423 - Important info and a few questions

[pburns03]

On a recent offshore trip, our 423 (a fabulous boat imho and a treat to sail) developed major diesel fuel leaking into the bilge. An extensive evaluation finally noted the leak in what I was told was the vent line into the tank. Filling the tank fully apparently created the most opportunity to leakage. We pumped 12 gallons of diesel out of the bilge prior to the repair. Just wanting to anonymously tip those who might have the same risk, apparently at install the tank drop created a strain/significant bend in the vent line causing a failure in something unlikely to occur in an 11 year old hull. Repair was easy once the source was finally able to be viewed - a hole had to be drilled).

One question about the main furler. We were reasonably cautious with most reefing and raising of the main but we still had major overrides with the leech. This was a new North mainsail, not the original Neil Prydes. I was wondering if an improper cut/overly thick leech would be the issue? I have read on forums that NOT tensioning the main halyard is suggested with furling but we seemed to find the opposite?

Also, despite having a full forward water tank, when the aft tank was empty the sink would not run water? We did sustain a lightning strike to the mast but I believe that didn't seem to affect things when the aft tank had water.

Thanks in advance, I'm not too forum savvy and tried to find answers without success....

 

[Will Gilmore]

I have read on forums that NOT tensioning the main halyard is suggested with furling but we seemed to find the opposite?

What you experience makes more sense. My father owned an Amel 50 with in-mast furling. He never loosened anything to furl. It worked great. Maybe the sail is cut too full or the cable is stretching inside the mast?

You've owned your boat for a while without issue with the sink and water tank? It there a clog or restriction, or the tank's vent isn't allowing air to replace the water being pumped out? Maybe the lightning is a coincident, maybe it melted something internally, maybe the pump is bad, can you hear it running?

Hope you get your problems worked out without major expenditure.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Davidasailor26]

Also, despite having a full forward water tank, when the aft tank was empty the sink would not run water?

There may be a manifold to select which tank to pull from. Be sure you have only the front tank selected when the back tank is empty, otherwise the pump will pull air from the back rather than water from the front.

 

[Gunni]

New North Sail not furling correctly? Get a knowledgeable North Sail rep out to the boat real skippy and have the sail furling problem evaluated. That should have been done when they delivered your new sail.

As DavidSailor notes you have to valve-off the empty tank when it is not in use. In fact only have one tank valved opened at any one time, this provides you with the reserve water you need when one of your tanks goes empty.

 

[pburns03]

Thanks for all the helpful posts. Trying to keep things anonymous, although imho the issues were largely part of offshore routine offshore sailing problems. This was a friend's boat we are delivering; my understanding is that there was no history of these issues..

I do think that it's a fresh set of sails from what we've been told, they're black and furled so harder for me to realize that they've not been sailed much. I was trying to track down a North contact but I should likely defer that to the skipper and owner, just trying to get some ideas.

Hopefully we'll be back underway in a few weeks and I'll circle back.