ron, as to the hook that keeps falling out of the reefing cringle, go here
http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1740&ParentCat=44 to find a hook in the pic that doesn't fall out. it has to have a deep throat and a somewhat pinched entrance which makes it tough to install but once in it win't fall out. you can buy it from catalina or maybe a local chandlery. good luck! --- In [email protected], Ron Ginter <rongin...@...> wrote: > > 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 >
