Totally excited - just ordered a 371

Hi Bob,

Congratulations on your new order.  I'm quite sure you will enjoy the boat.

There is no raised floor in the aft cockpit locker / lazarette.  It just follows the hull, curving all the way round.  I'll try and remember to take some pictures of the inside of the locker at the weekend and email them to you next week.

In the mean time you can see a few preliminary pictures of my new 371 at http://www.csardas.co.uk - nothing too exciting I'm afraid - still waiting to get some of her under sail.  Did see some awesome photos of Philip Watson's 371, Megawat, taken mid-Atlantic during the ARC.  Will see if I can dig them out.

Marcus

Hi,

My genoa is actually 150%.  It is mylar-sandwich, made by Watson Sails in Ireland (Philip Watson sails a 371).  I haven't yet tried the self-tacking jib. 

I have the basic spinnaker package - just the spinnaker pole, control lines and spin halyard etc.  Haven't yet purchased the spinnaker itself - or spinnaker winches.  Still making up my mind what to get.  Initially I will probably go for an asymmetric cruising chute as next year's itinerary is mostly short-handed cruising.  I am tempted to do some racing at some stage in the future so may go for a regular symmetric spinnaker later.

I have the regular furler - I didn't go for the racing package.

Bob,

The standard holding tank is under the sink in the heads.  There is some space above it so there's a chance it could be a fraction bigger, but this could cause problems accessing the pipes and the pump itself to pump it out.  If the pump itself was moved I reckon you could increase the size of the tank by another 20-30%. 

I also have the two aft cabins.  Under the bunk in the starboard cabin is the fuel tank.  There is room to increase the size of the fuel tank, but I'm not sure there is room for a waste tank here - and then you'd have problems getting the waste pipe through to it I'd imagine.  Under the berth in the port cabin are the batteries and the hot water emersion heater. 

If it is possible to get the waste pipe through to the starboard quarter how about putting a larger waste tank here, in place of the fuel tank, and having a fuel tank in the lazarette instead?  That would keep the waste tank low and there shouldn't be a problem with having the fuel tank in the lazarette (apart from weight).  Or swap batteries/water heater to stbd, tank to port. 

Another possible solution might be to use half of the wardrobe in the port aft cabin.  You'd sacrifice storage for hanging clothes but I reckon you'd get a bigger tank and it would be right aft of the heads.  I know someone who did this on their new Westerly a few years ago.

I will take some photos of inside the lazarette and under the bunks, inside the wardrobe etc this weekend and email them to you next week.  I'll also take some photos of some of my little tweaks and 'improvements'.

Regarding the racing package it does apparantly include a tapered mast.  Sounds like good value too.

Hope they come up with a solution for the waste tank for you.  This isn't much of an issue here on the south coast of the UK sailing in tidal waters and offshore.  In any case the use of a holding tank is yet to become compulsory here and I don't know of anywhere on the coast with pump out facilities.  But I can certainly see why you'd need a decent sized holding tank where you are.

My windlass is the electric Lewmar Horizon 900.  Don't know if that helps.  Will be in touch with photos in a few days.  Let me know if there's anything else you need to know. 

Marcus

Hi,

I ordered my new 371#212 in November. I was promized delivery in may (from germany, I will sail the boat to sweden). Some weeks ago I was told all models are delayed 3 weeks. My will now be ready 3:rd week in June. Any one else having this "problem".