[C320-list] Handling chop & short period waves - Solo Sailing

[Robert E. Sloat]

Mike-Forgot to mention that I also do a lot of solo sailing on my boat.  So 
I could easily keep an eye on boat speed, etc. when making sail adjustments 
while not behind the helm, I installed a Raymarine wireless autopilot hand 
controller on my Raymarine autopilot.  The unit I  bought is the more 
expensive one with a data screen displaying 4 digital readouts from the 
helm.  I use it basically as a wireless repeater and hook it up under the 
dodger so you can see what is happening to boat speed when making sail 
adjustments without having to run back to the helm to look at instruments.

I looked at hooking up a direct wired repeater under the dodger or at the 
mast base, and concluded for less fishing of wires I get the same result 
with the wireless autopilot.  And there are no ugly wires on the inside of 
the cabin for a dodger installation of a wired repeater.

It's 4 degrees F here in the Chicago area so this is the only sailing 
related activity of satisfaction this time of year.  Good luck in your boat 
shopping.

Bob Sloat
Savannah Hull 894
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Barrowman" <watercayman at hotmail.com>
To: <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 8:29 AM
Subject: [C320-list] Handling chop & short period waves



Hi folks,

My first post here - please forgive me if I've done this wrong.

My family currently has a C250 which we are selling, looking for a larger 
boat.  I've narrowed the list to the C320 and the C34, leaning toward the 
320.  I will need to sail (or have sailed) the boat from the US upon 
purchase to Cayman, so it needs to be able to handle the trip -- which I 
believe the 320 can, and know for sure the 34 can.  Any comments?

90% of my sails will be day sails solo, and it seems the 320 is a good boat 
for this.  But, with my wife and young daughter on the boat, one of my key 
needs is a boat that handles chop well.  Our current 250 bounces over the 
waves a bit too much, which prevents my daughter from enjoying it.  Our bay 
is very shallow and typical winds of 15kts build very short period 1-2 foot 
waves.  How would the 320 handle these conditions?  The weight of the 250 is 
only 4K #, so I'm hopeful the 11K # 320 will slice right through, but after 
searching the archive, I'm not sure I've seen a direct comment on this.

Many thanks,
Mike