[C320-list] Single line Dutchman?

[Allan Field]

Jeff - Does your mainsail cover have slots for the Dutchman?  If not,
wouldn't you need to slacken the Dutchman quite a bit in order to get the
cover on?  That is what I need to do with Sea Shadow's cover. - Allan

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Hare
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 7:52 PM
To: 'C320-List'
Subject: [C320-list] Single line Dutchman?

Hi All,

 

   My dutchman line (the continuous loop line itself) has finally sprouted
so many puckers of the core out through the cover that the blocks snag and
don't run up/down very easily.

 

I've seen the single line version that essentially has a cable with fixed
blocks holding the mono-filament line.  No clothsline loop, no jam cleat, no
turning-blocks, just a line with the dutchman blocks fixed in position that
gets attached to the topping lift and run up to the top of the mast. 

 

Rather than have a new closeline loop made, I'm considering just taking a
scrap of my old halyard, measuring off the positions of the blocks and
knotting the blocks in place.

 

Seems like then, all I'd have to do is ease the topping lift a little when
raising the sail, and tighten it up prior to dropping the sail.  

 

With the clothesline loop, I also have to do ease/tighten the topping lift
just a little, as well as running the dutchman blocks up/down.   

 

Sounds to me like I save one step when dropping the main.

 

Has anyone else converted the continuous loop dutchman to a single?  (I've
sailed with the single on a C380 and it seemed easier).

 

-JeffH