Does Doyle or anyone else have any tricks or tips for keeping the Dutchmen contol lines from staining the sails when they are flaked under the sail cover? Thanks, Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
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Yes
Get rid of it. I recently purchase a stack pack from UK sails and got rid of the Dutchmen system. The system works great. No staining and no sails being ripped by the cable that runs through it.
Get rid of it. I recently purchase a stack pack from UK sails and got rid of the Dutchmen system. The system works great. No staining and no sails being ripped by the cable that runs through it.
Dutchman Marks
Hi Peter, I feel that I already replied to you on this but it does not show under the responses so here we go again and apologies if you have already seen it. I had the same problems as you with my Dutchman system. The surface of the cloth goes black when rubbed by the vertical lines and the sailcloth fibres are changed. After cleaning the marks remain and it is not dirt. Soon you will also have permanent marks where the sails fold every time you stow them plus other marks where they contact the mainsheet blocks. The black plastic material of the Shaeffer blocks seems to transfer to the sail. Oh then any oil in the blocks gets onto the sail too. I have abandoned the Dutchman after three years and a spoiled mainsail and have now made a sailcoat and lazy jack system combined. Now I zip up the sail every time we go into port. It is much tidier and the sail is protected against UV. Previously it was too much bother to fit the cover with all its fiddly zippers over the Dutchman lines etc. Wish I had the benefit of this advice three years ago. If you want to preserve the looks of your sail do not delay in changing. Most UK sailmakers have been supplying these sail covers for many years and they now seem to be catching on in your country too. I have never seen a Dutchman supplied as original fit on a UK made boat. Regards, Don
Hi Peter, I feel that I already replied to you on this but it does not show under the responses so here we go again and apologies if you have already seen it. I had the same problems as you with my Dutchman system. The surface of the cloth goes black when rubbed by the vertical lines and the sailcloth fibres are changed. After cleaning the marks remain and it is not dirt. Soon you will also have permanent marks where the sails fold every time you stow them plus other marks where they contact the mainsheet blocks. The black plastic material of the Shaeffer blocks seems to transfer to the sail. Oh then any oil in the blocks gets onto the sail too. I have abandoned the Dutchman after three years and a spoiled mainsail and have now made a sailcoat and lazy jack system combined. Now I zip up the sail every time we go into port. It is much tidier and the sail is protected against UV. Previously it was too much bother to fit the cover with all its fiddly zippers over the Dutchman lines etc. Wish I had the benefit of this advice three years ago. If you want to preserve the looks of your sail do not delay in changing. Most UK sailmakers have been supplying these sail covers for many years and they now seem to be catching on in your country too. I have never seen a Dutchman supplied as original fit on a UK made boat. Regards, Don
Marks on dutchman Mains
Peter, Due to the holes cut in the sail cover to accomodate the Dutchman control lies it is very hard to avoid water and dirt from getting on the sail. The only thing I would suggest would be to have the sail washed at least once a year. A professional sail washer will be able to get most of the marks off the sail. Bill Colombo, Doyle SF
Peter, Due to the holes cut in the sail cover to accomodate the Dutchman control lies it is very hard to avoid water and dirt from getting on the sail. The only thing I would suggest would be to have the sail washed at least once a year. A professional sail washer will be able to get most of the marks off the sail. Bill Colombo, Doyle SF
Require Info On Dutchman!
Peter, We purchased a 1977 C30 in September which we are told has a Dutchman system on it. As we have never been exposed to or know anyone who has this system I was wondering if you could give me an e-mail so I could pick your brain to ascertain how the thing should perform and whether ours is working the way it should. Thanks Cliff Carter e-mail: ccarter@pacificcoast.net
Peter, We purchased a 1977 C30 in September which we are told has a Dutchman system on it. As we have never been exposed to or know anyone who has this system I was wondering if you could give me an e-mail so I could pick your brain to ascertain how the thing should perform and whether ours is working the way it should. Thanks Cliff Carter e-mail: ccarter@pacificcoast.net
Simple fix
Peter, I have a h376 with the Dutchmen system. What I did from the getgo is lay a small towel around the top of the sail and Dutchmen line making sure it is wraped tight around the line. All the dirt will pile up on top of the towel, it will not go to the sail. I also drop and wipe down the Dutchmen lines/toping lift using my main halard as the toping lift. Its a little work but my main sail looks white.
Peter, I have a h376 with the Dutchmen system. What I did from the getgo is lay a small towel around the top of the sail and Dutchmen line making sure it is wraped tight around the line. All the dirt will pile up on top of the towel, it will not go to the sail. I also drop and wipe down the Dutchmen lines/toping lift using my main halard as the toping lift. Its a little work but my main sail looks white.
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