[C320-list] Dutchman Flaking System

[Jack McDonough]

Warren:

All the tweaking and adjusting is part of the reason I hated the Dutchman 
system. Plus, of course, I just found it a big pain in the transom.

As for tracks, having gone back to lazy jacks and a stack pack (no sail 
cover to wrestle with), I went one step further and had a Doyle Tides Track 
installed last season. Excellent investment. The gate on the mast of our 
2003 Catalina constantly jammed the mast slugs both going up and coming 
down, regardless of how the gate was adjusted. That situation was annoying 
and sometimes dangerous when it made it necessary to go topside to get the 
main down in gusty winds and choppy seas.

jack
#947




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 5:40 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dutchman Flaking System


> Me too, WOW! Few threads generate this much response with the lovers and
> haters about equal.
>
> One point not mentioned is the importance of having the sail properly
> prepared for the Dutchman. We have the two line model and I suspect the 
> sail
> is not correctly prepared on the aft line.  The lowest cringle or fairlead
> for the Dutchman does not properly drop my sail in the first two folds.
> Otherwise, as long as you are dead on the wind, and the slides and track 
> are
> clean, the thing drops like a stone and stacks with only a few tugs and
> pulls.
>
> I'd be more interested in how people maintain their slides and track; or,
> what alternate track systems have been deployed and how they have served.
> I've made a tracking cleaning device with a sail slug and a piece of
> micro-fiber cloth.  I attach it to the main sheet with a downhaul and 
> slide
> it up and down the track with soapy water on it. It does improve the
> situation.  What have others done?
>
> Happy holidays to all of you.  Our boating life would be decidedly less 
> rich
> without this list and all of you that care to participate and pass on your
> wealth of knowledge.
>
> Finally, I want to say thank you to Karl M. for his long and stalwart
> service as Commodore.  He has made a difference if judged only by the 
> number
> of contributions on our web site.  I pray that our next Commodore will be
> half as committed to the effort.  Thanks, Karl.
>
> Warren & Pattie Updike
> 1994 C320 #62 "Warr de Mar"
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: allan.field at verizon.net [mailto:allan.field at verizon.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 2:19 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dutchman Flaking System
>
> For what it's worth, Practical Sailor has evaluated all the sail flaking
> systems and gave the Dutchman the highest all-round score. We are 
> replacing
>
> our sails this winter and, after looking at everything out there, are
> staying with the Dutchman which we have always liked anyway.
>
> Allan S Field
> Sent via DROID X on Verizon Wireless
>
> -----Original message-----
> From: Jim Sweet <jamesweet at frontiernet.net>
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Sent: Tue, Dec 14, 2010 18:28:28 GMT+00:00
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dutchman Flaking System
>
> You have discovered the key to making the system work-tight lines.  I've 
> had
>
> the system on two boats now and it works great if the topping lift and 
> guide
>
> lines are tight.
>
> Jim Sweet
> TGIF (Thank God It Floats) 901
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Meyers" <jcmeyers7 at gmail.com>
> To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 1:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dutchman Flaking System
>
>
>> Wow. what a lot of comments.
>>
>> I just bought my boat this year. It has the Dutchman and I was less than
>> thrilled with it. That was until the last sail of the summer when I had >
>
> the
>> lines up tighter than usual. When I let loose the main halyard and the >
> main
>> came quickly down and flaked better than if I had done it by hand. I 
>> can't
>> wait for next season so see if does it againa and again.
>>
>> 406
>> JohnM (another one)
>>
>> On Tue, Dec 14, 2010 at 10:44 AM, <sail-ability at sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I have the Dutchman and quite frankly I find it a pain in the butt, it
>>> takes a lot of tweaking to get it to do what they show you at the boat
>>> shows. When it croaks I'm going back to lazy jacks.
>>> Cheers
>>> JohnM
>>> #574
>>>
>>> > From: resloat at comcast.net
>>> > To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> > Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:43:05 -0600
>>> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dutchman Flaking System
>>>  >
>>> >
>>> > Bob Sloat
>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>> > From: <LOCALJG at aol.com>
>>> > To: <c320-list at catalina320.com>
>>> > Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 10:31 PM
>>> > Subject: [C320-list] Dutchman Flaking System
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > > If you have experience with the Dutchman Flaking System please let 
>>> > > me
>>> know
>>> > > what you think of the system? It it useful or more trouble than its
>>> > > worth?
>>> > > Is rigging it a no brainer or is it a bear to get rigged correctly?
>>> > >
>>> > > What are the positives and negatives of the system?
>>> > >
>>> > > Thanks
>>> > >
>>> > > John G.
>>> > > #329
>>> > >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>