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29-09-2014, 13:51
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#1
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Boat: Retired Delivery Capt
Posts: 3,684
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Dorade Launcher
After losing my second dorade cowl over the side in three years, I have come to realize that my port jib sheet is a great dorade cowl launcher.
Both times the scenario was the same, but this time I was able to figure the root cause.
· I am single handing, although this could happen with a slow crew.
· It is blowing hard, reefed main and jib rolled up from 135 to 110-100%.
· Because the jib is rolled up, to get a decent shape out of the reefed jib the adjustable genoa cars are forward.
· There is a delay in trimming the leeward jib sheet.
· Because the car is forward the sheet is unrestrained from the car to the winch.
· Because it is blowing the sheet jumps around.
· The jumping sheet wraps around the cowl like a boa.
· There is a $70 splash as the cowl goes into the water.
Any thoughts on how to avoid this or what I am doing wrong?
One option is to take one of the old genoa cars, remove the locking pin and tie it to the lead car. This would make the old car into a trailing car, perhaps 2-3 feet behind. When the lead car is pulled forward, the trailing car slides forward with it and tames the sheet. It would also facilitate pulling the lead car aft.
Spending almost a full boat buck for SS guards to protect Nicor PVC cowls seems illogical.
Would welcome input from others with adjustable cars on what I may be doing wrong would be appreciated.
Thanks
__________________
"Whenever...it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off- then, I account it high time to get to sea..." Ishmael
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29-09-2014, 14:18
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, in Tasmania, Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,524
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Re: Dorade Launcher
yes, taming the further aft section might keep the sheet from flailing around and launching your dorade scoop while you're sheeting in. You'll also be adding friction, and it might not work.
If you have welding skills, you could weld up dorade protectors for your boat, keep 'em simple, they just have to keep lines away. Jim made ours for our first Insatiable. Otherwise investigate having someone do it.
We had a lazy sheet try to launch a winch handle at the mast at night one time, sneaky sheets!
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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29-09-2014, 14:23
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Home at Warsaw, Poland, boat in Eastern Med
Boat: Ocean Star 56.1 LR
Posts: 1,841
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Re: Dorade Launcher
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30-09-2014, 07:03
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#4
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Boat: Retired Delivery Capt
Posts: 3,684
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Re: Dorade Launcher
Bump.. Any other thoughts?
__________________
"Whenever...it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off- then, I account it high time to get to sea..." Ishmael
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30-09-2014, 07:12
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,604
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Re: Dorade Launcher
I have seen lanyards fitted to dorade cowls before. Basically just a hole drilled into the cowl then a piece of small stuff passes through the hole with a figure-eight and is then made fast to a strap eye inside the dorade box. Simple, effective. Might work for you.
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30-09-2014, 07:17
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Manchester, UK
Boat: Beneteau 473
Posts: 5,591
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Re: Dorade Launcher
Here's what I did, same problem, cannot be helped when single handed in a good breeze or stronger winds.
This does not stop the sheet catching the cowl, but it should prevent the ouch feeling you experience watching it go over the side.
I drilled a 6mm hole close to the base of the cowl. Thread some 5mm line through the hole, with a stopper knot at the end of the line.
Take a short length of dowel (plastic or wood), about 8 inches long. Drill 6 mm hole mid-length. Thread other end of line though hole, then another stopper knot.
Drop the dowel into the hole at the top of the dorade, then screw the cowl back in place.
The cowl might get knocked off, but the dowel and line should stop it going over the side.
__________________
Nigel
Beneteau 473
Manchester, UK
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30-09-2014, 07:43
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Long Beach, CA
Boat: Tayana Vancouver 42
Posts: 2,804
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Re: Dorade Launcher
Replace the plastic Dorade vent cowls with stainless cowls. Then you will no longer hear $70 splash. It will be a $250 splash.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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30-09-2014, 08:31
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#8
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Boat: Retired Delivery Capt
Posts: 3,684
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Re: Dorade Launcher
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tayana42
Replace the plastic Dorade vent cowls with stainless cowls. Then you will no longer hear $70 splash. It will be a $250 splash.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Lanyards sound like a great idea.
Tayana as Christmas gets closer I will send you our mailing address for you to send the kind gift idea. Thanks.... Will that include the matching SS protector bars?
__________________
"Whenever...it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off- then, I account it high time to get to sea..." Ishmael
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30-09-2014, 08:48
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#9
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: Dorade Launcher
my cowls are heavy bronze that screw into the heavy bronze fitting in the dorade box well and do not easily remove. is awesomeness. mast pulpits help with preventing the befoulment--i have envy of those... enough so that i will be creating some not too distant in future......also it helps that my jib isnt on top of the vents at all ever-they far enough back on my formosa to not catch lines or sheets......
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30-09-2014, 08:49
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Long Beach, CA
Boat: Tayana Vancouver 42
Posts: 2,804
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Re: Dorade Launcher
Yes and the beautifully varnished teak Dorade boxes to mount them on.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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30-09-2014, 09:00
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#11
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: Dorade Launcher
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tayana42
Yes and the beautifully varnished teak Dorade boxes to mount them on.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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were cetol over varnish when po got this boat--now they are beautiful natural oiled wood. much better for kitty claws to grab when wet.
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30-09-2014, 09:41
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: holland michigan
Boat: Gulfstar 50 ketch
Posts: 483
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Re: Dorade Launcher
You could make protectors out of flat stainless bars. No hard complicated tube welding then.
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01-10-2014, 01:14
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, in Tasmania, Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,524
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Re: Dorade Launcher
Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel1
Here's what I did, same problem, cannot be helped when single handed in a good breeze or stronger winds.
This does not stop the sheet catching the cowl, but it should prevent the ouch feeling you experience watching it go over the side.
I drilled a 6mm hole close to the base of the cowl. Thread some 5mm line through the hole, with a stopper knot at the end of the line.
Take a short length of dowel (plastic or wood), about 8 inches long. Drill 6 mm hole mid-length. Thread other end of line though hole, then another stopper knot.
Drop the dowel into the hole at the top of the dorade, then screw the cowl back in place.
The cowl might get knocked off, but the dowel and line should stop it going over the side.
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Nigel,
What a cool idea! Goodonya, Mate!
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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03-10-2014, 05:51
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#14
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: La la Land
Boat: 37' Oyster Heritage
Posts: 416
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Re: Dorade Launcher
Lanyards work well to stop my dorades from going swimming.
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03-10-2014, 07:27
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NJ/NY
Boat: 1978 Rafiki 35
Posts: 129
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Re: Dorade Launcher
I've had the same problem, and have had to bolt forward several times to retrieve $300 before it made that sinking plop sound that tends to turn your stomach also. I first tried turning the cowls inward, but the boa got keen to my tricks.
I eventually succumbed to a lanyard system lashed to nearby padeyes that already existed. It still attacks but the cost is lessened to a simple reinstall. This winter I will install SS hoops and put the boa on a permanent diet.
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