SO36i Tweaks

[Geoff]

OK

So I have bought my boat to cruise fast and NOT race. I have done a lot of racing and I could not resist tweaking it up a bit.

Thought people might like to know what I have done.

Both Genoa and main halyards replaced with Dyneema. The factory supplied stretched too much.

Folding (Gori) propeller (why drag a bucket around) I can sail slowly enough without that hindering me.

I have 50 metres of 10mm anchor chain, I feel this helps keep the bow down a bit. I also always use the front water tank first. I try to keep it half full as I have noticed that when it is empty the bow will fall off waves a bit quicker.

I had adjustable Genoa cars put on with a 2-1 pulley system. I did this so that the crew (Mandy) do not chip and hurt their nails when moving the car when reefed or in lighter airs.

I have just added a solid Seldon Vang. I have yet to try it buy I have added 2 Harken 40mm blocks to give a decent purchase. When I let the mainsheet off the boom goes up in the air.
The Seldon part number is 058-036-12 and includes a gas strut (for lifting purposes).

I was very pleased to see the 36i polars as the boat performs to them with no problem.

Since buying the boat I have been very pleased with it's performance. It foots and points very well.

Hope some of this helps.

Happy Sailing.

Geoff. ;D ;D



The blue thing is a bucket and BSBS stands for Brightlingsea School of Boat Speed

[MartyB]

Here I thought buckets like that are for making sure you do not hit light speed! or is it the speed of sound?!?!?!?!

ok fine, yes it is early here on the west coast of NA, no caffeine as of yet.............

Marty

[Trevor]

Hello Geoff,

I am quite lucky in that our broker gave us a package that included a folding prop. I nearly changed it for a different option but they insisted (well enough to convince us anyway) that we leave the folding prop in the package. I am so glad they were so insistent. I think it makes a big difference and works extremely well, even in reverse.

One of the things I find a bit difficult is going up to the mast and adjusting the topping lift. With the solid vang, do you still have to worry about the topping lift or is the amount the boom drops when the mainsail is down limited to an acceptable height?

Many thanks,

Trevor

[Geoff]

Trevor

Because of the gas/hydraulic strop inside the vang, as the main is dropped the boom actually goes UP.

The vang is allways tring to push the boom UP. At the moment on the mooring if I let the mainsheet go the boom goes UP. This is a feature of this type of vang.

Should the vang gas/hydraulic fail then it will only drom to the limit of the slider....this WILL not damage the boat or people.

Hope I have explained it OK.

Happy sailing.

Geoff. ;D

[Trevor]

Hello Geoff,

That makes perfect sense. Thanks for the part number. That may come in handy if we really get sick of working with the topping lift.

Regards,

Trevor