lowering the rudder and other questions

[george whitson]

Thanks to everyone for all the ideas for our new DS 3. Sails great, yesterday had it in about 17 knots and it was planing across the bay!The questionsOur access to the water is thru tidal wetlands so we keep the centerboard up and often the rudder kicks up during the trip. Is there a way to get the rudder to drop without me hanging off the back of the boat and handpushing it down. Also, we don't know is there is a particular level of tension to keep in the sidestays. We know not to overtighten it nor tighening the leeward stay when sailing. I have handtightened it so that the shroud doesn't vibrate when I pull on it but isn't rigid. The roller furling for the jib never seems to get itself back in fully. I open the bottom cleat reset it but when we come in from sailing it's hanging out a foot or so.Self bailer seems to work when rain accumulates but when we are in the boat setting up and sailing it seems to let more water in than it takes out.Thanks George Whitson

 

[Rod Johnson,]

A few tips

With the roller furler, you need to add a few more turns to the drum. The best way to fix this might be to furl the jib, loosen the halyard to remove tension, unhook the tack of the jib from the furler, turn the drum to wind in about 3-4 turns of line, then re-attach the jib to the furler and retension the halyard. There should now be enough turns of line on the drum to allow furling the rest of the jib. If not, repeat above. You should not have to do this more than once to solve the problem.Tension on stays, I have mine tight when at rest, the leeward shroud will hang limp while sailing. If it doesn't, then I have it too tight. I adjust the turnbuckles by hand, only using a wrench to keep the locknuts tight.Self Bailer (aka Self-filler), mine works OK, but I too notice that the water comes in as soon as I get aboard! I usually leave the plug out of the bailer when I'm not aboard and close it while sailing. I then bail out the water that was trapped in the aft end of the cockpit. I tend to sail with care and so rarely take water over the side. What does come in runs into the "gutter" along the cockpit edges.I have a DS II, but the basics are the same. My roller-furling experience is on our other boat, a CAL 21.

 

[Kelly Purinton]

shroud tension

I had heard that the stays should be tight and not loose. One of mine had worked itself so loose that it disconnected, and I appeared at the mooring last night to find the mast (and boom, and main) resting on the muddy bottom. This morning we restepped the mast and made the stays tighter than before.Is there a guide to the tension? Kelly1965 DaySailor "Daisy Sail" Portland, ME