Don (Narragansett Bay - my old stomping ground): I'm have little knowledge of the Dutchman system so hopefully one of the forum listers can help you out. I'm more of a lazy jack guy and a home made one at that.
Dutchman
- Thread starter Don Guillette
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ducthman
don, the ducthman - from connecticut - consists its own topping lift and two vertical lines which go through holes in the main, and as the main is raised or lowered it is guided between the two lines so it flakes on the boom by itself. besides making flaking a dream the dutchman does the same for reefing; in order to reef all you have to do is tie the main aroung the boom. so far mine has been totally trouble free, but maybe best to ask your friends at catalina who include a ducthman on each new bigger boat - at least 310 and up. some people get new sail covers with slits, but clarke bassett of kappa sails in westbrook, ct, showed me that by slacking the topping lift the dutchman lines have more than enough slack to fit the standard sail cover, and the system has no effect on sail shape.
don, the ducthman - from connecticut - consists its own topping lift and two vertical lines which go through holes in the main, and as the main is raised or lowered it is guided between the two lines so it flakes on the boom by itself. besides making flaking a dream the dutchman does the same for reefing; in order to reef all you have to do is tie the main aroung the boom. so far mine has been totally trouble free, but maybe best to ask your friends at catalina who include a ducthman on each new bigger boat - at least 310 and up. some people get new sail covers with slits, but clarke bassett of kappa sails in westbrook, ct, showed me that by slacking the topping lift the dutchman lines have more than enough slack to fit the standard sail cover, and the system has no effect on sail shape.
Here is the Dutchman Website
Works fine on my C36. I am fairly happy with it. http://www.mvbinfo.com/dp_02_SF.html
Works fine on my C36. I am fairly happy with it. http://www.mvbinfo.com/dp_02_SF.html
I'm a fan
For many years, sailing beaten-up club boats, I couldn't figure out what the curious plastic cringles in the sail, and strange zippered flappy things were. Then after attending a boatshow, I realized they were dutchman reefing systems, with the guide wires removed. I've met no shortage of sailors who frown apon this system (mainly because the guide wires can make the sails grubby) but they tame the main, without the chafe associated with lazyjacks. Mine were standard on my Hunter (as were many). I was unimpressed until I spent sometime with someone (who, based on a reference to the name of his boat, I thinks was the dutchman himself, Martinus Van Breems) at a boatshow. He took the time to explain how to adjust the system (which took 10 mins) and oh happy day! I can now dump my 500sq ft main single handed! If you single/short hand, you could do far worse. And based on my encounter with Martinus, you can be assured of superb customer support. So much so, I promptly ordered a Dutchman boom brake.
For many years, sailing beaten-up club boats, I couldn't figure out what the curious plastic cringles in the sail, and strange zippered flappy things were. Then after attending a boatshow, I realized they were dutchman reefing systems, with the guide wires removed. I've met no shortage of sailors who frown apon this system (mainly because the guide wires can make the sails grubby) but they tame the main, without the chafe associated with lazyjacks. Mine were standard on my Hunter (as were many). I was unimpressed until I spent sometime with someone (who, based on a reference to the name of his boat, I thinks was the dutchman himself, Martinus Van Breems) at a boatshow. He took the time to explain how to adjust the system (which took 10 mins) and oh happy day! I can now dump my 500sq ft main single handed! If you single/short hand, you could do far worse. And based on my encounter with Martinus, you can be assured of superb customer support. So much so, I promptly ordered a Dutchman boom brake.
I agree with Soupy
If the Dutchman isn't adjusted correctly it won't work as well as it could. But once adjusted correctly it can work very well, especially if you "train" the mainsail from the beginning and the flakes (crease points) in the sail are there. When adjusted correctly and a mainsail that has the correct "flake" memory in the sail it works very well. I don't think it'll work as well with an older blown out main, but I think it will still work as well as a lazy jack. Even at its worse when I single hand, point into the wind and drop the main it'll keep the mainsail pretty much near the boom (for the most part). Then all it requires is going up, straightening the mainsail a bit and thowing on a couple of strategically placed sail ties and you have the mainsail taken care of. I don't think it'll every be as easy as a mainsail furler, but the beauty is that you can keep a full roached (or any shape) mainsail on your boat and this will work for you
If the Dutchman isn't adjusted correctly it won't work as well as it could. But once adjusted correctly it can work very well, especially if you "train" the mainsail from the beginning and the flakes (crease points) in the sail are there. When adjusted correctly and a mainsail that has the correct "flake" memory in the sail it works very well. I don't think it'll work as well with an older blown out main, but I think it will still work as well as a lazy jack. Even at its worse when I single hand, point into the wind and drop the main it'll keep the mainsail pretty much near the boom (for the most part). Then all it requires is going up, straightening the mainsail a bit and thowing on a couple of strategically placed sail ties and you have the mainsail taken care of. I don't think it'll every be as easy as a mainsail furler, but the beauty is that you can keep a full roached (or any shape) mainsail on your boat and this will work for you
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