[C320-list] Blue Water Sailing

[jpmesa at aol.com]

Most of the windvane companies now make adapters for open transom, including Monitor with has a nice one that swing open when you are at anchor or the dock.??? John??????? Holokai 2


-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Frank <WindSwept at stx.rr.com>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 3:49 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Blue Water Sailing



I agree with much of what Andrew says including the Autoprop which I have. 

I have not read the Blue Water Sailing Article, but can tell you that the
open transom is an asset, not a negative.  I have had the cockpit pooped
sailing downwind in 30 knots in the Gulf of Mexico.  Before I had time to
crap my pants, the cockpit had drained.  Prior to this experience I thought
the open transom was a weak point.  

Regarding the windvane comment, I suspect if one had some type of
professional and custom installation, it could be done.  You might no longer
have a usable swim platform, but I doubt there are many boats with a
windvane that do.

In the aft berth, I had a custom cushion made that fits between the seat,
the forward end of the stock berth, and the engine box that converts it to a
fore and aft quarterberth.  I use a leeboard and this is quite a comfortable
place to sleep while underway, as long as you can keep the crew in the
cockpit to be quiet!

I too have looked at the large cockpit lazerette, and all the lockers as a
potential weak point, but unless you roll the boat, I don't think this will
come into play.  Of course, this is the situation where you need the best
design possible.  

I wouldn't sail WindSwept across the Atlantic, but I did cross the Gulf of
Mexico to Veracruz Mexico, a distance of 510 NM.  Maximum distance offshore
was about 100 NM.

Larry
WindSwept C320#246

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Andrew
Santangelo
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2008 8:58 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Blue Water Sailing

Bill,

Not really true regarding folding props.  I replaced my fixed three  
blade prop with an Autoprop, a three blade adjustable propellor, and  
it has worked remarkably well for me.  It backs up very well without  
any side ways motion; to be honest it was better in reverse than the  
fixed three blade.

I have also raced the boat and won or placed in many races.  B
etter  
sailors than me have also done well in Major races with the 320.  Do  
not under estimate the gain in changing props.  It is profound.  The  
Autoprop is also an excellent cruising propellor.

Another item - I have done open water sailing in rough seas (20' +).   
The boat handled very well (crew - well another story!).  I do like  
the open transom though.  If the cockpit got pooped or in a heavy rain  
I love how the water very quickly drains out the open transom. There  
are things that can be done to the boat for open water sailing, but it  
is a well found vessel.  I know others have sailed this boat  
(including Alaska and the North Sea).  It would be nice to hear them  
chime in on the open water capabilities.

Bottom line though - look into the Autoprop.

Best Regards,
Andrew

Dawn Treader
C320
#333

On Nov 15, 2008, at 9:23 PM, Bill Sloane wrote:

> Well I do have the three blade prop, but I like it when I am  
> cruising.  I
> have heard that folding props do not back up well.  And in the San  
> Juan
> Islands and the Gulf Island of Canada, the marinas up there, you  
> need a good
> reverse.  I have a nice high PHRF of 198, in part because of my prop.
> Standard rating for a 320 is 153.
>
> Bill.
>
> On Sat, Nov 15, 2008 at 6:17 PM, <Orlando.Duran at averydennison.com>  
> wrote:
>
>> If you're racing your 320 and your not winning, you're doing  
>> something
>> wrong...sailed correctly, it's a very fast boat...
>>
>> If you have it, get rid of your 3-bladed fixed prop...there's a  
>> knot more
>> boat speed right there...
>> ----------------------------------
>> Regards,
>> OD
>>
>> Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Bill Sloane" [southsoundbill at gmail.com]
>> Sent: 11/15/2008 06:07 PM PST
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Blue Water Sailing
>>
>>
>>
>> I bought the magazine today and read it.  The author didn't like  
>> the open
>> transom because he could install a wind vane self steering rudder. He
>> didn't
>
> like the V berth or the rear berth. He didn't like the lazaret in the
>> cockpit because it is not waterproof.  He installed his own Raymarine
>> auto-pilot, it was not factory installed. It broke in the first few  
>> days.
>> What he was surprised by is that in heavy seas with just a small  
>> piece of
>> the jib exposed, the Catalina 320 self steers itself well in the  
>> 'hove-to'
>> rig set-up.
>>
>> All I can say is that for where I live on the Puget Sound in  
>> Washington
>> State, my 320 is an absolutely perfect boat for what I enjoy about  
>> sailing.
>> A responsive day sailor, I can race when I want, as long as I don't  
>> care
>> about winning, and I can cruise in it for extended periods in  
>> comfort.  I
>> actually like the rear berth as it fits my wife and I well with good
>> headroom, and we don't run the engine at night. I would like a  
>> North 3DR
>> headsail to go faster, but that probably will not happen. I am  
>> buying a
>> Raymarine Smart Pilot Auto Pilot just as soon as Raymarine works  
>> out the
>> software glitches this unit currently has.  For now, I love my  
>> Catalina 320
>> and if at some later point in my life, I become a blue water  
>> sailor, I
>> guess
>> I will have to sell my 320 and buy some type of BlueWater  
>> boat . . . . .
>>
>> Bill Sloane
>> 'Endless Summer'  No. 554
>> Olympia Washington
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 1:00 PM, Kirk McCullough
>> <kirk.mccullough at telus.net>wrote:
>>
>>> Yes of course, sailing... that's what this is all about.
>>>
>>> Kirk
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chef Adam Weiner" <
>>> esquirecatering at rcn.com>
>>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>> Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 8:16 PM
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Blue Water Sailing
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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