Well, been busy sailing!
Just installed a max-prop; expensive, but very nice. Getting some noise at low RPMs, possibly cavitation, may have to change the pitch. I hope not. it is a 15x9; and while the pitch can be changed underwater it's a tedious job, especially with the poor visibility we have in the South SF Bay.
In other news, ordered a new boom vang from Garhauer. Just arrived. looks mighty pretty, but is 60" long; the angle it makes to the boom is around 25 degrees (optimal is 37.5), can't see it pulling the boom down at that shallow angle, so I dropped them a little note about it. Also the plate fixing it to the boom is too small - screw are only 1/2" off the centerline - so all the force would be taken on the threads. Bad mojo. Boat nearby had the vang tear out due to a similar issue - so that'll have to be reworked too. <sigh>
On a more positive note, the "blade" I made from a sailrite kit has worked well in the heavy wind season - it is about 85%, and works a treat when the winds are 25+. Long may my shaky seams last.
Finally, we won a race a few weeks ago! Yay! Key was the fact it was mainly broad/beam reaching; if we need to beat we get beat. Perhaps the max-prop will help that, even though it drops the PHRF. We'll see.
Oh boy do I have a long list to work on over winter!!