Forums, Mast, Rigging and Sails
Problems or questions about your mast, rigging or sails
00:09 16 October 2023
Outhaul 1 Reply
gregcope at 03/09/2012 21:18:20
Any pictures / suggestions?
I seem to just have a pulleys that end up on a which. Seems like a X:1 arrangement might be better and help get some tension in my old cruising main!
Pictures would be good!
00:09 16 October 2023
Jockey Pole Brackets 1 Reply
RIHopper at 19/06/2012 09:35:51
On our old Kemp mast the jockey pole brackets were positioned about 6 inches off the deck and worked satisfactorily. On our new Selden mast this is a congested area covered by cleats for lazy jacks and their exits and a further cleat for the redundent topping lift. I am looking for guidance as to the best place for the brackets.
Richard Hopper, Mystic Sky.
00:09 16 October 2023
Kicking strap 4 Replies
irenepaterson at 15/06/2012 08:47:06
We have recently bought a contessa 32 built in 1977. We have been unable to locate the kicking strap.(old fashioned mechanism unlike modern contessas) I can see how the mechanism works but need to find the device that slides along the bottom of the boom and presumably is fixed by a grub screw. Our local chandler has nothing suitable. Any ideas. Irene Paterson Edinburgh
00:08 16 October 2023
Air draft 4 Replies
ansogura at 05/06/2012 14:59:38
Can anyone tell me what the air draft is on the Contessa 32?
00:07 16 October 2023
Hood Sea Furl 2535 0 Replies
Janet at 03/06/2012 23:01:37
The top pivot unit/halyard swivel on on our Hood Sea Furl 2535, fitted 1989, has broken. Has anyone had success tracing a parts supplier or experience replacing the top unit? Janet
00:07 16 October 2023
Is furling genoa worth it? 7 Replies
James Chew at 17/04/2012 19:31:17
Hi, I’ve just bought a contessa (my first keelboat actually), and I have aquestion about the furling genoa.
On my first sail with the boat the furling gear jammed when I tried to furl it, and I had to untie the sheets and sail in circles for a while to roll it! Before I get to the question of how I might fix it, I’m wondering whether it’s worth fixing. I generally sail with a crew, and I’ve made do quite happily the last week hanking a smaller jib onto the inner forestay. I’ve done some sums and estimating the sail and gear to be about 40kg, it reduces the righting moment from a 90deg knockdown by about 6% – it also gives a horrible baggy sail shape when part rolled. Is it difficult to just make do with a hanked sail?
If I do decide to fix it, has anyone else had this problem? It’s the top set of bearings that has jammed, and I can’t dismantle it. It’s unbranded so I don’t know where to get spare parts anyway. Also, someone who seemed knowledgeable said that the halyard was at too small an angle to the foil, and that I needed to put a fitting on the front of the mast to effectively lower the point to halyard exits the mast. Has anyone else done this?
Thanks in advance.
00:06 16 October 2023
New main sail 1 Reply
Janet at 11/12/2011 17:28:22
We have an e-correspondence going with Peter Sanders about a new mainsail for Jaywalker. He made the existing/original main in 1991 – Jaywalker is a Mike Slack boat – Selden spars. I’d be interested in comments about detail before we place the order; Peter’s suggestions and previous main-related posts in this forum have thrown up unexpected options. We cruise on West coast of Scotland.
1. Existing is fully battened on Rutgerson cars and works OK – any reason against fully battened?
2. Currently 3 sliders between each batten/Rutgerson car – Peter suggesting all cars ie with a single car between each batten. More expensive but other advantage/disadvantage?
3. Foot – currently a bolt rope – Peter suggesting loose footed. What about foot slides? Comment? (We have lazy-jacks.)
4. Any other things to think about before committing?!
Best wishes, Janet
00:06 16 October 2023
Mast collar gaiter 5 Replies
Andrew at 09/12/2011 19:32:01
Hi
Can anybody inform me of the height of the mast gaiter? I have purchased a co32 with the mast removed
and the last owner fitted a new gaiter to the mast, but its not one of GR. It looks good but it is 6" long so will need to be cut to size?. As you can imagine getting it right before stepping the mast would be to my advantage.
A
00:05 16 October 2023
bringing sheets etc back to the cockpit 9 Replies
eric clubley at 08/10/2011 15:54:28
I want to bring sheets, reffing lines, halyards etc back to the cockpit, using jammers. Any advice? Is it something a reasonably able amateur could tackle.
I also want to upgrade my winches, to fit self-tailing. Any advice on size/makes/suppliers.
many thanks
eric
00:04 16 October 2023
Backstay Load 2 Replies
moongirl at 28/09/2011 19:35:49
Does anyone have any idea what the backstay loads is? I am looking at a cascade system for adjustment as an alternative to a hydraulic unit but suspect that the costs are going to be similar as the top blocks would have to be capable of dealing with a considerable load.
00:04 16 October 2023
Wind vanes - which one best suits a Contessa? 14 Replies
GlennG at 20/09/2011 21:51:59
Which sort of wind vane works best:
– HydroVane with it’s built in rudder
– Aries or Monitor with a servo pendulum
Does one type have any advantages over the other? I would have though that the servo-pendulum would be sensitive to a sloppy sea, but having never sailed on a boat fitted with one, I don’t know.
Intuitively I see the HydroVane as being the better proposition as it offers a second rudder, is self-contained, and has less cockpit clutter.
Anyone with any experience of these systems?
00:02 16 October 2023
Single hander rigging. 15 Replies
Pisces615 at 18/09/2011 12:44:57
I bought Pisces (Contessa 32 615) last year and sailed her back from Pwhelli to Poole by myself (daysails in easy conditions). I have spent this year flogging around the channel and getting to understand the Contessa 32 and would be grateful for some advice about rigging changes to support single handed sailing as I am planning a complete re-rig this winter and fitting a windvane. The problem is short tacking the genoa in a blow! I have had many suggestions from putting 3 feet on the mast and doing away with the overlap to fitting a self tacker. I am sure that many people have views. Given modern materials and new ideas I would be pleased to hear from anyone. I am hoping to cross the Pond in 2013 but have no aspirations for racing! Pisces is based in Poole at the Royal Motor Yacht Club but can travel. I am hoping to come to the End of Season Rally.
Many thanks.
00:00 16 October 2023
Kemp/Selden Boom outhaul 2 Replies
DaleMoon at 14/09/2011 12:49:17
I have a Kemp boom c 1986 with 2 internal reef lines and an outhaul.
The outhaul has a wire strop which attaches to a car running in the foot track, over a sheave in the aft end of the boom. Inside the boom it attaches to a rope which leads through the forward end of the boom. Recently I noticed that the wire is fraying and needs replacement.
I was wondering if I could replace this wire strop/rope combination with simply a rope outhaul? What is the benefit of the wire?
The only reason I can think of for this arrangment is that the tail of an eye splice in the end of the rope might reach and jam in the sheave in the aft end of the boom?
Also – all the articles I have looked at suggest that normally there is a 2:1 or 3:1 purchase arrangement inside the boom – the current arrangement has no purchase advantage, simply the wire/rope led through the boom.
Does anyone have any experience of this? Any comments would be gratefully received.
Thanks, Pete
DALE MOON
00:00 16 October 2023
new mast 3 Replies
iandodsworth at 15/08/2011 17:09:52
If anyone has fitted a new Z Spars mast recently could you give me some advice on the following points?
1. What mast section did you use.
2. How did you arrange the fitting of the mast heel to the hull.
3. Aproximately how much should I expect to pay for a Z Spar mast fitted with new standing rigging.
00:00 16 October 2023
Replacement Boom 2 Replies
Andrew at 04/08/2011 08:55:23
Hello
I would like your views on a boom replacement for my 79 CO32. It has the original roller boom and would prefer slab reefing and a spring kicker
Your views would be appreciated
Andrew
23:59 15 October 2023
Genoa Cars/ Sheaves 7 Replies
davidmacdonald at 02/06/2011 11:40:22
Our genoa car sheaves are very worn and need replacing. The sheeting angle is also awful with the cars aft (and would be even worse if we used the no. 1) so I am thinking of replacing the cars with either tri-roller cars or more likely cars with swivelling blocks supported by a spring which ought to align better. Has anyone done this and is there any disadvantage to such an arrangement?
23:58 15 October 2023
Forestay measurement FL 3 Replies
Janet at 01/06/2011 20:44:54
Please could someone give me the standard Co32 FL measurement so I can get the best CYCA handicap? It is defined as forestay length measured from where the forestay meets the deck to the forestay attachment point on the front of the mast.
I can’t find a drawing with it on, contacting JR by email and phone has got me answers but not to the question, and it has not been the weather to go up and measure.
Thanks, Janet (Jaywalker)
23:58 15 October 2023
Spiny sheets/Guys width 3 Replies
gregcope at 23/05/2011 12:03:49
Hi All,
Any advice on spiny sheet sizes – I understand two boat lengths is good length, but what about diameter?
23:58 15 October 2023
Gooseneck pin query 3 Replies
Nick Martin at 17/05/2011 21:30:54
We went down to check our boat a couple of weeks ago after a few days of strong north-easterly winds which blow staight into the harbour where were have our mooring. The boom had become detached from the gooseneck, dragging a few of the sail track cars with it. It appeared that the split ring, which went through the end of the pin at the gooseneck end of the boom had failed, and I found the pin at the foot of the mast.
I tried to buy a more robust split ring, but I was unable to thread the only one that I felt might have been up to the job through the hole in the pin. I have therefore used a split pin (one of the “spares” our rigger gave us when we had the rigging renewed last year).
Is this a common problem, and have I done the right thing using a split (cotter) pin (which feels a lot stronger) instead of a split ring? We are off to the Channel Islands and France at the end of the week, and I would be grateful if any of you who know about these things could reassure me that I have not done something that might make for a nasty surprise mid channel!
The boom is a Selden one with reefing lines running through it and the sail is fully battened, dropping into a stack pack with lazy jacks.
Many thanks,
Nick
23:57 15 October 2023
Cap shroud fitting 5 Replies
Jan D at 09/05/2011 22:16:01
Hello,
Could someone please help me out?
I am looking at a CO32 and have a question about the triangular reinforcement
laminated to the hull under decks ( port and starboard), where the cap shroud
chainplates are attached to. (bolted through)
Is it normal that these reinforcements are not bonded over their entire width
to the underside of the deck? At the innermost side(s) there is a small gap between
reinforcement and underside of the deck over a length of at least a couple of
inches.
The fitting to the hull’s inside itself seems complete.
Hope I explained my problem properly, since I am a native Dutch speaker.
23:57 15 October 2023
Genoa no.1 sheets 2 Replies
eric clubley at 17/04/2011 18:32:12
I’m replacing my Genoa 1 sheets. I’d appreciate advice on:
length diameter composition thanks
eric
23:56 15 October 2023
new resolutions racingsails 13 Replies
christophe at 19/03/2011 19:31:43
Within 6 weeks we’ll start racing again, first race Itchenor! Will there be already boats with exotic headsails? We’l be racing with classic dacron nr 1, 2 and 3. I suppose there will be a kind of transition period?
23:55 15 October 2023
Buying a Co32 with original mast? 4 Replies
ODL at 15/02/2011 15:13:05
Short Question: Good idea or bad idea?
Longer Question: I will be viewing a Co32 that has her original mast from the late 1970’s. The boom was replaced to upgrade from roller-boom to slab reefing main sail about ten years ago.
I understand that with the Co32 being wet boats that the tendency for galvanic corrosion between the alu. mast and stainless fittings to be accelerated. Similarly, the mast foot experiences crevice corrosion.
Given that the bottom section has not been replaced and that the current owner reports ‘no cause for concern,’ what should be my considerations as a potential buyer?
Would the age of the mast warrant a separate rig pre-purchase survey?
Are there any visual clues that warn of failure in the immediate future?
Would an guesstimate of £3-4k sound right for a new mast and installation?
Regards,
ODL
23:54 15 October 2023
Bulk buy of rigging? 1 Reply
gregcope at 12/02/2011 20:45:15
Was thinking that it would be worth doing a group/bulk of rigging either standing or running;
Logic being that Jimmy Green offers 45% off orders of 100M Dymena(sp). At a rough guess that is just over 4 halyards.
Hence all we need is two people wishing to replace 2 or more halyards each, and hey presto say a bundle.
A few more people and we can get different colours.
Thoughts?
23:54 15 October 2023
A sail for short tacking 6 Replies
Lee at 15/01/2011 18:00:16
Hello,
I am in the market for new racing sails. I race under IRC and often struggle when short tacking. I am thinking of getting a blade jib, something small, but light, in order to give myself a better chance. Is there an accepted wisdom re the size of sail to use?
Also does anyone have recommendations re materials and sailmakers?