@kari-and-lawrence
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Hi Pat,
Many thanks for your info, perhaps something worth checking on a regular basis, once in awhile.
We have Hydrovane wind steering, which would allow an alternative control system, much as yourselves.
I will inspect our whole system now though. Great imput.
Regards
Lawrence
PS, I would be interested to discover if anyone has actually deployed their series drogue and what there experience and thoughts are?
I deployed ours, whilst returning from the Azores in 2018. The breeze at the time was about Beaufort 7, I believe. Blowing from the north, I was headed in a north-easterly direction and have discovered i dislike sailing to windward in anything greater than 30 knots apparent! Hence my decision to test the drogue, initially I attached the bridle lines to the after deck cleats but found this seemed to drag her down in the stern too much. At times this resulted in white water jumping onto the after deck! I found the motion and snatching uncomfortable. I can not remember the rate of leeward drift, I did record it but the log is in Swansea and I am in London, caring for mother!! Anyway, let’s say it was something like 1.5 – 2 knots. I then attached additional mooring lines, lead from the cockpit winches, this solved the problem of immersing the stern but did not improve the motion. There was an added chafe problem with the mooring lines crossing the rail, also I had left the mizner boom swung out to port, I then found the lines to chafe on said boom and at times managed to ride over and commence chafing on the out haul and other fittings. After a sleepless night I hauled the thing in, somewhat slowly and vowed never to use it again!!
Dear All,
The displacement figure is the weight of average sea water that is displaced by the insertion of the hull volume into said seawater! The weight of the vessel is irrelevant in this equation.
Hope that helps.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Lawrence</p>
Hi Val and Neville,
There used to be Poppy of Liverpool for sale at Walton on the Naze. She was for sale a couple of years back. My knees are terrible but in and out of the cockpit is a cinch!
Good luck and regards
Lawrence
Dear All,
There is a nice obituary available online by googling “obituary for jeremy lines.”
Sweet reading but adds little more than already mentioned!
Regards Kari & Lawrence
Dear Anne,
I hope you understood the above explanations. If the halyard runs too close to parallel with the forestay, it can then become twisted around the forestay. By mounting a turning block onto the mast below the forestay halyard sheave and close to the furler top swivel, will eliminate this problem.
Regards
Kari and Lawrence
Dear All,
Ah, such sad news indeed. I never actually met Jeremy but used to speak with him on the telephone fairly regularly in the late nineties and early naughties, whilst I managed a nic 35. He was always such a willing and helpful gentleman and font of knowledge. Since owning Nicolisa, we had the pleasure of exchanging emails with the talented Jeremy. Hope you rest in peace dear man. Sadly missed and never forgotten.
Forlornly,
Kari & Lawrence
Dear Marylin,
Hope you, Van and Rainshadow are well?
I read your comment about, “check valves” in your cockpit drain pipes, when we were corresponding on that subject before, I don’t recall you mentioning them?! How effective are your cockpit drains, do they work while Rainshadow is stationary?
Regards,
Kari & Lawrence
Dear All,
We have a Harken mk4, unit 2. I wanted to be sure of the durability after being told the unit 1 might be a bit borderline for a nic 38! We had it installed last October, then cruised the Canaries last Winter, from the UK. Then headed to the Azores in March this year, then returned to the Gower, South Wales in June. Recently returned from Valentia, on the West coast of Ireland, where we had a short fortnights Autumnal cruise, over there and back. The Harken system itself has worked well during all this mileage.
However, we have had some problems with the furling line. The supplied line that was installed by the agent, began to get nicked and chaffed. This chafing was quite intense and localised but I could not locate the exact cause, despite contacting the agent.
This happened whilst we were in the Canarias. I decided the line might be at fault and reverted to the original that came with Nicolisa along with the old Rotorstay furling unit, when we purchased her in April last year.The old line felt like it was more durable and solid to the grip, both lines were 8mm diameter but I’d had some problems maintaining friction between my bare palms and said Harken line, whenever it had started to “get a bit blowy!!”
Whilst in Ponta Delgada, Azores I discussed our problem with a local German chap, who ran a yacht repair services company. He somewhat cynically poo pooed my Harken system and informed me I should have bought a Pro Furl, I felt somewhat crest fallen but thought “never mind, what’s done, is done and I’d better make the most of it!
Anyway, this old chunkier line worked well until I got out to the West coast of Ireland and into some proper Atlantic swell, although it was by no means rough. I am quite a cautious old tar and like to keep my sweet boat, if anything, then slightly under canvassed. So I had a tuck in the furler whilst going upwind during darkness. The breeze had been easing down from about Beaufort 6 and was at this time about a 4. A fairly dark night was ensuing and she was on starboard tack, when, all of a sudden the genoa completely unfurled. Thanks to my lazy cautiousness no remedial action was necessary. Later, during daylight, I noted the furling line had parted exactly on the turn of where I had installed a new Harken block, at the behest of the agent, on the pulpit before the line entered the Harken furling drum, thereby increasing the angle of turn from the line of the guard wires onto the furler. So I’m guessing this increased angle had been the fault all along.
Subsequent from this time, when I’ve wished to shorten headsail. I have gone forward and operated the unit by pulling the line directly from said furler. The difference is amazing, so much less friction and gain of effort without having the line led aft through all those silly little tidying blocks. Now I am not sure i wish to revert to the snugness but unease of furling from the cockpit, clearly more sea trials are needed but unfortunately , I am thinking they must await until next season.
On another matter, as the headsail is the main driving force on a nic 38, it would be the last sail I would remove completely as the breeze was rising!
When it’s getting rather quite blowy, the critical shape and cut of sails becomes less relevant one feels. So if furling to 80% don’t concern oneself with shape and flying telltales, just that one has sufficient drive to maintain steerage, unless of course, one is still racing, rah rah!
Above all, have fun, fellow niccers, regards,
Kari and Lawrence
Hi Stephan,
Many apologies for my and others error on your name!
Yes a hard top could easily be homemade. I single handed down to the Canaries last November, then to the Azores in March and finally back home to the Gower Peninsula, South Wales arriving mid June. We have Harken headsail furler, conventional slab reefed main, without any lines in the boom and nothing led aft! We have a Hydrovane, which works beautifully but impedes tacking with the mizzen, although tacking is still possible, one just tacks, leaving the mizzen aback, once the genoa is sheeted home I nip out upon the after deck drop or remove the windvane, tack the mizzen then replace the vane. In certain conditions and interior ballasting of stowed gear, I find she’ll sail beautifully upwind without the windvane fitted.
Hope that of use regards, the Nicolisa team.
Hi Stephen,
I think there are quite a few around and it’s worth looking at them all, at least pics online. Poppy doesn’t have the hard top cockpit cover, it’s a canvas arrangement. She has been re-engined and I believed she has probably received some epoxy treatment. The boat was rewired by the owners son, also both father and son undertook the re-engine work. The engine hour Meyer starts counting as soon as the master switches are turned on and the batteries are now beneath the chart table. She sits on a swing mooring during the season and ashore in winter. Unfortunately, whoever runs the moorings, positioned another vessel too close and there was some contact and damage but only to the toe rail. Which the owner repaired but not to a professional standard. He bought the boat hoping that his son and grand kids would be crew but they have gone more down the dinghy sailing route. To that end, when we viewed, Poppy had been used as a hotel while the kids participated in local dinghy regattas and confectionery wrappers were still to be found within lockers of the forepeak.
She is part 1 British Registered but when the previous owner sold, the registry weren’t informed. So she would still be listed under that name and in Liverpool but actually she’s on the East coast. That registration would of long ago lapsed but I’m not sure if it would hinder transfer!
The guy is getting quite elderly and I believe the boat is somewhat of a millstone! She has been on the market for quite some time, so would of thought and bargain could be easily secured!
Hope that helps and regards Lawrence
Hi Marylin,
We will keep an eye out for your publication. On oureflection “bucket list,” is a cruise through the North West Passage, seeing as global warming is facilitating this possibility!
Regards Kari and Lawrence
Hi John,
I think we need to fit a folding/feathering arrangement, did you get anywhere with it?
Regards Kari and Lawrence
Hi All,
Very interesting reading, I had not considered the rudder post direct steering idea but I think one would need to rig things in reverse, ie with a tiller extending aft-wards else the mizzen mast would be in the way. As previously mentioned I have done lots of sailing with both types of system and find the Hydrovane superior.
Erik, indeed we are all different and I don’t think it matters if we actually achieve our dream but the essential thing is to keep the dream alive and keeping ones life moving in the right direction, even if we are taking tiny steps. Also, there is no point going forth onto the ocean, until one is happy with ones boat and preparation. Otherwise the smallest niggle can manifest into a mountain, and we don’t like mountains at sea!!
Best of luck to you all, regards Lawrence
Hi;
Sorry about my predictive text type error on man’seeking sailing ability, should of just read man’s sailing ability!!
Regards , Lawrence
Dear Marylin and Erik,
Wow, quite a lot to answer! Firstly, I will pass comment on the doubter of Hydrovane, it is easy to criticise but without actual experience is idiotic, I sailed around the world, single handed and through the Strait of Magellen, using Aries and had a wind pilot on my last boat. Now I use Hydrovane and it’s better! The doubter was whining about keeping the boat balanced but every system relies on this, I presume this man’seeking sailing ability to be quite poor.
Erik, sometimes stuff breaks at an unholy hour because that’s how life is! It doesn’t matter if it’s home made or the most expensive piece of equipment money can buy. The advice I give is just to help others, in the pursuit of their ambitions. I have had failure of stuff on the Aries at inconvenient times but one is then forced to hand steer, balance the boat or just not sail at all, until such a time arrives, when the problem can be rectified. We don’t live in a perfect world and if it were, I’d be bored to tears!
Best regards, Lawrence
Dear Erik,
No is the direct answer to your question but I do think a pendulum system would work fine, just the hassle of lines, friction and chafe.
Depending on your skill level, creativity and resources available. I would of thought “cobbling” together a piece of engineering similar to an hydrovane should be possible. Sometimes, when I see how others manage, I feel foolish and naive with my “off the shelf system!!” Anyway lack of funds need not be a “a show stopper!”
Best of luck and regards, Lawrence
Hi Guys,
I have only considered this problem arising but am aware of another nice 38, whose owner describes a similar leak. Think I would try removal using a flat paint scraper, with perhaps some gentle tapping to help work it loose. Would involve more work, trying to cut them off. Hopefully, if the adhesive is failing, they will come off ok. Would be interested to learn how you get on?
Regards Lawrence
Dear Ollie,
I believe the designers and engineers got it right fifty years ago, as has been proven by the test of time. If you wish to modify stuff, then you are free to do so, I would be quite interested to know, what your experience level is?
Regards, Lawrence
Dear Olli,
Indeed, there is a problem with our design/added weight increasing waterline level to a critical level. We have only owned Nicolisa since late April, so our learning curve is quite steep at the moment. Whilst awaiting delivery and fitment of our new Harken headsail furling system. I decided to unblock her cockpit drains, as soon as I had done so, I noticed a constant wetness of the draining channels beneath the engine covers. Also greatly increased wetness of the engine bay and bilge!! I soon realised the drains were back flooding. So now the sea cockspur, for said drains remain permanently closed. I thought of raising the cockpit sole but didn’t wish to lose the associated headroom therein. As long as one has sufficient bilge pumping devices, I do not see this as a major problem but indeed RORY Raxing wouldn’t be happy with this situation and to meet their standard the cockpit sole would definitely be needed to be raised!
This problem highlights the importance of maintaining the cockpit canvas, thereby reducing ingress of water to the aforementioned area.
Happy sailing and regards, Lawrence
PS, Lower shroud tension must always be equal to the capital shrouds, else the mast won’t stay in column, whilst under load.
Enjoy
Hi Brian,
Hmm, I have had quite a lot of experience with different boat engines, their associated gearboxes and plant machinery in general, I served in the Royal Engineers for 22 years. To my mind, if something ain’t broken, don’t fix it, just monitor the situation. I always put my gearbox in reverse when the engine isn’t running to prevent the propeller from spinning, negating the cbance of fouling stray ropes and stopping any noise!
Hope you are enjoying the southern summer, happy motoring.
Regards, Lawrence
