[C320-list] Frustrated with the Dutchman system

[alahlm at comcast.net]

  We also had zippers put in the sail cover. the dutchman has worked fine for us with very little adjustment---did have to read the manual twice whilst setting it up ----would want the dutchman on my next boat rather than lazyjacks

 Al Ahlman
    #476
-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Joe Barrett" <joe at dolphinmortgage.com> 

> 
> Hi Ken, it is not hard at all to swap out the line that makes up the loop on 
> the Dutchman. Mine had some wear and I swapped it out in just a few minutes. 
> Lined it up carefully to make sure the line had no kinks and it has been 
> fine ever since. I also had my canvas guy sew in zippers for the two mono 
> lines so I never have to adjust the height of the cars. 
> Since I did that the only thing we have to remember is to always loosen the 
> topping lift when raising the main to avoid snapping the mono lines. We also 
> marked with marker where the topping lift exits the clutch where the topping 
> lift should be eased too so we don't ease too much and catch the topping 
> lift on the backstay which is a REAL pain when you are racing and are 
> approaching a lay line. 
> Joe Barrett 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com 
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of K L 
> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 12:18 PM 
> To: c320-list at catalina320.com 
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Frustrated with the Dutchman system 
> 
> It has been interesting to read the varied opinions on the Dutchman. People 
> seem to love it or hate it. 
> 
> Darrell said that a switch to a swivel block made it worse (or at least not 
> better) while Warren reports that the swivel block solved the problem. I'm 
> going to swap the block I have for a swivel block and give that a try. 
> 
> Lots of people said that they scrapped the system or are about to while Jeff 
> said that after a year he figured out how to use it efficiently. Someone 
> else suggested a video. 
> 
> What is clear to me is that a hell of a lot of man hours have been spent in 
> trying to get the system to work the way it should. If a system takes a year 
> to figure out and/or requires special training with a video, then I wonder 
> if it's a good system. It seems to me that it should be easier. 
> 
> One can't help but wonder if all those man hours spend trying to get the 
> Dutchman to work is more or fewer than the hours that would have been spent 
> flaking the sail with lazy jacks. 
> 
> I have had both systems. For me, the total time working with the sail seems 
> to be about the same. But the difference is that with the Dutchman the time 
> is spent in frustration. 
> 
> Ken Danko 
> #802, Grace 
> 
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