Jose Update?

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Tim

Jose, How are the plans going to get Ipanema prepared for the Marion-Bermuda race? Have you had to do any major modifications to the 361? Any other advice you could provide on offshore prep would be appreciated becuase we're looking to take our 361 (#266) offshore - although nowhere near as far - this summer. Thanks in advance! Tim s/v Bella Donna
 
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Jose Venegas

Not even close

Tim The list of things required to enter the race is quite long and can be found at: http://www.marionbermuda.com/2003/index2.shtml That may help you with tips and suggestions. Although this is Ipanema’s first Bermuda passage, I brought the boat from Florida to Marblehead in June 2000 mostly offshore, except for the ICWW form Moorhead city to Norfolk. I really did not have to modify anything on the boat but, before that trip I bought the basic safety equipment, a 6 person life raft and a set of SOLAS flares, which are still valid for 1 more year. In addition I bought an asymmetric spinnaker and set up a preventer. I am still far away from completing the list but here is a few things that I have done so far: 1) Recruit crew (not so easy but so far I have got a firm crew of 5 +cap and one alternate) 2) Ordered sails: 150 and 110 Genoas and Storm jib and trysail (Still need to define what to do with the heavy weather jib. 3) Installed a radar reflector 4) Installed a Gori folding prop. 5) Got US sail number for Ipanema: US51895 (it is now official!!!) The main things that still need to be done are: Securing the floor boards Replace current acid batteries by gel batteries Buy or make a drogue Set up lee cloths on bunks and a strap for cook If you, or any forum participant, has additional tips, please pass them along. I will keep you informed of my progress. Wish you fair winds and calm seas in your cruise this summer Jose
 
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Kevin

Offshore in the 361

Jose, while sailing from Charleston, SC to Cape Canaveral, FL we had 35-40 knts on the nose for 20 hours. It would have been nice to have a heavy weather storm sail to try and make some way to windward. As it was we just tried to not lose too much ground. One anoying problem was that the campionway hatch took in water when we hit a wave over the deck. I am told from Beneteau that this is a problem and they have no solutions. Do you have this problem & have you found a cure? Also we installed a carpet down to protect the floor from scratches from our dog and found this to be an excellent non skid underway. No problem with the floor boards and great footing. She held up very well under the conditions. The seas were not to big 10-12' but were only 6 seconds apart making it choppy. Not one system failed and the whole trip saw nothing under 20knts. Good luck on the Bermuda trip and any tips are welcome...
 
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Jose Venegas

Good point Kevin

You bring up an important point Kevin. I was planning to keep my dodger folded during fair weather, but deploy it during bad weather. May be I should also design a transparent plastic cover for the hatch and the companionway that could be deployed to decrease the leak that you describe. I will give it some thought. Thanks
 
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Kevin

Jose

Jose, I left the dodger up and am glad I did. We would have taken more water had I not. The dodger was uneffected by the conditions. The problem with the sliding hatch is that it does not make a good seal while healed. I will try to seal from the glass down instead of the small gasket that is on the sliding rail. I think that a building supply store should have some weatherproofing which will adhere to the glass. The ports leaked but were easily corrected by tightening the screws. She had her first real stretch of her legs. Look into the marine carpet by R&R Textiles @ 706-695-1555. It is called Char-Brown Protecto, they only have one color and it has a non skid backing. This worked very well to give footing. I cut the material to follow the contour of the sole and it looks good to.
 
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Tim

Hatch Leak Follow Up

Kevin- If the Dodger was up, from where did the companionway hatch leak? Was it around the fixed "sunroof" in front of the dodger, or were conditions such that water was making its way around the dodger AND the hatch? Also, based on your experience, could you comment on Jose's idea of fabricating a plexiglass cover (becuase that's were my mind went immediately as well), do you think that would work? Thanks! Tim
 
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Kevin

leak

Tim, If you look at the construction of the hatch you will see that it slides on a track. The track has a gasket on the side to prevent water from coming under the glass. When you take on water it comes into the designed scupper and drains, However when heeled the glass does not have contact with the track & its gasket allows water to pass under. This is why I think we will put a new gasket on the underside of the glass to compress against the side of the track when heeled. Any other ideas are appreciated... I still have not found a solid way to stop the companionway from screaching when sliding it.
 
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Gary

hatch gasket

I had a leak at the same gasket which was finally cured when the dealer replaced the entire gasket with a thicker, heavier gasket. My leak would show up only during a very heavy rain, as the boat rolled at anchor. I have always thought that the design--relying on the companionway top to slide along a gasket--or should I say rub along a gasket--is less than ideal since only gravity keeps the seal.
 
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Jose Venegas

Companionway Screach

Thanks for the tips on the hatch leaks. I will give it serious thought and will try to solve it before embarking to Bermuda. As far as the Companionway hatch screech, I found that applying baby powder on the rubber gasket eliminates it and makes it a lot easier to open and close the hatch. Unfortunately it does not last more than a week or less if it gets wet I tried to use MacLube and it made it substantially worse. Jose
 
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Tim

Screech-o-rama

Garth Hitchens of Annapolis Yachts Sales told me to use a hard-wax lubricant on the hatch to elimiante that blood-curtling screech (according to Garth these "lube-sticks" can be found in auto parts stores). I haven't tried it yet, but if anyone has a boat that isn't under a cover right now, this may be worth a try.
 
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Jose Venegas

Americap II

I am impressed guys. After being denied by Beneteau USA, following my e-mail request, Beneteau France agreed to send the 361 hull lines file to USSail for the purpose of generating the Americap II handicap for our boat. This has saved some one the $1200 that USSail charges for conducting the measurements (not me since I was not willing to pay that kind of money for rating a boat mainly used for cruising).
 
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