All, I was out sailing saturday and and using my dutchman for the first time. Going up was no problem, but is there a simple procedure I should be following to get it to come down nicely? I finally got it to come down reasonably well by tightening up the mono lines, messing with the main halyard up and down, and some adjustment on the topping lift. Ideas? Also, I was a bit unimpressed with the jam cleat for locking the main sheet as it kept slipping. At one point when beating to the wind on a startboard tack, I used the stbd winch and the self tailing feature to lock the sheet in, but the jam cleat would be more convenient. Ideas?
Using the dutchman/main sheet jam cleat
- Thread starter Ray2325
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Dutchman
Ray; The monofiliment lines of the Dutchman need to be tight during hoist, and drop of the mainsail. Once you find the right combination between the boom topping lift and the Dutchman lines try to remember where they are to repeat. I like to sail with the main sheet on the halyard winch. It makes it easy to trim, and less likely to lose it when easing. My wife can easily trim, and ease the main with it on the winch. I removed the jamb cleat, and installed a triple rope clutch in place of the double. I don't think the jam cleat is more convenient on a larger boat. My boat is a C36.
Ray; The monofiliment lines of the Dutchman need to be tight during hoist, and drop of the mainsail. Once you find the right combination between the boom topping lift and the Dutchman lines try to remember where they are to repeat. I like to sail with the main sheet on the halyard winch. It makes it easy to trim, and less likely to lose it when easing. My wife can easily trim, and ease the main with it on the winch. I removed the jamb cleat, and installed a triple rope clutch in place of the double. I don't think the jam cleat is more convenient on a larger boat. My boat is a C36.
Dutchman needs an adjustment...
Once you get the Dutchman system adjusted properly you shouldn't have to touch it anymore, except perhaps when putting on the sail cover. When it is set properly the monofilament lines should bet snug when the topping lift is tight. Adjust the continuous line at the end of the boom to get the top of the monofilament at the correct position, then if you may need to adjust the length of each monofilament seperately. You can adjust each of them at the pocket where they terminate on the foot of the sail. Once you get them set you shouldn't need to manipulate it anymore. After I raise the sail I just ease the topping lift, and that alone will leave enough slack in the monofilament so that it won't interfere with the sail shape. Then before I lower the sail I tighten the topping lift, which also takes the slack back out of the monofilament, and the sail is ready to come down. The only time I ever make an adjustment to the Dutchman is when I'm putting the cover on my sail. I adjust the continuous line to add enough slack to the monofilament so it can hang out the bottom of the cover. When I remove the cover I just tighten the monofilament again using the continuous line. I agree that the clam cleat for the mainsheet isn't the best design. It does seem to hold as long as there is enough load on the line. If the line is loaded light then I have to push it down into the cleat. In heavy winds I sometimes wrap the sheet around the winch because its easier to ease out while under higher loads.
Once you get the Dutchman system adjusted properly you shouldn't have to touch it anymore, except perhaps when putting on the sail cover. When it is set properly the monofilament lines should bet snug when the topping lift is tight. Adjust the continuous line at the end of the boom to get the top of the monofilament at the correct position, then if you may need to adjust the length of each monofilament seperately. You can adjust each of them at the pocket where they terminate on the foot of the sail. Once you get them set you shouldn't need to manipulate it anymore. After I raise the sail I just ease the topping lift, and that alone will leave enough slack in the monofilament so that it won't interfere with the sail shape. Then before I lower the sail I tighten the topping lift, which also takes the slack back out of the monofilament, and the sail is ready to come down. The only time I ever make an adjustment to the Dutchman is when I'm putting the cover on my sail. I adjust the continuous line to add enough slack to the monofilament so it can hang out the bottom of the cover. When I remove the cover I just tighten the monofilament again using the continuous line. I agree that the clam cleat for the mainsheet isn't the best design. It does seem to hold as long as there is enough load on the line. If the line is loaded light then I have to push it down into the cleat. In heavy winds I sometimes wrap the sheet around the winch because its easier to ease out while under higher loads.
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