[C320-list] Replacement Sails Dutchman A system

[Rick Sulewski]

David,
Moving the topping lift line to a single line starboard side clutch located
near the mainsail halyard clutch set using an open outer most turning block
made the Dutchman system so much more efficient and user friendly,
especially when setting and releasing the mainsail in higher winds. Had
compromised for a while by setting the topping lift to a neutral length to
avoid the trips to/from the mast but experienced  the topping lift/Dutchman
block line hanging up on the backstay split when we least wanted to step out
to adjust the mast cleat.
Rick
My-Ria 1995 hull #277 

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of dprudden
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 3:18 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Replacement Sails Dutchman A system

My topping lift is cleated at the mast. Do you all have it led aft, into a
clutch? I have a 2 line Dutchman that I loosen by slacking the topping lift
after raising the main but I have to run forward to the mast to do so ( and
of course I have to run forward to tighten it before dropping). I have no
open turning blocks or clutches on the starboard side of the cabin. 

David Prudden
#787

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 20, 2012, at 2:57 PM, Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Scott, I'm not familiar with the various Dutchman configs, just ours 
> which I'll attempt to describe: it is a two block system, there is a 
> continuous line on which the two Dutchman blocks are attached and the 
> free part of the line runs freely through each Dutchman block. At the 
> upper end is a small single turning sheave with a rotating eye.  At 
> the lower end is a fiddle block with cam cleat.  The topping lift is 
> attached to the small sheave at top and kept taught when not sailing. 
> The rotating eye allows the topping lift to twist as it needs without 
> transferring the twist down the rest of the lift.  The fiddle and cam 
> at bottom allows the tension on the monofilament lines to be eased 
> when not striking the main even while the topping lift is taught.
> 
> After the sail is up and drawing, I slacken the topping lift.  Before 
> striking the main, I tighten the topping lift, adjust the Dutchman at 
> the fiddle block to tighten the monofilament, then drop it.  Once down 
> and flaked, I use the fiddle/cam to relieve the tension on the 
> monofilament.  It all works fine as long as the monofilament lines are 
> properly tensioned and I'm not too far off the wind when I drop the 
> main.  Oh, and I try to be a few degrees to port of the wind so the 
> sail slides don't hang up on the gate screws.
> 
> So much to remember.  So few brain cells left with which to work.
> 
> Warren & Pattie Updike
> 1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott Thompson [mailto:surprise at thompson87.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 6:19 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Replacement Sails Dutchman A system
> 
> My boat also came with the Garhauer solid vang and the Dutchman C 
> system
> ("clothesline") with two mono-filament lines. One of the first changes 
> I made to the boat was replacing the springs in the vang with weaker 
> ones (from Garhauer) so that it wasn't so difficult to pull the boom 
> down to where it should be in light air. But that means that my vang 
> is not quite as rigid as yours.
> 
> Regarding the Dutchman, I now have the A system with 3 monofilament 
> lines