Dorade Launcher

[Snore]

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

[JPA Cate]

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

[DoubleWhisky]

Just great thread title

[Snore]

Bump.. Any other thoughts?

[Delancey]

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.

[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.

[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

[Snore]

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

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?

[zeehag]

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......

[Tayana42]

Yes and the beautifully varnished teak Dorade boxes to mount them on.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

Yes and the beautifully varnished teak Dorade boxes to mount them on.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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.

[ctl411]

You could make protectors out of flat stainless bars. No hard complicated tube welding then.

[JPA Cate]

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.

Nigel,

What a cool idea! Goodonya, Mate!

Ann

[sestina]

Lanyards work well to stop my dorades from going swimming.

[JerseyJoe]

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.