As we get accustomed to our new Vision 32 "Running on Empty", a question comes up about the forestay. When I re-attached it and the Hood 705 furler to the stem fitting at the dock, I had to work hard to get the pin through the holes. I used the jib halyard to tension things, and that made it easier, but it was still a female dog. Now that I have the jib on the furler & it is tensioned, there is a bit less tension in the forestay. I imagine that with the weight of the mainsail and the tension on the mainsheet while sailing, this will tend to pull the mast astern and tension the forestay... So, any comments from V32 owners on how tight their forestays are at rest (dock), while sailing (what point of sail?)and while motoring with the main down? Thanks!
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Mike Webster
Play with it!
Hi Tom, I hope you get some other responses to this question, especially from those Vision 32 owners who race. I would also be interested in what others are doing. First of all, I have a Harken roller furler, and it has a threaded adjustment so I can adjust the lenght of the forestay after pinning. I would imagine yours does too. Try to get the manual. In essence, I eyeball the forestay, trying to take out as much sag as possible at the dock. I know that as you increase the tension, you'll just be pulling the mast forward, negating part of the effect. However, the mast is very strong, and its attached at a large cross-sectional point, and its very resistant to bending at that point. Also, you are correct in assuming that the boom will also help tension the forstay, but you will still have sag with this type of rig. I play more with the jib halyard tension, tightening it up considerably as the wind builds. However, I have to then take the tension off the halyard before furling the jib, as it won't furl with the added tension. You could add a jib cunningham, but thats just more rigging to worry about and trip over. Lets hope for some lengthy discussion from other owners.
Hi Tom, I hope you get some other responses to this question, especially from those Vision 32 owners who race. I would also be interested in what others are doing. First of all, I have a Harken roller furler, and it has a threaded adjustment so I can adjust the lenght of the forestay after pinning. I would imagine yours does too. Try to get the manual. In essence, I eyeball the forestay, trying to take out as much sag as possible at the dock. I know that as you increase the tension, you'll just be pulling the mast forward, negating part of the effect. However, the mast is very strong, and its attached at a large cross-sectional point, and its very resistant to bending at that point. Also, you are correct in assuming that the boom will also help tension the forstay, but you will still have sag with this type of rig. I play more with the jib halyard tension, tightening it up considerably as the wind builds. However, I have to then take the tension off the halyard before furling the jib, as it won't furl with the added tension. You could add a jib cunningham, but thats just more rigging to worry about and trip over. Lets hope for some lengthy discussion from other owners.
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Doug T.
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Steve O.
Hood furler
There should be a turnbuckle under the Hood furling drum assembly, but you have to raise the drum to get to it. Check your instruction manual, or contact Hood at www.pompanette.com
There should be a turnbuckle under the Hood furling drum assembly, but you have to raise the drum to get to it. Check your instruction manual, or contact Hood at www.pompanette.com
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Tom Boles
We went & played today!
Mike & others, thanks for the comments. I'll read the Harken lit, but as Mike points out, that's a big unstayed mast and VERY different than a regular Marconi stayed rig! We (my kids & I) went out today for a couple of hours. It was blowing 12-15 knots, with 2 foot swells. We only went under jib, as I don't have the battens in yet on the main. I was surprised at how much the foil actually does sag when we were close hauled. I messed with Jib halyard tension and was able to get some decent shape, but only on a beam reach or closer to a run. The turnbuckle on the furler is at the top of it's travel, so I have ~1.7" to play with in pure tension. I'm curious what effect the main will have, so I need to get those battens in. As an aside, having an autopilot on a boat this big with a wheel is a joy! I can push the button and she stays on course while I futz with the kids, put up the cockpit table, take a leak or grab the fenders. I do miss a tiller-the feel of the "sacred wood" in my hand, the directness with the boat.... maybe I need to get a Lido 14 again... I'll try & take pictures next time. Cheers!
Mike & others, thanks for the comments. I'll read the Harken lit, but as Mike points out, that's a big unstayed mast and VERY different than a regular Marconi stayed rig! We (my kids & I) went out today for a couple of hours. It was blowing 12-15 knots, with 2 foot swells. We only went under jib, as I don't have the battens in yet on the main. I was surprised at how much the foil actually does sag when we were close hauled. I messed with Jib halyard tension and was able to get some decent shape, but only on a beam reach or closer to a run. The turnbuckle on the furler is at the top of it's travel, so I have ~1.7" to play with in pure tension. I'm curious what effect the main will have, so I need to get those battens in. As an aside, having an autopilot on a boat this big with a wheel is a joy! I can push the button and she stays on course while I futz with the kids, put up the cockpit table, take a leak or grab the fenders. I do miss a tiller-the feel of the "sacred wood" in my hand, the directness with the boat.... maybe I need to get a Lido 14 again... I'll try & take pictures next time. Cheers!
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Mike Webster
Doesn't perform under jib
Hi Tom, Glad you're enjoying your new boat. Brings back memories of when I got mine. Autopilot, wheel, inboard diesel were all new to me. I purchased it in January in Virginia, where we leave the boats in the water all year, but its still mighty cold. I would still go to the boat for the weekend and just sit and stare at all the space. Good memories! Anyway, you're right, its very different than a Marconi rig. I've tried to sail it under jib alone in heavier air when I just wanted an easy ride, but no use. It would tack thru about 180 degrees before getting enough headway to try to come back up to weather. Its really a mainsail boat, and performs great under main alone. That little jib does add power and pointing ability though. I haven't really played with the sail adjustment settings in awhile, partly because the sails were in pretty bad shape, and part laziness. But with the new sails, I'm really excited again. We've had very uncharacteristic weather this spring, with a lot of heavy air weekends, and adjusting the rig and sails does make a difference. The old addage that this boat won't point isn't true, at least with good sails. A week or so ago, we had non-sailing friends on board for the weekend. Saturday was a 12-15 knot day with heavier gusts. We had an easy sail down the lake, and a beat back up. A local club was having a sailboat race, and the starting line was just about on my line of sail. Quite a few boats, mostly cruisers that raced alot, not the racers that never cruise, were sailing back and forth waiting for the start. They were obviously going to start about the same time I reached the line, enough outside and downwind of the committee boat to be out of their way. To get to the point, I raced upwind with these guys for the next mile or so, without giving any ground to any but the best. And this was without doing any special trimming or adjustments (friends on board, remember?). I hadn't even tightened the jib halyard to pull the draft forward for pointing. Thats the best I've seen this boat do upwind, and the sails do make a heck of a difference. Anyway, if there is wind this weekend, I might play some with the forstay tension. I'll let you know how it goes. As an aside to your aside, I agree that the autopilot is one of the best things ever invented for a boat. Its like always having another crew on board, and makes single handing pretty easy. I don't know how I used to get along without it. While on the Chesapeake, we'd take week long trips, with a couple of 50 mile days to get to the good cruising grounds (upper bay, Annapolis area). A lot of windless days in the summer, and the autopilot does the steering while you're puttering away doing whatever. Its really great. Good sailing, Mike
Hi Tom, Glad you're enjoying your new boat. Brings back memories of when I got mine. Autopilot, wheel, inboard diesel were all new to me. I purchased it in January in Virginia, where we leave the boats in the water all year, but its still mighty cold. I would still go to the boat for the weekend and just sit and stare at all the space. Good memories! Anyway, you're right, its very different than a Marconi rig. I've tried to sail it under jib alone in heavier air when I just wanted an easy ride, but no use. It would tack thru about 180 degrees before getting enough headway to try to come back up to weather. Its really a mainsail boat, and performs great under main alone. That little jib does add power and pointing ability though. I haven't really played with the sail adjustment settings in awhile, partly because the sails were in pretty bad shape, and part laziness. But with the new sails, I'm really excited again. We've had very uncharacteristic weather this spring, with a lot of heavy air weekends, and adjusting the rig and sails does make a difference. The old addage that this boat won't point isn't true, at least with good sails. A week or so ago, we had non-sailing friends on board for the weekend. Saturday was a 12-15 knot day with heavier gusts. We had an easy sail down the lake, and a beat back up. A local club was having a sailboat race, and the starting line was just about on my line of sail. Quite a few boats, mostly cruisers that raced alot, not the racers that never cruise, were sailing back and forth waiting for the start. They were obviously going to start about the same time I reached the line, enough outside and downwind of the committee boat to be out of their way. To get to the point, I raced upwind with these guys for the next mile or so, without giving any ground to any but the best. And this was without doing any special trimming or adjustments (friends on board, remember?). I hadn't even tightened the jib halyard to pull the draft forward for pointing. Thats the best I've seen this boat do upwind, and the sails do make a heck of a difference. Anyway, if there is wind this weekend, I might play some with the forstay tension. I'll let you know how it goes. As an aside to your aside, I agree that the autopilot is one of the best things ever invented for a boat. Its like always having another crew on board, and makes single handing pretty easy. I don't know how I used to get along without it. While on the Chesapeake, we'd take week long trips, with a couple of 50 mile days to get to the good cruising grounds (upper bay, Annapolis area). A lot of windless days in the summer, and the autopilot does the steering while you're puttering away doing whatever. Its really great. Good sailing, Mike
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Tom Boles
No performance, but still fun!
I agree, Mike, it's not performance, but it was still sailboatin'! The boat manages to go to weather with just the jib, (not very fast,as you say) and that was enough for us. The knot meter was saying things like 3.5 knots, but I don't know what the current was doing. Cheers
I agree, Mike, it's not performance, but it was still sailboatin'! The boat manages to go to weather with just the jib, (not very fast,as you say) and that was enough for us. The knot meter was saying things like 3.5 knots, but I don't know what the current was doing. Cheers
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