Hi Everyone, Well, I'm making progress, learning as I go. I've had a few nagging questions that have taken a long time to deal with. Yesterday the wind was light enough that I could put up the mainsail at the dock, and finally take a good look at the reefing system. As I had suspected, it was set up incompletely. The part at the aft end of the boom was fine, but the line wasn't even attached to the sail near the mast. So I was able to follow the diagram in the manual and hook it up correctly, and it actually works! Woo-hoo! Now I'm ready for those 25 knot days! Do the other folks with a single-line reefing system on the C-270 have a "reefing hook" as shown in the manual? And if so, what do you do when the sail comes down and the hook falls out of its appointed hole?
The second issue was the mainsheet. I had posted earlier asking about the mainsheet apparently being strung with a single line attaching to the boom vang as well, which made little sense. Turns out I was misinterpreting the diagram in the manual, and they are NOT meant to be attached to each line (IOW a single line for both mainsheet and vang). Instead, the mainsheet is supposed to run from the block and tackle to a block at the base of the mast, then back through the doghouse to the inboard stopper on the starboard side. In this way, the sheet can be adjusted either at the cam cleat over the companionway, or using the starboard cabin-top winch. The third issue was having the foresail sheets jam in the blocks because the blocks wouldn't swivel, only flop side-to-side. I have purchased a pair of Ronstan blocks, which are smaller diameter, and stand up with the help of a spring, and are mounted to a car that fits my track. They swivel and bend, and are built so there is nowhere for the sheet to bind or jam (hopefully!). I'm hoping to try them out this weekend. Today I'm hoping to fix the aft line on the Dutchman flaking system, which has been broken since the season's first sail. There doesn't seem to be an easy way to do it, since if the main is up, then the topping lift can't be lowered enough to reach the fitting at the top of the Dutchman line, so I think I'll have to have the main partly up, and the boom down in the cockpit, and the topping lift lowered enough to reach. Thank goodness I'm just replacing the shorter line! I still haven't figured out what is causing the water to collect under the engine. It's never more than a dribble, but it's always there. It has not gotten to a point where it has flowed onto the galley floor again, so it's one of those out-of-sight out-of-mind things. I've had four experienced sailors look it over, with much head and beard scratching, but no answer. I've checked all the things suggested here, and have found nothing but maybes. Finally, my throttle lever wouldn't hold position, so I was able to remove the compass and its mounting ring from the pedestal, and tighten the set screw (actually it's a bolt), and now I won't have to hold the throttle lever all the way in and out of the harbour channel. When I was a die-hard motorcyclist, we used to say that everyone should spend some quality time with their bike, getting to know it, and communicate with it, and thus be better prepared for future breakdowns or problems. I finally feel that I'm getting some quality time with my shiny new toy! This is actually the first weekend all summer that we haven't had friends or family booked for a sail, or some other commitment. My first mate is out of town for the weekend, so I finally have the free time to just be alone on the boat for some quiet contemplation. We're bonding! ;-) ...Ron Oculus; '04 C270 #329 Frenchman's Bay, Ontario
