Messages

1

Deck Mounted Hardware / Re: New Owner Hull 135

« on: November 21, 2014, 03:51:22 PM »

Congratulations on your purchase!  In seven months of cruising I've gotten lots of compliments on the boat and the solid reputation Pearson's have.

While you are waiting for winter to pass have a look through my blog and see where your 323 can take you: www.sailingwanderer.com

Windless?  I keep mine in the cockpit next to me during the day and in the v-berth at night.

2

Deck Mounted Hardware / Re: the pearson 323 companionway

« on: November 07, 2014, 10:35:27 PM »

It reminds me of breaking my pinkie toe.    Which I think I did a few weeks ago, and then a week after that...I find that if I just tape my pinkie toe to the one next to it, I'm at least reminded to take it easy going through there.   

3

Engine and Drive Train / Transmission Failure Experience

« on: April 26, 2014, 02:24:20 PM »

Hi,
This week the transmission on my Volvo MD11C stopped shifting into reverse.  I removed it this morning to see about getting the cone clutch refaced, or getting some new gears installed.  Has anyone had any experience with this lately?  Any shop to recommend?

One note:  If you do ever have to remove the transmission, make sure the oil is drained from the engine first (duh), or it's likely to start pouring out as the last bolt comes undone and you are now holding the 50ish lb. hunk of metal and gears in your hands.

At least this happened before we left for the Bahamas...ugh.

4

Cruising / Heading Out

« on: April 13, 2014, 10:13:27 PM »

We'll be heading out for a cruise around some of the Keys and then over to the Bahamas later this week.  Lots of work went into getting the boat ready to go!  If anyone is interested in reading about some of the projects we've done or following along on the cruise check out the blog:
www.sailingwanderer.com
Thanks!
-Bill

5

Engine and Drive Train / Re: Fuel use, GPH

« on: April 04, 2014, 08:20:50 AM »

Good information here. I too have the Volvo diesel. I've always figured about a half gallon per hour for estimating purposes, good to know it could actually be a bit less. I have the 30 gallon tank and three blade fixed prop on Wanderer.  That's a lot of motor time, considering how good these boats do sail!

6

Electrical Systems & Electronics / Re: Cabin Fans

« on: March 31, 2014, 12:41:44 PM »

Sweet Pea,

I installed a Caframo Ultimate in the V-berth where you describe (http://www.caframo.com/marine/marine_products_12voltfans_ultimate747.php).

I rant he wiring back to my starboard side cabin lights and it has worked fine.

-Bill

7

Electrical Systems & Electronics / Re: Replacement fixtures for bullet nav lights?

« on: March 31, 2014, 12:39:37 PM »

I'm so glad to have this Pearson owner's group!  Found this old thread with exactly the information that I needed to replace my LED nav lights after a lighting strike (yikes!).

BTW, Dave at Boater Bits is super friendly and helpful.  I would definitely recommend him if you are looking to replace your red and greens.

8

Plumbing and Galley Systems / Re: Head Upgrade

« on: March 29, 2014, 07:18:23 PM »

Looks like a great upgrade Ed!  I will keep this in mind for the future...

9

Sails and Canvas / Re: Arches (not golden ones)

« on: February 26, 2014, 06:51:52 AM »

It's not a matter of having it far forward so much as it is as that is as far aft as it could be placed. I'm sure if I doled out the bucks for a custom arch, it could be wherever I wanted it. This arch is a package that bolts together, hence is not that customizable. Originally I thought it would have to be further forward than it is, like forward of the pushpit rails.

But, by having it where it is in the cockpit it makes fora nice handhold getting in and out of the cockpit. Also, once the solar panel is on it will provide shade over the helm.

10

Sails and Canvas / Re: Arches (not golden ones)

« on: February 22, 2014, 01:49:32 PM »

Oh, and I have not noticed any additional squatting or changes to the waterline. The arch only weighs around 80lbs. It I end up hanging the dinghy and outboard back there, maybe I'd see some, but she seems pretty balanced.

11

Sails and Canvas / Re: Arches (not golden ones)

« on: February 22, 2014, 01:45:41 PM »

Went ahead and installed an arch on Wanderer

Ended up going with the "uni-arch" that comes flat packed and you assemble yourself. It's 2" schedule 40 aluminum, and seems very strong. I've crawled on top of it and it didn't budge. Installations as a little tricky to get it shimmed level on the coamings. The boat is not symmetrical (surprise!), but we were able to get it fitted in and didn't have to change the pushpit which I had feared.

Will be mounting solar, shade, and maybe some davit bars to it. Here are some photos. You can also see my propane tank addition in these pics too.

12

Boat Handling / Re: Potential owner

« on: January 30, 2014, 08:08:27 AM »

John,
I'm a new owner, just having bought 'Wanderer' last September. I've been thrilled to own her thus far for many of the reasons already touched on here: roominess for 32', comfortable motion, affordability, and sailing characteristics.
We have a new fully battened main with a stack pack which makes sail handling very very easy. It is also installed with a "strong track" on the mast so the sail goes up with barely having to use the winch and drops right down on herself.
The boat came with an a-symmetric spinnaker which we were just playing around with in some very light airs the other day - 3-8knts. We were able to point pretty high with the chute up in those light winds and saw boat speeds in the 3-4knt range. Not blistering, but pretty damn good for a 6.5 ton boat!
As sun set, the wind filled In a little to a steady 8knts or so and going upwind with the 120ish jib we were hitting those 4knt speeds again.
I bought this boat after getting the advice of a good friend and yacht broker/delivery skipper with 40 years of experience sailing all over the world on all types of boats. He had delivered a 323 15 years ago and it stood out in his mind of all the boats he has been on since as a great sailing and comfortable boat for the size and money.

-Bill
Www.sailingwanderer.com

13

Engine and Drive Train / Re: Shifting

« on: January 15, 2014, 12:28:33 PM »

Check out those links I posted for some enlightenment on the transmission. Once you see where the shims are it's pretty easy to do a little troubleshooting to get the shifting working better.

As I understand it, the "shifting fork" goes into a groove on a conical shaped double male flanged shifting device that slides along and selects either forward or reverse.  Over time (35 years in my case) either the shifting fork or the groove in the flanged shifter wears a bit (talking millimeters) and I had to remove about 4 shims to get the shifting fork to set better inside of the groove.

I now look forward to going out for many more daysails as I won't be dreading coming back to the dock!

14

Engine and Drive Train / Re: Shifting

« on: January 14, 2014, 12:51:40 PM »

Update:
I ordered a new single lever shifter and was about to install it when I decided to try shifting at the transmission with the cable disconnected again.  It then appeared that the issue was not with the cable or shifter at the helm but something to do with the transmission itself (uh-oh!), as it was still hard to find neutral between forward and reverse.  It often switched from forward to reverse and then I'd have to baby it back into neutral.

So, after a lot of searching on the inter-google and learning a little about marine transmissions, I figured it was actually a pretty simple adjustment. After a bit of experimentation, I ended up removing four shims off of the bolt (shim fork) that sets in the middle of the shift control on top of the transmission.  Success!  I am now able to shift from forward to neutral and then into reverse and back to neutral!

These links were invaluable to figuring this out:
http://www.stw.fr/download/docs_moteurs/ms-msb.pdf

http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/showthread.php?377721-Md7a-ms-191-mono-shift-reverse-gear&s=77c59c07c00b9f0614e29bea2e313e44

15

General Discussion / Re: Happy New Year 323 Owners

« on: January 05, 2014, 07:54:38 AM »

Happy New Year!
My plans for 2014 include fitting 'Wanderer' out for some liveaboard cruising with solar panels, an arch, and refrigeration. Then, a trip to the Bahamas!