[C320-list] New Sails, Advice Sought

[bruceheyman at cox.net]

Loose footed main is the way to go. We had the pockets for the lower two battens made so that they could take full or partial battens.  Don't for get draft(?) stripes.
Bruce
Somerset 671 SoCal
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Danko <ken320 at sbcglobal.net>

Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:07:02 
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: [C320-list] New Sails, Advice Sought


I just ordered new sails (North) and am going to make some changes. This 
is where I could use some advice from those of you who have been through 
this.

I am going to scrap the single line reefing system in favor of hooks at 
or near the goosneck. Has anyone else gone this route and if so, do you 
have photos to show me how to rig this?

One problem I have encountered in the past is with slides sticking at 
the luff gate. I wish that they had put the gate much lower on the mast. 
Has anyone figured a way to get the luff gate to fit better? It is 
pretty flimsy and I can't seem to get it to fit properly. Maybe I can 
get a new one fabricated.

Ronstan makes batten cars that don't require an external track. They 
call this their Ballslide Batten System. My sail maker highly recommends 
these. Has anyone else installed these on their 320? And if so, do they 
work well? I went to Simply Sail Pacific hoping that Harken would have a 
75% off sale on their external track and related hardware but no such 
luck. The North guy says that the Ronstan system will achieve 75% of the 
same results at 1/6th the cost.

I am going to make some other changes. I know that there are strong 
opinions pro and con in this group for the Dutchman System. I am going 
to ditch it in favor of lazy jacks. (I have had both and MUCH prefer 
lazy jacks.) I am also going to get a loose fitted main.

Any suggestions/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken Danko
Grace, #802