[Public-List] boat set up

[Don Campbell via Public-List]

Hi Brent:
     In setting up a sail boat, the most important thing is safety, and 
that includes the boat, standing rigging, hardware, running riggingand 
sails that will not fail in the weather you are going to get caught in, 
not that you choose to be out in. We have all done it- misjudged the 
weather, -  and so get caught in more than we want or need. You must 
have gear to be safe in those circumstances because it is your life and 
the lives of your crew that you are responsible for. To me, that means 
knowing the breaking strength of every piece of line and using the 
correct strength for each application. (I do not use fiber halyards for 
the reason that they stretch and reduce sail ability when they do that.) 
This is not easy to sort out because trying to determine the load on a 
line is not something easily calculated, (and in that case I tend to use 
Mennonite technology - go twice as strong as you think you need and see 
if it can fail).
     I suggest you try to get on a boat and go for a sail  to actually 
see how things work before you do anything to reinstall or buy new 
stuff. A race crew is a great way to see how things work in action if 
you can get near a race and I am sure you can get a ride. It need not be 
an AL30 but getting to Annapolis will get you on an Alberg
     The next thing I would do is get a Harken and Ronstan catalogue in 
hard paper (available at dealers or at boat shows) and go over the 
various set ups they show in their technical sections. They also give 
you some formulae to use to calculate your load requirements, but a far 
cry from reasonably easy in some cases.
     The third thing I would try to do is go and see a C&C 99 because 
they are they closest thing on the market right now to match an AL30 for 
size, sails area and mass. It is sold as a racer/cruiser as well. In my 
opinion, it is really well laid out for block size and rigging routing. 
(It should be for the price!)
     Once that is accomplished, then you need to define performance as 
you see it for what sailing you want to do.  That includes things like 
traveller adjustment for the car, stretch on halyards (wire rope vs. 
fiber rope), sail controls with things like poles, foreguys, barber 
haulers,  line to sail attachments, ease of changing same, outhaul 
adjustment and ease of doing so, and sail adjustment that you want to 
make, (stretching luffs, and reefing for instance that are beyond sail 
shape adjustments). You might also consider the ease of sail handling 
for older people, women and arthritic or joint problems. That means 
going to 6:1 mains and 40:1 two speed winches for instance. Easy to sail 
and safe for all too! I also think simplicity is a bonus and so things 
like Dutchmen sail handlers only complicate things to much for me but 
then that is me.
     This then dictates what you want to put on your boat for hardware 
and rigging. Check the standing rigging for nicks and thread distortion. 
Any distortion on threads means a replacement ( in pairs ) of wire and 
fasteners! Replacing a mast lost is about $17,000. these days, so try 
not to have to do that!!! Price then rears its head for the other 
stuff,  and there are options. Harken and Ronstan are good , but 
expensive. I prefer Andersen winches because they do not wear the sheets 
like rough barrels do. Not any cheaper, but a huge saving not buying 
sheets when frayed with use. I can make sheets last 11 years on the 
Andersens and my friends tell me they replace sheets every second or 
third year with Harkens. If that gets factored into the cost, Andersen's 
are not that expensive. Garhauer makes good stuff with out the huge 
price, but there may be places where you might wnat to use someone else. 
I have 2 Harken dinghy blocks in my boom so I have 14:1 on the outhaul 
and can adjust it under any wind strength, from the cockpit and a great 
comfort when it comes to flattening a sail in a big wind.
     I used a tender system when I did my boat and sent my list to 4 
sellers (I wanted Harken from my past experience) asking for their best 
price and all or nothing for buying , so I would not cherry pick as they 
varied on individual pieces. The difference was over $1000 on a list 
that topped out at $2500 for the most expensive, and it was all the same 
stuff! That is a 40% reduction, but you will not get that from Garhauer 
because they are both manufacturer and retailer.
     Consider timeing of buying too. Boat show prices in the spring are 
often less or with discounts and if you can give your seller time to 
bring things in on a normal scheduled order, are cheaper than delivered 
to you as a special order. If your order is big enough to give a volume 
discount to your seller, he may pass some of that on to you as well.
     Things can be additive too, so they fit the budget! What do you 
need to sail? A main sail and a fore sail. That means a set of jib 
sheets and winches and a mainsheet, two halyards and some controls on 
the traveller. Anything and everything  else can be added as money 
becomes available.
     If you have any questions or need more help, just ask.
Don Campbell
White Opal #528

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