My wife and I are keen on purchasing a 340. The boat we are looking at has some minor cracking in the gel coat at the base of the arch and in the adjacent gunwhale on the port side. We thought this may have been due to the impact of a violent boom movement caused by an uncontrolled gibe. Has anyone noticed this type of cracking? Is it likely to be caused in this way? Does it seem to be of concern?
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Wynn Ferrel
Sounds like a reasonable explanation
Your explanation for the arch gelcoat cracks seems reasonable to me. I have a 340 and I am not experiencing any cracks. It does sound impact related to me. I have three operational problems with the arch. 1. The vinyl bumpers on the fore and aft of the arch tend to pull away from the gelcoat and need to be recaulked with an adhesive caulk. No big deal... 2. When adjusting the traveler lines, be sure to pull the lines out or aft of the arch when adjusting as the friction of the lines will tend to score the vinyl covering on the arch. 3. Sometimes the traveler lines will become fouled when coming about. I've learned to start adjusting the lines AS we are coming about to avoid fouling. Good luck. You'll like the H340. Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
Your explanation for the arch gelcoat cracks seems reasonable to me. I have a 340 and I am not experiencing any cracks. It does sound impact related to me. I have three operational problems with the arch. 1. The vinyl bumpers on the fore and aft of the arch tend to pull away from the gelcoat and need to be recaulked with an adhesive caulk. No big deal... 2. When adjusting the traveler lines, be sure to pull the lines out or aft of the arch when adjusting as the friction of the lines will tend to score the vinyl covering on the arch. 3. Sometimes the traveler lines will become fouled when coming about. I've learned to start adjusting the lines AS we are coming about to avoid fouling. Good luck. You'll like the H340. Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
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Mal Trotter
340 Arch Problems
Wynn, thanks for your response. Now that you mention it, I did notice that shallow grooves have been caused by the traveller lines on the vinyl covering the rear of the arch when pulled down from the traveller. I thought covering the vinyl at either end with a short section of rounded stainless steel plate might solve this.
Wynn, thanks for your response. Now that you mention it, I did notice that shallow grooves have been caused by the traveller lines on the vinyl covering the rear of the arch when pulled down from the traveller. I thought covering the vinyl at either end with a short section of rounded stainless steel plate might solve this.
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Mike Kinney
No cracks here
I have no cracks in either the arch or the surrounding coaming area on my 340. I have endured some fairly hard (unexpected) gibes too. I'm a big fan of the fiberglass arch after 2200 miles. I don't have the etching problems mentined by Wynn because my bimini covers the vinyl. Also, I recall only one occasion when my traveler sheets have become fouled on top of the arch.
I have no cracks in either the arch or the surrounding coaming area on my 340. I have endured some fairly hard (unexpected) gibes too. I'm a big fan of the fiberglass arch after 2200 miles. I don't have the etching problems mentined by Wynn because my bimini covers the vinyl. Also, I recall only one occasion when my traveler sheets have become fouled on top of the arch.
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Jim Russell
Keep bolts tight
I have had no similar problems with my 340, but like Wynn have experienced some problems with the rubber when pulling the traveler. Wonder if the bolts for the arch were slightly loose at one time on the model you're looking at. Not hard to tighten though it takes two, and one should be relative small in stature. Jim
I have had no similar problems with my 340, but like Wynn have experienced some problems with the rubber when pulling the traveler. Wonder if the bolts for the arch were slightly loose at one time on the model you're looking at. Not hard to tighten though it takes two, and one should be relative small in stature. Jim
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Wynn Ferrel
Am I doing something wrong?
Wonder why I am the only one having problems with the lines on the traveler fouling when I come about on my H340? Am I doing something wrong? The mainsheet will sometimes be twisted on the block over the arch and the lines on the traveler can become fouled when coming about unless I open the pinch cleats and start moving the traveler to the other side as I come about. Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
Wonder why I am the only one having problems with the lines on the traveler fouling when I come about on my H340? Am I doing something wrong? The mainsheet will sometimes be twisted on the block over the arch and the lines on the traveler can become fouled when coming about unless I open the pinch cleats and start moving the traveler to the other side as I come about. Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
You're not the only one.
Wynn: This also happens on our traveler when we do not sheet it in. If we are moving the sail to the leeward side we need to loosen the main sheet on the windward side and sheet it in on the leeward side or the same thing happens.
Wynn: This also happens on our traveler when we do not sheet it in. If we are moving the sail to the leeward side we need to loosen the main sheet on the windward side and sheet it in on the leeward side or the same thing happens.
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Dakota Jim Russell
Wayne, use two hands <grin>
The solution to the problem is to get your mate to pull the one line in as you release the other side. Otherwise it fouls quite routinely. I think the design is somewhat flawed, in that they should have included some shock cording to take up the slack. Of course if you wait to pull it over after you have tacted, it won't foul, but you'll be pulling much harder. In such cases I have been known to stand on the rear pulpit seats to get a better angle above the bimini.
The solution to the problem is to get your mate to pull the one line in as you release the other side. Otherwise it fouls quite routinely. I think the design is somewhat flawed, in that they should have included some shock cording to take up the slack. Of course if you wait to pull it over after you have tacted, it won't foul, but you'll be pulling much harder. In such cases I have been known to stand on the rear pulpit seats to get a better angle above the bimini.
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Wayne Estabrooks
Minor cracks in gelcoat on my Arch
When the arch was being installed on my 340, #139 1997 Some gelcoat chipped at the base of the arch where it contacts or mates with the deck of the boat. As they tightened the bolts there was a bang and some chips. The cracks were not structural and my arch is solid. I do have occassional fouling of the mainsheet as you describe, the sheet wraps around the block on the traveler. Not a major problem but I watch out for it. You will love the 340 if you buy it. Great boat.
When the arch was being installed on my 340, #139 1997 Some gelcoat chipped at the base of the arch where it contacts or mates with the deck of the boat. As they tightened the bolts there was a bang and some chips. The cracks were not structural and my arch is solid. I do have occassional fouling of the mainsheet as you describe, the sheet wraps around the block on the traveler. Not a major problem but I watch out for it. You will love the 340 if you buy it. Great boat.
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Darcy Peck
No Problems So Far
No problems with my arch as yet. I routinely check & snug up the bolts. My traveler control lines run down inside the arch to the cockpit. We have not experienced fouling of the lines as I keep both snugged up after tacking to avoid such a problem. Our first year with our 1999 was riddled with numerous problems. This, our second year is looking up & we are starting to enjoy the boat. Wish we had a longer season up here in the north.
No problems with my arch as yet. I routinely check & snug up the bolts. My traveler control lines run down inside the arch to the cockpit. We have not experienced fouling of the lines as I keep both snugged up after tacking to avoid such a problem. Our first year with our 1999 was riddled with numerous problems. This, our second year is looking up & we are starting to enjoy the boat. Wish we had a longer season up here in the north.
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