New H37C thread for RC.

[Ed Schenck]

I thought that RC’s questions strayed from the keel bolt thread. So here is a new thread. RC writes: "Thanks for the picture. It is the first time I have seen the C37 keel. Do you have a shot of the rudder as well? I have seen rudders on these in two forms, one with a short detached skeg, and another with a full length skeg. A picture or two would be helpful."ANS: One is attached, not the best. I have never seen an H37C rudder look differently except one and it was an owner modification."There are two things noticeable about this picture, first, the keel is longer than usual, and second, there is quite a bit of hull below the waterline. Both are good." ANS: looks are deceiving. The picture was a shoal draft keel. The stub and the fore/aft dimension are the same as the fin keel. The fin keel is 12" deeper and thinner(lighter)."This brings us to another question. I have noticed the club staysail has "pushed" the mast back farther than usual. Do you have enough rudder to hold your course when close hauled with the rail in the water? Or does the boat turn into the wind on it's own? This is a huge question, and be sure I'll read any and all responses I get." ANS: all cutters have their mast further aft, to make room for two headsails. So yes, the boat is not balanced if you sail as a sloop in 20+ winds. Mine has some weather helm but it is minimized because I have an oversize yankee(jib). I am not sure it is any better or worse than a sloop with the rail in the water. And we all know that is not the way to sail the boat don’t we? The owner modification mentioned above was to add to the leading edge of the rudder, about two inches I think. He felt it provided better steerage under all conditions.

 

[Gene G]

move the zinc's back!

Ed, I assume that is your boat in the picture.First - great looking rudder! Mine is in the shop getting a new shaft. Hope it looks that good soon.Second, if you move those zincs back close to the strut the shaft can't back out enough to let in water if it comes loose from the coupler. It solves a worry that is mentioned often on this and other boards.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Good advice Gene.

Not my boat though. I use black paint but I also know my own zinc is too far from the strut. I'll fix that next time up there, in about four months. The picture is from a set we were doing about the "flappers". One of the new H37C owner had asked about those rudder deflectors. Here's another picture of that.

 

[RC]

Need More Info

Thanks Ed,And thanks to the others for the additional pictures. I need more info, though.How well does the boat point? Does it point with only the jib? With only the staysail? Only with both? How much wind can it take when beating into it? Does it balance better with a reefed mainsail? Does it balance with both headsails up?I would imagine the deeper keel will point higher, but who knows?! I would welcome a reply from anyone with a C37 or any Cxx, for that matter. Please identify your boat, though. And let's be truthful!How does it do directly down wind? Do you have to tack downwind? Is there a tendancy to broach downwind and down swell? Or is it happy just sitting on a wave and surfing for miles?All sailboats do well on a reach. On the other two ends, though, I need the experience from some of you Cherubini sailors!Hope to hear from all of you soon!Regards, Robert.

 

[Josh]

pointing

I've got a '78 37-C. I'm no engineer, but I can tell you that pointing is one of the 37-C's strengths. Obviously the condition of the main is relevant here, but my old blown out main still allowed me to point decently well, and now that I have a new main, I swear I'm going straight into the wind sometimes. I had trouble with running for the first two years I owned the boat. I have the original jib, which is far too small to head downwind with any speed. The main also has a small sail area for a boat 37 feet long. I found a great deal on an asymetrical spinnaker which solved that problem. So I can really move when I'm broad reaching all the way to almost precisely downwind. Without a spinnaker and with the original jib, light air downwind is definitely a weakness. Good luck. Thanks for the words of advice about checking the keelbolts.Josh

 

[RC]

Encouraging

Thanks for the reply, Josh. Do you have the "deep" keel version? If so, have any pictures of it out of the water?Thanks again, Robert.

 

[Richard McDonald]

Point she does...

very well. I have the deeper keel on my 1979 H37C (She is Ed's sister ship). Rail in the water, well unless you like to sail on the edge and uncomfortably, she is faster when better balanced and sailing flatter, and all that also depends on the seas and wave action. I have had a chance to sail her over the last couple of years on lake Michigan in winds up to 35+ knots with different sea conditions and the cutter layout is really great since you have several possible sail configurations to use. If you expose to much main she will have a tendency to round up and have weather helm in a blow, best to reef down as required (I have 3 reef points on my main). I use my staysail from pointing to almost a broad reach and then use the asymmetrical spin for anything past that. I have a slightly larger Yankee which I use in the spring and fall when the winds pick up. I have a larger genoa (really a deck sweeper) that I use most of the summer months when the winds are much lighter.I have included a pic of my rudder here and will add hull pictures in the photoforum.

 

[avalonduet]

A Cruiser!!

Let's not forget that the 37c is a Cruising Boat. She's not a Racer, and those who think of her that way are probably going to be disappointed. She is capable of carrying a sizeable load and showing a good turn of speed while doing so. Shake out all her stores and tankage and she may go faster, but that's not her design.Our '81 goes to weather like a freight train with all sails flying (stock rig), but she's not well-behaved down wind. She wallows and yaws until you give up and tack downwind. This is still with the stock suit of sails. We have a gennaker that tames her a bit, controlling the yaw, but dead downwind is still a no-no.I should also add that the last time we had DUET hauled, the crane operator asked the yard man, "What's he got IN THERE??" The scale read 23,300 lbs! Guess I should be happy she goes at all to ANY point of sail!!!Dave

 

[Gene G]

try wind on wing.....on wing

Next time you are going down wind try putting the jib out on one side, and the staysail out on the other. Use a preventer to hold down the staysail boom and you'd be surprised how well it tracks straight down wind. We done it many times, including when we went from St. Pete to the Tortugas just like that in about 30 knots with a norther on our tail.I've got video of the gps reading 11 knots down the faces, and 8 or so up the backs.If you really want to get wild, put the main boom out on the same side as the jib.