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Topics - MangoCats

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Boat Handling / Jib only handling
« on: March 13, 2019, 11:25:10 PM »
I have a new-to-me 303 (aka porker, nearly 11' beam and only 4'4" draft) and just got the jib-furler halyard replaced, took her out today in ~15kn of "fresh breeze," sailing jib only.  Seems that, even with the sail tracks 1' inboard, best I can make with jib only is a beam reach - pointed as high into the wind as we could on the way out, tacked and did the same on the way back and our return track was stubbornly parallel to the outbound track.  I'm assuming that a little participation from the main could help us point higher, but just didn't need it today - was making 5+kn on jib only, even when furled to about 70% - fully unfurled is around 110% and that was uncomfortable in 15kn of puffy breeze (complaints from the galley crew), and barely any faster.

Does this track with other Pearsons' handling experience?

2
Plumbing and Galley Systems / Weeping bladder
« on: February 18, 2019, 10:36:03 PM »
My 303 has 2 100 liter bladders under the aft portion of both settees... to starboard is a blue cloth covered bag with a duct-taped jerry rigged outlet hose - it seems to be holding water just fine.  To port, there is a black vinyl NAUTA bladder with stitched seams, and the bottom seam is weeping, ever so slowly.

The bladders were full when I purchased the boat last December, they didn't run low until 60 days later (and then only because I've been using galley and head sink water for LOTS of stuff, not conserving it at all..), so it's obviously not a fast leak, but it is just enough to see a tiny trickle entering the bilge.

So many other things to address first, I'll definitely not be sweating this one any time soon, but... any ideas for what I might do to make it better 60+ days from now when it's empty again?

3
Boat Handling / The iron sail on a 303
« on: February 18, 2019, 09:21:24 AM »
I'm new to my 303, and up until yesterday had only motored around under 2100RPM (separate story, to confirm the accuracy of my console tach I used an optical tach on the flywheel, 2100RPM as read by a cheapo optical tach on the flywheel corresponds to 1900RPM on the console needle, I trust the new cheapo optical over the 35 year old console...)  The GPS will generally read around 5 knots at 2100RPM on a calm day - we motor in a river so that's usually 4.5 against the current, 5.5 with it.

Yesterday I finally throttled up to ~2600RPM and yes indeed it does move faster, but the motion of the hull is much less settled.  We were running downstream, 5.5 GPS knots at 2100, and by 2600 the GPS was reading ~6.7, which should be about hull speed for a 25' waterline, though maybe still 1/2 knot short accounting for the current.

The main "unsettling" behaviors were a tendency for the heading to wander, at 5 knots through the water it stays on course very solidly, at 6+ it required constant input at the wheel to hold a course - maybe my nice comfy 11' beam is coming into play here?  Also, the back of the boat squatted down about 4", where the exhaust is just above water at 5 knots, it's fully below at 6.  There was also a notable increase in exhaust odor, not foul, but notable.

I'm happy to cruise at 2100RPM / 5 knots, but have read here and there about Yanmar (and other diesels) "liking to run" at 75-80% of rated RPM (3400 for my 2GMF) to prevent carbon buildup.

Any thoughts / experience from other Pearsons?  Particularly wide-body models like the 303?

4
P303 / Navigation Lights
« on: February 13, 2019, 04:27:41 PM »
Did the 303 come with standard (or factory optional) navigation lights?

My 1984 303 came to me with a 3-AAA battery powered LED puck that locks into the bow pulpit - while I admire the simplicity and efficiency of the solution, it feels ... cheesy ... to me.

5
Ports & Hatches / Beckson 414 opening ports
« on: February 11, 2019, 07:53:56 PM »
My 1984 303 came to me with what appear to be 4 original Beckson 414 opening ports, plastic windows with screens.  One had a gasket in horrid condition, the others are reasonable but not perfect.

I bought 4 new gaskets from Beckson, but my first attempt at replacing the first one was an hour of pure frustration.  It was about 70F, but the gasket was too cold and stiff to stretch and fit into the slot - the directions that came in the box with the gaskets didn't mention heating the gasket, I gave up after over an hour of trying to get it to seat around the first corner, dry, with soap, stretching, etc. no luck - put the old gasket back and went home to research.

The Beckson online instructions include a step to leave the gasket in the sun to warm up before starting.  I didn't have enough sun at my second attempt, but I did flip on the water heater long enough to get the galley sink deep enough with lukewarm water to soak the gasket for a few minutes - after that it only took about 15 minutes of average struggling to get the new gasket seated properly.

One down, three to go.

6
Sails and Canvas / Zipper wax on mainsail cover zipper?
« on: February 11, 2019, 04:50:53 PM »
Zipper wax on an old plastic mainsail cover zipper - good idea or bad?

7
Deck Mounted Hardware / Pulpit rebedding
« on: February 10, 2019, 04:43:26 PM »
I suppose this is a lot like stanchion rebedding, but... I have a 303 and there is a substantial amount of rainwater that makes its way from the deck into the shelves in the V-berth... I guess previous owners ignored it because it mostly heads down to the bilge, but it does get anything stored on the shelves wet and of course makes it (more) damp inside...

Any hints from those experienced in doing rebedding projects?  Is 4000 caulk sufficient, or should I be thinking about sealing with epoxy and re-drilling?

8
P303 / P303
« on: February 08, 2019, 05:07:58 PM »

How about the 303?  I've read that over 300 were produced, at any given time many seem to be available for sale, I just bought a 1984 model late last year...

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