[C320-list] Things that work: GFO Packing, Main Sail Reefing Blocks, Kiwi Feathering Prop

[Amirault Family - S&B]

Bear was launched without incident on May 10th, mast prepped on the 12th,
raised on the 13th , mast tuned and boat rigged on the 14th and the first
race was the 15th. The race did not count for the spring series due to high
water levels; over a third of the boats were not available as they remain
behind a closed flood gate at a sister club. Difficult as it is to credit,
there was too much water to sail in.

 

The GFO is alleged to be dripless  and I can attest to this. Like all else
on a C320, working on the stuffing box is far easier than any aft-of-engine
maintenance on the previous Tanzer 8.5. The difficult part of the exercise
was the removal of two layers of the previous packing which apparently was a
cloth material containing a waxy substance. Once the cup of the fitting was
cleaned and a determination made that there was no scoring of the shaft I
was able to fit three layers of GFO in place. The fitting was then firmly
hand tightened-down and left. Now having been used at 2400 rpm I can confirm
no drips. 

 

The only nagging doubt is that the fitting becomes quite warm; making me
wonder if I have left the fitting too tight. It is not uncomfortably hot but
it still causes second guessing. I would appreciate comments.

 

The reefing blocks proved an inexpensive, easily installed addition which
seems to eliminate the reef lines fouling each other as they are now on
opposite sides of the boom. Installation would have been easier in no wind.
The only delay was with the cringle for the forward lower block. This
cringle proved smaller than the other three, and the block shackle would not
fit through it, causing a successful hunt in the parts box for a substitute.
The operation is very smooth. 

 

The prop swap went off with little difficulty. The removal of the original
fixed three blade was without incident using a 50 year old prop puller
supplied by another sailor and which is still owned by his father; the son
is retired and the father frail and no longer with a boat of his own. The
install was not difficult based on the supplied directions. The retaining
nut, which screws on to the shaft through the propeller boss did not look as
though it was a far into the boss as described. This necessitated an e-mail
to the west coast vendor who suggested either that the shaft was too long or
that I had the key jammed too far to the stern in the keyway and that it was
the incorrect position of the key that was blocking the correct seating of
the nut. Pulling the new prop proved more difficult as the shape of the prop
hub did not allow all three of the arms of the puller to engage the back of
the prop. Additional hands and adult language were required to perform the
removal. The problem was a poorly positioned key. Repositioned, all ended
well.    

 

I have become a booster of feathering props in general but not the Kiwi in
particular; but only as it is my first non-fixed prop and there may be
better brands. The in-harbour characteristics are superior. I was surprised
(positively) to be able to reverse from my slip immediately and directly to
the rear without noticeable prop-walk. 

 

With the stern moving in reverse turning to port, and approaching the stern
of the boat docked across the fairway I was ambushed (and I trust that
sounds as negative and helpless as it felt) on placing the transmission in
forward and expecting to immediately throttle away to actually continue
slowing in reverse and getting distressingly near that other hull before the
boat corrected itself. From reverse it appears that there is a brief lag
where the blades feather before repositioning themselves and biting into
forward. This is not a criticism but merely an observation on a performance
characteristic which differs from the fixed three blade before it. Now I
know, and I will plan accordingly.

 

Under engine the drive train seems smoother than in the pre-Kiwi age. Bear
will operate at 6.6 knots at 2600 rpm. There is no low rev lugging of the
engine and the prop seems adequately sized for the engine/transmission
combination. From speed Bear can be brought to a crash near-halt in a couple
of boat lengths. It was a near-halt as when going from full forward to full
reverse in a hurry there was noticeable prop-walk to port as the boat
approached 0 knots. I cannot say that this is different from the original
prop as I had not tried this before.

 

Coming off the engine the first note is that there appears to be less wake
and certainly the shaft no longer turns with the transmission in neutral.
With the wind 12 to 18 knots I have no comment on light air performance. I
can state that coming out of a tack we accelerate back to speed much faster
than before. Additionally, I do not know how to credit the fact, but we are
pointing higher based both on instruments and the observation of some other
boats in our race fleet. The difference is in the 5 degree range. Although
not my imagination, I do not know how to credit this to the prop other than
to say that all else was equal as the new head sail has yet to arrive and we
are continuing to use the original 150%.

 

Generally I am impressed with the new prop. I have every expectation that
the light air performance will be a credit to the prop and to Bear. If the
Kiwi proves mechanically reliable then I have acquired a relatively
inexpensive (at 1300$ Canadian delivered) winner.

 

And the race? Only the uninitiated will be surprised that a feathering prop
has no tangible impact in overcoming a start where you boat crosses the line
lonely and last and at the hopeless end. We actually caught up to
competition - those boats that like us tend to finish in the middle third of
the fleet. The boats which through some apparent collusion always agree in
advance in which 1-2-3 order they will finish well ahead of the rest of us,
are still refusing to compete and continue to get far ahead of me early; and
then stay there.  I have much to get right with my new 159 PHRF (down for
171 with the old prop) but then that's the fun, i'nit.

 

Brian Amirault

797 Waltzing Bear, too