Subject: First season with a 500 |
Author: Ronan [ Edit | View ]
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Date Posted: 30/09/03 0:03:32
Just finished our first season with Soubrette, a 1980 T500. Had a great season - delighted with the boat. Based in Bray, just south of Dublin, we had an 8 week cruise in June-July around the top of Scotland to Norway (via outer Hebrides, Orkeny and Shetland) and back through the Caledonian canal - just over 2000 miles. Generally steeped with the weather this summer - we lost 1 day in 8 weeks to bad weather - but the boat was great even in some pretty rough stuff we encountered in the North sea on our way to Norway - we 2/3 filled the cockpit beating into breaking waves under a shred of jib and with the sprayhood and dodgers up... Now that we have lifted out for the season, the winter's jobs are lined up:
1. need to replace the gooseneck - was the original Proctor roller reefing job that broke - will probably change to slab reefing with a new main this winter, so I'll probably change the boom as well - have an offer on a suitable one which would save having to fit external blocks etc.
2. we had trouble with water in the diesel after our little storm in the North Sea (had to sail into our first port of call) - I think water was certainly entering the tank via the air intake on the outside of the starboard cockpit combings (does 'combings' have a 'b'?) - has anyone encountered this before when the boat is heeled with air intake on windward side?
3. although we beefed up the internal bolting arrangement for the chainplates through the main bulkhead, we are again seeing some movement with signs of the bolts pulling up slightly (the bolts are no longer perfectly horizontal - last winter on foot of the surveyors report when purchasing, we added an extender plate to make it three bolts either side, and added an extra stiffening piece opf ply over the whole area to stiff the bulkhead around the chainplates, with a proper backing plate on the other side). Anyone else encountered similar issues?
Great site, keep up the good work Nick.
Ronan
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