Sue Watkins
I’ve just bought a sonata & not having seen her fully rigged, I have a few questions which hopefully someone can answer:
1. In the forepeak, leading to the chain locker, there are two holes – one big one with a batten across, which I’m familiar with from Impalas, and a smaller one
which has no covering. I presume some sort of vent was originally in place and was wondering where I could source a replacement? I’ll try & post a picture
over the weekend which illustrates it.
2. Can someone send me a picture or describe the set up of their control lines & halyards across the coach-roof/deck (in particular, the kite downhaul) – see
pics of my blocks & jammers. There are small, fixed turning blocks at the forward corners of the sliding hatch (pic 028), leading back to a small jammer
either side of the wooden hatch rail (pic 029) – what is this for? There is also a long rope with a single turning block c/w hook (pic 039) – I can’t
work out whether it’s for the downhaul system or something else – perhaps the kicker – but that is on the boom as far as I recall.
3. There were two barbahaulers on each side (pic 35)- one for the kite obviously, but would the second one be for the jenny on a two sail reach – they aren’t
snap (opening) blocks?
4. Can somebody point me in the right direction to find specs on recommended rig tension etc?
5. We’ve bought a solar panel & would be interested to know how & where is best to fit & wire it – some boats I’ve seen have it mounted on the sliding hatch
(how is it wired up to allow the hatch to slide) & others have attached it between the hatch & the mast.
Any advice would be most welcome.
Edward Harrison
Hi
I went through a similar process last year when I bought Serenity. I couldn’t figure out what half the control lines were for or how they worked! The best thing to do really is to decide how you want the boat set up and then work to it accordingly, ignoring the fittings that dont seem to be sensibly placed.
My boat had 1 hole into the forcabin, but I glassfibred over this deliberately. In a big sea, a lot of water comes over the bow and having removable hatches there is just something to worry about. Gareth is right, the big one is probably for a spinnaker chute, but I find a companionway bag much more effective and much better for my upholstry.
I don’t think many sonatas sail with barberhaulers on the jib. It sounds to me like the previous owner may have installed a second set of twinning lines for the kite further forward than the originals. If you used these, it should eliminate the need for a pole downhaul. We’ve sailied with the kite in 40+ kts and no downhaul, and the pole has never skyed.
We also have a solar panel. I bought a 10W flexipanel and tie it to the sliding hatch when Im not on the boat. I actually use the blocks and jammers on the hatch corners to secure the panel. This has the benefit that I can remove it for racing.
John Lanham
Hi Sue
I agree with the previous comments with regards to the holes into the anchor well – The larger diameter one would have been for the spinaker chute (don’t even think about using one unless you like topping up sail makers pension funds) just ensure this is securly blocked off and water tight.
On Samurai we also have a smaller whole in which there is a mushroom vetilator which looks similar to this one ==>
http://marinestore.co.uk/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_code=ES4218&Category_code=ufo-vents
Hope that is of some help to you
Regards
John
Sue Watkins
Thanks very much for your replies – they’re much appreciated & I’ve taken onboard your advice. Off to the boat now to do some more work!
P.S. – don’t know what happened to the pics – they loaded, but are clearly not visible.
Sue Watkins
http://marinestore.co.uk/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_code=ES4218&Category_code=ufo-vents
Hope that is of some help to you
Regards
John
Hi John, this vent looks to be just the job. Can I ask which way round you have yours fitted – with the mushroom pulling out into the cabin or into the chain-locker (I would have thought the former myself for easy access/control, but it also mentions there’s an ‘internal’ flange avail. for use with the vent). Also do you ever get water leaking thro’ it – if so, I might just block it off & glass it in.
John Lanham
Hi John, this vent looks to be just the job. Can I ask which way round you have yours fitted – with the mushroom pulling out into the cabin or into the chain-locker (I would have thought the former myself for easy access/control, but it also mentions there’s an ‘internal’ flange avail. for use with the vent). Also do you ever get water leaking thro’ it – if so, I might just block it off & glass it in.
Hi Sue
The vent I have was installed by a pevious owner the mushroom is in the chain locker not the cabin – it has never leaked on us and along with a vent in the washboards the cabin has always smelt peachy – and stayed mildew free.
A couple of other points I think you will find that the vent has screw thread with a knob so that you can open and close it from the inside, the optional flange would be for people like me to hide scruffy cutting of the hole inside the cabin.
Regards
John
Sue Watkins
Here’s another question – has anyone ever tried painting over the original marble effect headlining with bilge/locker paint? I think I’ve seen it recently on a yacht for sale, but am hesitant to try it myself as I thought the headlining was supposed to be breatheable to prevent the hull sides from retaining moisture?
Chris Bentley
Here’s another question – has anyone ever tried painting over the original marble effect headlining with bilge/locker paint? I think I’ve seen it recently on a yacht for sale, but am hesitant to try it myself as I thought the headlining was supposed to be breatheable to prevent the hull sides from retaining moisture?
Hi Sue,
I think you already have most of the answers to your previous questions but the big hole is definitely for a spinnaker sock and definitely don’t use one. It shreds kites perfectly! I have kept mine as an openable hatch as it is useful to dry the boat out after a pounding because I bet your forehatch leaks.
If you mean the actual bare inside face of the hull/deck beware! I thought I did the right thing some years ago and used anti-condensation bathroom paint in the forepeak where you don’t have to have the mural mousse. I have spent the intervening years sweeping/brushing and in frustration, scraping it off because it flakes, slowly! Damboline, or similar proper bilge paint is the answer because it flexes with the hull. If it’s the actual mousse you mean, no idea. Its a plastic material so a spirit-based paint might wrinkle it.
Chris
Sue Watkins
Hi Sue,
I think you already have most of the answers to your previous questions but the big hole is definitely for a spinnaker sock and definitely don’t use one. It shreds kites perfectly! I have kept mine as an openable hatch as it is useful to dry the boat out after a pounding because I bet your forehatch leaks.
If you mean the actual bare inside face of the hull/deck beware! I thought I did the right thing some years ago and used anti-condensation bathroom paint in the forepeak where you don’t have to have the mural mousse. I have spent the intervening years sweeping/brushing and in frustration, scraping it off because it flakes, slowly! Damboline, or similar proper bilge paint is the answer because it flexes with the hull. If it’s the actual mousse you mean, no idea. Its a plastic material so a spirit-based paint might wrinkle it.
Chris
Lol!! yes, have discovered that my forehatch leaks in all this rain!! Any advice?
I’m painting the bare sides, roof & floor in forepeak & all other painted surfaces of the bunks etc. with Blakes Bilge & Locker paint, but still have the spongy headlining up the sides of the hull & on the ceiling in the main cabin. It’s a bit discoloured in places and it was this that I was asking if I could paint over with my bilge paint? I think it maybe be prudent to leave for now & replace with proper headlining over the winter.
Gareth Martel
Hi Sue,
There are probably others better qualified than me to answer, (also Im not sure where the pics are?) but my thoughts-
1. Some sonatas at one point or another tried to set up a system where you could drop the kite into the chain locker to the forepeak (my first boat certainly did) I suspect that is quite possibly what the big hole is for. Afraid I have no idea about the small one
2 those small fixed blocks that lead to two jammers are most likely where the kicker leads back to the cockpit, allows it to be dumped on either gybe without going to leeward, important in the breeze with the kite up
Also personally I wouldnt worry about the pole downhaul and do away with it altogether, it clutters the foredeck, makes the foredeck mans job allot harder (needs to mess about with jib sheets) and to be honest as long as you use the tweeters properly you really dont need one. Having said that seems about half the fleet use and half dont.
3. No idea without seeing the pic to be honest, I have never seen a boat with two each side, probably unnecessary, may be that the previous owner was trying to fiddle about with jib sheeting angles, again you could prob just get rid of the one which isnt in the right position for the kite (can always put it back on later)
4. http://www.goachersails.co.uk/sontune.pdf
5. Havent a clue,definitely the wrong person for this question, you know how much a battery weighs!! 😉
Have fun setting her up, then get her somewhere there are a few other boats if you can. The reality is that there are loads of little variations in sonata setup, have a look around at what others have and the more you sail her the more you will be able to pick up on little things you would like to change, and see what solutions others have come up with!
Gareth