Recommandations for Atlantic crossing

Brad McMaster wrote: Hi Samba, thanks again for this list.   A couple of quick questions though.   What water pump did you up grade to and why? The electric gas switch on the gas bottle. Was that to effectively turn the gas off at the bottle? And what made you go for the Victron batteries?   Cheers B

hi samba

i had the same fresh water pump/ bilge problem on the 470 i have moved the pump up higher and changed the pressure switch which was burned due water contact.( approx 30euros) and i works well now.

wolf

Chris G wrote: How have you found your babystay - is it effective in stopping the mast from pumping?

Edited by samba - 25 March 2009 at 02:18

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply. Last weekend excellent weather and this week on the road.

We still have our 411 and we still love it.

Please see below for the answers. If you want to speak to me directly I can send you a PM with my contact details.

1. where did you position your inner forestay (for the cutter rig) - both on the mast - and on the deck.

Take a look at this post: http://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1854 . You can find some pictures there.

2. Re the deck position of the inner forestay, what additional support did you place there? (for the engineering load).

See the post mentioned above. There is a reinforcement in the anchor locker. This has been used.

3. Re the inner headsail (staysail), did you have that on a furler, or on hanks (which makes it easier to temporarily remove the forestay and bring it back to the mast - thus making it easier for the genoa to be used.

We did not user a furler for the cutter sail. It is removable. I used the cutter stay for additional support for the mast and for our stormsail. When sailing on the ocean/sea I never removed it.

So I used the normal fore-stay for a genua (light wind and downwind sailing) and the turning jib (reaching with wind above 15 knots). This means a lot of sail changes when sailing back to Europe. By that time I had 3 friends on board and let them do all the work . You can't do this when sailing double handed.

Looking back my ideal sailing config would be:
1. A 135% genua on the normal forestay on a furler
2. A high aspect just behind the normal forestay on a furler.
3. A cutter stay for the storm sail
4. A Gennaker with a snuffer.
5. Normal sail with 3 reefs. 3rd very high.


4. What did / do you use the self tacker track for.

I used the self tacker track for our turning jib and the storm jib.

5. The traveller - on the boat we are looking at, its about 3:1 - looks under engineered, and there-for tricky to adjust - particularly in gusty conditions.

I didn't make any changes to this. There is an article on the forum by someone who did change it. It is a good idea.

6. What size new cockpit combing winches did you install? ARe they too big / too small / just right. The existing primaries are Harken 46's (2 speed).

I installed the 48's. They are just right when using the genua. You do still need to be strong to handle them. For me no problem. My wife let's me do it.

What have you done with the refrigeration - it seems there have been problems, particularly in the tropics / summer.

I didn't make any changes to the fridge and we didn't have any problems. In the Caribbean we did remove the the cushion and cover plate of the couch so the the hot air could get out better. An alternative would be to use the cooling of the water outlet of the sink but our budget was already gone.