[C320-list] Frustrated with the Dutchman system

[Bill Culbertson]

FWIW, my view is that just because a system takes a long time to learn to use correctly doesn't mean to me that it is an inferior system.  Or just because a system takes a significant effort to adjust correctly doesn't mean it is flawed.  Take engine alignment for example.  Takes a long time to get it right.  Is something wrong because of that, no.

All systems have trade offs.  If my choice were between something which took a good long while to get initially set up or to learn but worked like a champ each and every time I needed after I'd spent that effort, I'd pick that system over one which was easy to set up and had problems each time I used it. But others could easily see the same trade offs and make the different choice.  That's fine with me - their choice.  I kept my traditional packing gland and use GFO packing with great success.  Others have said, "forget that nonsense" and switched to the PSI dripless shaft seal.  Both seem like fine approaches to me.  
 
 -bill culbertson
 Harmony #859

----- Original Message ----
From: K L <sfca33 at hotmail.com>
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 12:17:53 PM
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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