More of IMHO Answers
Hi Tom,One thing we all seem to find out in these posts is that there is always another way to do anything. With that said, here are my latest IMHO answers. I also want to hear from other Vision owners, as well.1) Since I've changed my lazy jacks out twice, I can only go by memory. I seem to remember the aftmost lazy jack being rigged thru the boom bail you mentioned. If the cover is cut for that spot, then use it. I now have a 4-part lazy jack system that came with my Mack Pack sail cover, and it does a much better job of keeping the back of the sail on the boom when dousing the main. In fact, I love the whole Mack Pack system. You can see it at Macksails.com.2. My roller furling cleat has never loosened, so I haven't checked if the bolts come thru the deck. However, I have had stanchion bolts strip out of the aluminum plates Hunter uses in their layup. Hunter doesn't seem to use wood coring in the areas where the aluminum plates are buried in the laminate, which makes sense. This means that you can drill out the holes/plate for the next size bolt, and tap it. Just measure the current depth of the hole, put a piece of electrical tape around the drill bit at that depth, and carefully drill the hole for the new tap size to that depth. Then re-tap, finishing up with a bottom tap, to insure you get the plate tapped all the way to the bottom. Rebed your cleat, and use caulking on the threads to seal the hole. 3) To tighten the steering cables, you need to remove the quadrant cover under the helmsmans seat. Its the big fiberglass cover, not the small deck plate. Its held in with three or four screws on each side. Each of your steering cables connect to a bolt on the quadrant, with an adjustable nut that is locked with a jam nut. You can adjust the cables by unlocking the jam nut, and tightening the adjustment nut until you have about 1/2" of play in the middle of each cable when you push it with your finger. 4) I keep some books on board. The engine manual is kept in the nav table. I keep the Hunter manuals in the original blue cover under the chart table against the hull (there is a shelf there). I keep other books in the book rack in the rear cabin, or on top of the hanging locker in the rear cabin.5) I highly recommend the 6-1 main sheet. I installed it after the first time sailing the boat, and have never looked back. Its the only way to go. I have some digital pictures I've sent to other people. I'll try to send them to you at your e-mail address. When I first installed the 6-1 system, I kept the line running back to the mast, down to the cabin top, and back to the cockpit thru the sheet stoppers. It was doubled ended, and also ran thru a Harken cam cleat on the traveler car, as part of the block system purchased from Harken. My thought was that it would be difficult to use the mainsheet on the traveler car in inclement weather, as it would be on the other side of the dodger. During bad weather, I would pull on the mainsheet end that came back to the cockpit thru the sheet stopper. The mainsheet worked so much more easily on the traveler that I ended up never using the end thru the sheetstopper, and finally removed it from the system. I would then undo the bottom snaps on the dodger in front of the traveler so I could reach the end of the mainsheet. It works for me, but you'll have to decide that for yourself.6) Locker storage. Thats a good one that could involve much discussion. Starboard shallow cockpit locker: I store my small stearn anchor/chain/rode, life jackets, cockpit talble, and various cockpit covers here, as well as some extra dock lines. Large, deep starboard cockpit locker: I keep a 5 gal plastic jug of diesel, a second charcoal type grill (the first is on my stearn pulpit), various docklines, oil changing kit, etc. Port cockpit locker: Batteries, various cleaning supplies, alcolol for stove, wax supplies, gas grill (when not on my stearn pulpit). Swim platform lockers: Six gallon dingy gas can, 6 large fenders. I keep my 8hp Nissan outboard on my stearn pulpit. I also keep my horseshoe on my stearn pulpit, mounted low so I can see over it. I've modified my hanging locker in the rear cabin with two shelves to store my wife and my weekend bags. I also lined it with cedar, which keeps the mildew down. I installed a teak hanger behind the door (in the corner)in the head to hold our foul weather outfits. I also put various teak and brass hooks at various places to hang other items on. A triple, piviting brass hook on the front of the head door, and two teak hooks in the rear cabin. I also changed out the hooks on both the head and rear cabin door with cushioned door holders, as seen on Page 563 of the WM catalog, item I. They work much better than the hooks which are always coming unhooked. I also removed the oven from the Origo alcohol stove, installed some shelving, and put a microwave in that space. I never used the oven, but do use a microwave when at the dock. By the way, I love the Origo NON-pressurized alcohol stove.That about sums it up. Probably more than you wanted to know, but keep up the correspondence.I'll send you pictures of the 6-1 mainsheet system I installed.Best of luck,Mike