Topics

16

General Discussion / P-323 Merchandise

« on: October 22, 2014, 02:25:26 PM »

I just stumbled across this Cafe Press site for P-323 merchansise:

http://www.cafepress.com/dd/57139114

Shirts, mugs, decals, etc, all with the P-323 sailplan and line drawings on them.
And Christmas is only 8 weeks away.

17

General Discussion / Where is everybody?

« on: October 04, 2014, 10:21:07 AM »

No activity here in two weeks!  Thought I'd try a post just to see if the forum is still working!

18

Sails and Canvas / Bimini Frame Finger Capture Danger

« on: November 14, 2013, 03:09:04 PM »

Just wanted to share my experience this past weekend in the hope that it will help someone else avoid a similar mishap.

While winterizing the boat this past weekend, I started taking down the bimini.  When enough of the zippers had been undone, the frame relaxed and some of the bows flopped down flat to the coaming.  Unfortunately, my left hand was not in a good place, and the closing "jaws" of one of the hinges caught the tip of my left index finger and nearly severed it.  I knew there was a "pinch" danger, but I never imagined that those lightweight bows represented an amputation danger.  But they do!

The bone was broken, and the tissue severed most of the way through.  The only thing that kept it from being a complete amputation was the fact that there was still a 1/4" gap when the hinge was all the way closed.

I was lucky.  The small flap that was not severed contained the artery, so there was still blood flow to the fingertip.  The hospital was able to reattach it, and they thought there is a good chance of saving it.

So respect those hinges!  Keep your fingers well away from them when deploying or removing the bimini!

19

Plumbing and Galley Systems / Aluminum Fuel Tank

« on: May 28, 2013, 06:52:55 AM »

Trying to find out if Aluminum tanks were a systematic changeover from Monel, or if Pearson just offered them as a special option.

20

Mast and Spar Issues / Mast Step

« on: January 22, 2013, 04:40:40 PM »

Dolce Vita, who do you have for fabricating the new mast step? I would like to have your contact number to see if they can build one for me. Mine is getting to the point that it will probally need to be replaced in the next year or two. A picture on the web site would be helpful when you get it.  Thanks

The new step was built by:

Carter Fabricators
740A Generals Highway
Millersville, MD 21108
(410) 987-9397

I haven't gotten the bill yet, but the estimate was $500.

The thing is built like a tank.  It'll outlast both the boat and me!
Here's what it looks like:

21

General Discussion / Hurricane Sandy

« on: October 31, 2012, 09:27:55 AM »

 I hope everyone in the mid-Atlantic and Atlantic NorthEast regions fared OK with Sandy.

Here on the Chesapeake, we largely dodged a bullet.  Dolce Vita came through fine.

22

Standing & Running Rigging and Fitting/Tuning / Pin Sizes for rigging at masthead

« on: September 20, 2012, 02:32:23 PM »

As far as I know, the standing rigging on Dolce Vita has never been replaced in her 35 years.  This understandably makes me nervous.

I'm preparing to replace it all and wonder if anyone knows the size of the pins used at the masthead.
The shrouds all have fork ends, while the forestay is a toggle, and the backstay is an eye.
Forestay, backstay, and upper shrouds are all 9/32" wire, while the lower shrouds are 1/4".

In looking at the selections available from both Norseman and Sta Lok, I find
that Norsman forks for 9/32" wire only come with a 1/2" pin, while Sta Lok
forks for 9/32" wire only come with a 7/16 pin.  It seems like the pin size
needed is going to drive my choice of brands. 

I suppose I could make a trip up the mast to measure, but asking here first
is so much easier!

23

Standing & Running Rigging and Fitting/Tuning / Mast Pumping

« on: June 12, 2012, 05:24:18 PM »

This season, I've noticed a tendency for my mast to "pump" in moderate winds while sitting at the dock.  I have observed the midpoint of the mast, at the spreaders, visibly oscilating in a fore-aft direction.  Vibrates the whole boat.

My shroud tensions were low, so I borrowed a Loos tension gauge and retensioned all the upper and lower shrouds: about 1000lbs on the uppers and 700-800 on the fore & aft lowers.  Still pumps. Haven't touched the fore & back stays.

I'm stumped where to proceed next at this point, but I'm sure the pumping can't be good for the rig.  Anybody else observed this behavior?  How did you fix it?

24

Ports & Hatches / Rebedding Small Portlights

« on: May 04, 2012, 03:33:11 PM »

Well, I finally got around to putting this up on my website, even though it's been 2 years since I did it!

The small opening port in the head was leaking badly wheb we bought the boat, both through the
worn-out gasket and through the bedding.  I did a lot of research among sailors who had
performed successfull waterproof repairs and "borrowed" all their good ideas.  Full story at:

http://www.chessie.com/boat/projects.shtml#Port

It's now been two years and this repair has been rock-solid and leak-free.

The two key points that were essential were :
  1. Epoxy-fill the gap between the cabinhouse wall and the inner liner.
  2. Use Dow Corning 795 as the bedding.

25

Cruising / Week Cruise in 2011

« on: December 30, 2011, 11:29:42 PM »

I just posted a story about our week-long cruise in the mid-Chesapeake aboard our P-323:

http://www.chessie.com/boat/2011-week-trip.shtml

26

Standing & Running Rigging and Fitting/Tuning / Internal Halyards

« on: October 27, 2011, 11:14:10 AM »

I recently attended the Annapolis Sailboat Show, and got a free rigging inspection from Chesapeake Rigging.
The inspection was done this past Tuesday, and I had a long talk with the rigger about my future plans
for pulling the stick to do repairs and upgrades.

One of the things he suggested that I hadn't been considering was conversion to internal halyards.
He had an interesting point that I had not thought about.  With the P323's original external halyards,
there are two sheaves per halyard at the mast head, for a total of four.  When converting to internal
halyards, only one sheave per halyard is needed.  As a result, there is the possibility of rigging two
extra halyards, one fore and one aft!  This sounds like a great safety idea in case of a jammed halyard.
In addition, the extra aft halyard can be used as a topping lift, which is vastly superior to the
clumsy jam-cleat block on the end of the boom, as it can be adjusted easily from the mast.

I was wondering if anyone here had converted to internal halyards, and what experiences,
pro and con, they have had.  My first thoughts were on chafing, both on the rope
and on the mast wiring.  And is there any significant extra drag?

27

Electrical Systems & Electronics / Forward "Bullet" Nav Lights

« on: August 16, 2011, 11:41:59 AM »

Anyone have the bulb number for the original "bullet" style forward nav lights?

28

Engine and Drive Train / Poll: Shaft sizes

« on: May 10, 2011, 11:56:34 AM »

Just wondering if my PO changed the shaft dia when he upgraded it to SS.  Mine is 1 1/8" and that seems unusual.

29

Engine and Drive Train / Stuffing Box

« on: May 10, 2011, 11:51:52 AM »

Anybody come up with a good solution for stuffing box wrenches for our hard-to-get-to stuffing box nuts under the v-drive?

I've been wresteling with this for a week. 

I was thinking of cutting off the handles from a couple of sink trap wrenches to get them to fit.

I also just picked up a wraparound "chain" wrench to try.

30

Plumbing and Galley Systems / Fresh Water Cooling HX Location

« on: April 15, 2011, 04:04:11 PM »

Since we now have a freshly rebuilt engine in Dolce Vita, I'm in the process of converting to fresh Water Cooling.

I'm curious as to where other P-323 owners have mounted their heat exchangers. 
Pictures would be very helpful!

I have the "upside-down L" style of heat exchanger.  My current plan is to install a plank
between the two upright frames ahead of the fuel tank, and mount the HX on it,
with its fill cap (on the short arm of the "L")  protruding through the perf board
and into the starbord sail locker for easy access.