[C320-list] Dutchman Line

[jim brown]

As an FYI.  The upper 2 "plastic" line guides for the Dutchman cracked because of UV degradation. They were often exposed because I had the sail cover cut and zippers installed around the lines and it left those guides somewhat exposed. I took the sail in for a couple of small repairs and the sailmaker suggested just replacing them with ring grommets rather than replacing them (at the time you could only by a complete set and they were quite expensive). The grommets work just as well as the "stock' guides at least on the top of the sail and the cost was minimal. 

jim Brown

      From: John Meyers <jcmeyers7 at gmail.com>
 To: C320-List at catalina320.com 
 Sent: Monday, June 8, 2015 10:44 AM
 Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dutchman Line
   
I bought the line from Amazon. com a couple years ago. I got a lot for only
20 dollars. More than I will ever use (famous last words, maybe).

John Meyers
Wind Chime
Muskegon MI



On Mon, Jun 8, 2015 at 10:39 AM, Dean Vermeire <dean at vermeire.us> wrote:

> Hi Gary,
>
> You can purchase monofilament line from a number of places.  I just buy it
> from MVB / Dutchmar here:
> http://dutchmar.com/products/sail-flaking-products/mono-control-line/
>
> Dean Vermeire
>
> On 6/8/2015 9:26 AM, Gary Magnuson wrote:
>
>> Thanks Jeff for re-posting!  I don't remember ever seeing this Tip and I
>> have owned Time A Weigh for 7 years all ready.  I have never touched them.
>> Heading to the boat for the first time this season later this week and will
>> definitely address this as a priority.
>>  I am also looking for a source for new Dutchman line.  One broke while
>> bending on the sails.  Last repair I used string Trimmer replacement line,
>> but this year, all of the string trimmer line seems to be color coded....
>>
>> Thanks for the great resource and commentary!
>> Gary
>> #205
>>
>> On 6/8/2015 8:46 AM, Jeff Hare wrote:
>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> With a number of new owners on the list this year, it's time to
>>> re-broadcast
>>> the important annual Mast Step Block maintenance tip.  I can't remember
>>> if
>>> the newer MKII mast steps are the same as the older ones, so someone else
>>> can comment there.
>>>
>>> Apologies for those who've heard this before, but it's important and not
>>> always very obvious.
>>>
>>> The turning blocks attached to the base of the mast have SS studs that
>>> screw
>>> into a SS nut that slides into a slot under the mast step. Since the nut
>>> and the stud are Stainless, and the mast step is Aluminum, the studs will
>>> corrode against the mast step plate and freeze up, faster in salt water.
>>>
>>> They need to be able to turn freely to keep from being bent under load.
>>> I
>>> suggest you unscrew each block (counter clockwise of course), and slide
>>> the
>>> nut out of the slot with a screwdriver.  Coat the stud and threads and
>>> the
>>> whole nut with "TefGel" anti-sieze/anti-corrosion grease and reinstall
>>> them.
>>> Without doing this they will corrode and freeze up and may require
>>> removing
>>> the mast and mast step to fix them!  After that, liberally spray the
>>> bearings of each block with "Sail Kote" or your favorite dry lube.
>>>
>>>
>>> To do this simple maintenance job, you do not have to have to remove any
>>> of
>>> the lines, just loosen the lines to provide some slack.  When you screw
>>> them back in, screw them in all the way with your fingers until they stop
>>> then UNSCREW them one full turn.  This allows the blocks to pivot easily
>>> and
>>> stay fair to the pull of the line.
>>>
>>>
>>> I didn't do this last year (maybe it's been 2 years?) and one of them was
>>> right on the edge of being frozen up.  Took a bit of effort to get it
>>> freed
>>> up.  I saw serious case on a C380 where the owner snugged up all the
>>> studs
>>> so that they didn't pivot at all and under load, some of the Garhauer
>>> blocks
>>> bent because they couldn't swivel to align with the rope under tension.
>>> On
>>> top of that, most of the studs had corroded solid to the mast step.  The
>>> mast had to be pulled, the step removed and the studs had to be removed
>>> by a
>>> machine shop.  This was on a boat only 4 years old.  Don't let this
>>> happen
>>> to you! :)
>>>
>>> -Jeff Hare
>>>
>>> #809
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>