Recent content by KenF

I've wrtten to YM a few times suggesting that they include 'air draft' in the statistics for the boats tested, to be told that it can vary. However a builder should be able to state the air draft of any boat he builds otherwise how do owners know which bridges are safe to pass under? or what the...

A local Spanish report claimed that the building where the fire started contained around 100 boats for storage or repair. EIDebate.com reported: “In the warehouse, there were around 100 boats between 20 and 40 feet-long. “Many of them were worth millions of pounds. "The building serves as a...

I use a very high pressure spray to clean off all the slime weed & shell etc once a year (usually April) before applying new antifoul and it has worked very well for the last twenty years. I also use it once a year to clean off all the bird droppings, stains etc on the deck, but not at the same...

Why not get a self- tacker !

Brilliant show of boats and associated bits, including diving etc. pity there's no free local transport this time.

In my experience of working in China, the workers are diligent and frugal (and much younger than us European customers) and all components were 'CE' marked, however when CE certificates could not be produced we were told CE meant 'China Export' - just saying.

OOOPS 34 ft sailboat on the club slip each year:- - high pressure wash below WL - one person 4 hrs. -clean and polish topsides - son and friend 6hrs. -apply antifouling -one person - 3 hrs.

34 ft sailboat on the club slip each year:

Thanks NormanF - that is the most original of the replies so far, but I still don't like the idea of lazyjacks, but cleaning & lubricating the luff slot and slides is something I will definitely do next spring. As for the loose sail after lowering I will see how using the reef lines (2) to lower...

I sail single-handed with a rather large main and have resorted to dumping the main, usually requiring me to go to the mast to pull the final section of the mainsail down and securing with a sail tie, and stowing it properly once berthed. This means that I have a large amount of sail drooping...

I have no experience of catamarans but I always thought that capsize was sometimes caused by the wind getting under the deck and flipping it over, so the risk of flipping a non-racing catamaran sometimes occurs when there is no sail up and the boat is stationary.

Note that the chart above (gule sider kart) is quite out of date wrt to harbours, marinas and bridges, at least in my neck of the woods - Ryfllke, Stavanger area. Looks good for navigation though (zoom in to get bridge clearance heights). There is an amphodromic point between Tananger and...

One thing I would add if changing to FB - if you have a backstay check the clearance for the mainsail roach. For instance I need a backstay 'flicker', to ensure the backstay clears the FB roach esp in lighter winds. Without FB main it is no problem on my Omega 34.

Over 50 knots recorded in North Sea last night, watched it all on Ventusky, but best is Ship AS where you can get real time wind strength and direction by clicking on the arrow heads on the course line for a selected ship. Also noted all flights from/to Aberdeen and later Newcastle...

I have always had a flattening reef on my mainsails (three so far about a foot up the leech) but the sailmaker always questions the need for one, and I must admit that I rarely use it, maybe I should do without on no. 4 mainsail, what do you think ?