probably explains why I couldn't make 
>> nearly as
>> sharp turns as on Topcat 2.  I assume the rudder is being restricted 
>> from
>> moving as much as on Topcat 2.  I mentioned this to the dealer who will
>> check into it but any comments from the font of all knowledge would 
>> be much
>> appreciated!
>>
>> Annie Bennett
>> #1073
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> !!- _______________________________________
>> !!- C320-List at catalina320.com mailing list
>> !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/archives
>> !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/change
>> !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/join
>>
>
>
> !!- _______________________________________
> !!- C320-List at catalina320.com mailing list
> !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/archives
> !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/change
> !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/join