Question 1: After years of handhelds, I am about to install a
fixed mount GPS on a swing arm which will allow it to live in the aft
corner of the cabin and be viewable in the companionway. Prior to putting
holes in my boat, I’m wondering where you all have mounted the external
antenna. I’m thinking about the aft side of the boom gallows… the
boomkin would be good but, with a windvane, there is already too much junk
there. Any advice will be appreciated .
Question 2: Has anyone plumbed a LaVac with a straight shot to
the top of the holding tank? Naturally, I am keeping the vented loop for
over-boarding at the seacock but am trying to figure a way to increase the
“useful flushes” into the holding tank. I cannot overboard in the Great
Lakes and I figure I am using an extra quart or two per flush to move used
pizza to the holding tank via the vented loop. The input into my holding
tank is almost on the centerline. I’m trying to imagine a full tank/major
heel situation that might set up a siphoning situation. Anyone try this?
With the luxury?? of de-rigging each fall, I have discovered that
the finish on my sprit chafes through slightly on the underside at the aft
end of the gammon iron. Can’t think of a way to mis-tension the stays to
cause this so I’m thinking the alignment with the fid notch in the sampson
posts and the gammon iron is a little off. I’ve clearanced the chafed area
under the sprit by sanding and protected it with a thin layer of West
epoxy. I’ll also radius the edge of the gammon iron. I know there have
been a couple of sprits having water damage problems…this might be the
source.
Spade Anchors: Last year I was using an Alloy A80 Spade (15 1/2
pounds) as my everyday anchor. Wanted the light weight so it could stay on
the rollers on my bow sprit and don’t need over-kill holding power because
most of our anchorages in the Great Lakes are fairly well protected. (also
no hurricanes so far) In sand or our sand/clay mix bottoms, the setting
and holding were incredible. In mixed or weedy bottoms it wouldn’t set as
well as the Bruce I used on my previous boat. Seems like it doesn’t do
well when there is a lot of bottom vegetation … it balls up on the
broad flukes and prevents it from digging in. I switched to a 22# Delta
this season and it worked much better in the anchorages that had challenged
the Spade. Judging by the effort required on retrieval, the Spade’s
holding in clear, weed free bottoms is better but we have hung on the Delta
up to 25 Kts so far with no problem.
If any of you anchor in nice sandy bottoms, I would be happy to
sell the Spade for $250 and shipping. I have way too many anchors…I’m
turning into Roger and will have to raise my water line again if I don’t
reduce my inventory.
Tom Harrer
S/V Whitewings III