Dutchman flaking system

[Clydo]

New owner of C310. Boat trucked to yard and rigger stepped mast
and secured standing rigging. Main sail still packed in cabin. Past
experience only with lazy jacks. Appreciate info on how to rig
Dutchman system. Past experience 13 years C30 and 5 years C27.
Thank you for any information.
Second question. Blower operates with engine running. Is there
separate switch somewhere to turn off?

Clyde Thorington
San Jose, CA

 

[Allan12210]

Clyde,

The Dutchman system will probably require you to have a sailmaker install for you. It requires a couple of pockets sewn to the foot of the sail and two vertical rows of carefully aligned holes punched in the main. You will need a special topping lift to support the Dutchman lines. Then you need to modify your sailcover with a couple of zippers so it will still fit the sail. With all that being said, we got the Dutchman when we bought a new mainsail. It was easier at that time rather than trying to retrofit the old sail. We also bought a new cover at that time. They sell lazyjack kits that you can install yourself. it will be cheaper and if you are already used to them, maybe easier in the long run.

Regarding the blower, its probably designed to run with the engine on as that keeps the engine compartment cooler and provides plenty of air for more efficient operation.

See you around town (San Jose that is!)

Allan

 

[Long Story]

Check your manuals that I hope came with your boat from the PO, there should be a section on how to rig. As you know, and because you asked it is a pretty good bet you have the system installed. There were two types of rigging one fixed topping lift style, the second and more common went up and down with the topping lift. Here is a link to the manual, will also try to attach. http://www.mvbinfo.com/images/sf_om_a.pdf

As for the blower, there is a side to side toggle switch on the engine control pod (it's at the bottom underneath the pod hard to see) that needs to be switched off.

By the way, most common problem - broken line and where to get it? We replaced ours with round profile .086 weed whacker line. Some use deep sea fishing line.

You will love the boat and this is a great source of people willing to help.

Russ

 

[Allan12210]

Guess, that's what happens when I try and stay up too late and write posts on my phone. You already have the system installed.

Russ has given you what you should need. With a little tweaking to get the right tension on the control lines it should work pretty well.

 

[Long Story]

Oh Allan, you just brought up the most trick part of the system, getting the right tension, for both sailing and when dropping the sail. You have to make a change because you want the sail to have the ability to bag out when sailing, yet you want it tight when dropping the sail to flake properly. Finding that point is an issue. Ours is worst because we must also adjust the system to get the mono lines out of the way of the sail cover. I have lots of marker lines drawn on my topping lift.

 

[Bob S]

Ours is worst because we must also adjust the system to get the mono lines out of the way of the sail cover. I have lots of marker lines drawn on my topping lift.

I had a local canvas guy add slots to my sail cover with velcro so I didn't have to play with the topping lift when covering. It worked out pretty well.

 

[rpwillia]

Long Story is on it.

Oh Allan, you just brought up the most trick part of the system, getting the right tension, for both sailing and when dropping the sail. You have to make a change because you want the sail to have the ability to bag out when sailing, yet you want it tight when dropping the sail to flake properly. Finding that point is an issue. Ours is worst because we must also adjust the system to get the mono lines out of the way of the sail cover. I have lots of marker lines drawn on my topping lift.

My Dutchman was a pain until I saw the guy at the Annapolis boat show and he walked me through it. You probably do not want the tension too tight as it will put drag on the sail as it drops down - a little slack it your friend. Also when we put the cover on I simply slack the adjuster on the topping lift and the string lines droop. Got a lifetime replacement roll at Ace Hardware for around $5. 0.105 thickness as I recall. Better to get the smooth stuff if you can find it instead of the stuff with ridges like Lowe's has. You will like the Dutchman a lot.